
ReadKit
ReadKit is a comprehensive read-later and RSS client for macOS, integrating with popular services like Instapaper, Pocket, and Feedly. It offers offline reading, built-in browser, and robust feed management for an organized reading experience. Developed by Webin (Balazs Varkonyi)
About ReadKit
ReadKit stands out as a powerful and versatile reading application for macOS users who want to consolidate their reading lists and news feeds into a single, intuitive interface. Unlike simple browser extensions, ReadKit provides a dedicated environment designed for focused reading, offering features that enhance the experience with both saved articles and real-time news.
At its core, ReadKit acts as a central hub for various content sources. It seamlessly integrates with leading read-later services, including:
- Instapaper: Sync your saved articles from Instapaper and access them directly within ReadKit.
- Pocket: Enjoy full synchronization with your Pocket account, allowing you to manage your saved web pages and articles.
- Pinboard: For those who use Pinboard for bookmarking, ReadKit offers integration to access and manage your saved links.
Beyond read-later services, ReadKit is also a capable RSS client. This is where it truly shines for news junkies and content curators:
- Built-in RSS Reader: Subscribe to your favorite websites and blogs directly within the application.
- Support for External RSS Services: Connect to popular existing RSS services like Feedly, Fever, NewsBlur, and Feedbin, keeping your subscriptions synchronized across platforms.
- OPML Import/Export: Easily import your existing feed lists from other readers using the standard OPML format, and export your ReadKit subscriptions for backup or use elsewhere.
- Custom Feeds: Add individual feed URLs that might not be part of a supported service.
The reading experience within ReadKit is highly refined:
- Integrated Web Browser: Read articles within a distraction-free environment without needing to open external browsers.
- Readability Enhancement: Many articles are processed for a clean, readable format, stripping away distracting elements like ads and sidebars.
- Offline Reading: Download articles and news items for offline access, perfect for reading on the go or when internet connectivity is limited.
Organization and customization are key aspects of ReadKit:
- Category Filters: Organize your feeds and articles into custom categories for easier management and browsing.
- Integrated Search: Quickly find specific articles or news items across all your connected services and feeds.
- Multiple Account Support: Manage multiple accounts for the same service if needed.
ReadKit is designed with user convenience in mind, providing a robust platform for anyone who consumes a significant amount of online content and seeks a more organized and focused reading environment.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent integration with multiple read-later and RSS services.
- Provides true offline reading for both saved articles and news feeds.
- Clean and focused reading environment with built-in browser and readability.
- Robust RSS capabilities including built-in reader and support for external services.
- OPML import/export for easy feed migration.
Cons
- Integrated browser may not always perfectly render complex web pages.
- Minor areas for improvement in filtering and search capabilities for very large libraries.
What Makes ReadKit Stand Out
Unified Reading Experience
Consolidate articles from multiple read-later services and RSS feeds into a single, clean interface.
Extensive Service Integration
Supports a wide range of popular read-later and RSS services, offering flexibility for users regardless of their preferred platforms.
Offline Access for All Content
Provides offline reading capabilities for both saved articles and RSS feed items, a key benefit for mobile users or those with unreliable internet.
Robust Feed Management
Includes built-in RSS capabilities, OPML import/export, and support for various RSS platforms, making it a powerful tool for news consumption.
What can ReadKit do?
Review
ReadKit presents a compelling solution for macOS users aiming to streamline their digital reading habits. The application successfully integrates with a significant number of popular read-later services and RSS platforms, positioning it as a central hub for diverse content consumption.
The user interface is clean and largely intuitive, adhering to macOS design principles. This immediately makes the application feel familiar to long-time Mac users. The left-hand sidebar effectively categorizes content by service and custom filters, providing a clear overview of available articles and feeds. The main reading pane is designed for focus, and the built-in browser and readability features contribute significantly to a distraction-free experience. Reading within ReadKit feels comfortable, with adjustable font sizes and styles allowing for personalization.
A major strength of ReadKit is its extensive list of supported services. The seamless integration with Instapaper and Pocket, two of the most prevalent read-later services, means that users of either (or both) can easily bring their saved content into ReadKit. The synchronization generally works reliably, ensuring that your reading lists are up-to-date. The inclusion of Pinboard support adds value for users who rely on it for bookmarking and reading later.
Where ReadKit truly differentiates itself is its strong emphasis on RSS. It's not merely a read-later app with some feed capabilities; it's a full-fledged RSS client that happens to integrate read-later services. The built-in RSS reader is functional, allowing for direct feed subscriptions. However, its support for external RSS services like Feedly, NewsBlur, Feedbin, and Fever is particularly valuable for users already invested in those ecosystems. This allows users to leverage the robust discovery and management features of those services while enjoying the focused reading environment of ReadKit. The OPML import and export functionality is crucial for migrating subscriptions between applications, providing users with flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in.
The offline reading feature is implemented effectively across both saved articles and RSS feeds. This is a significant advantage for users who commute, travel, or frequently find themselves without reliable internet access. Articles and feed items are typically downloaded for offline viewing, ensuring uninterrupted reading.
While ReadKit offers a comprehensive feature set, there are areas for consideration. The pricing model, being a one-time purchase, is generally favorable compared to subscription services, but the initial cost might be a factor for some. The frequency of updates and introduction of new features, while consistent, might not be as rapid as some web-based services. While the integrated browser is useful, it may not always render complex web pages perfectly, occasionally necessitating opening the link in an external browser.
In terms of organization, the category filters are helpful, but more advanced filtering and smart list options could enhance the experience for users with very large numbers of feeds and articles. The search function is functional but could potentially benefit from more refined search parameters or the ability to search within specific date ranges or categories.
The performance of ReadKit is generally good, with articles loading relatively quickly, especially when downloaded for offline access. Synchronization speed can vary depending on the number of items and the responsiveness of the integrated services, but it is typically acceptable.
Overall, ReadKit is a robust and well-designed reading application for macOS. Its ability to consolidate content from multiple sources, combined with strong RSS capabilities and reliable offline access, makes it a valuable tool for anyone who takes their online reading seriously. While minor enhancements could be made to filtering and search, the core functionality is excellent. For users seeking a dedicated, distraction-free reading environment that supports a wide array of content sources, ReadKit is a strong contender.
Similar Software

Aktuell is a RSS News Reader for Mac.

atchus! provides a way of surfing the web more quickly using visually organized links.

BazQux Reader is an online newsreader.

BeyondPod gives you access to thousands free audio and video shows from all over the world. You can search for podcasts or import them from popular sites.

BlackBerry News is a news app for blackberry devices.

Bloglovin is a platform that allows users to read, organize, and discover their favorite blogs on mobile and desktop.

bulletin is a hosted webpage to broadcast important updates about your product.

CommaFeed is an Google Reader inspired self-hosted RSS reader, based on JAX-RS, Wicket and AngularJS.

Cronycle is a collaborative research platform for professionals.

Feedbin is an open source feed reader.

Feedbro is a browser extension for Google Chrome that adds local feed reading capabilities to the web browser.

FeedDemon is a free RSS feed reader for Windows.
Help others by voting if you like this software.
Compare with Similar Apps
Select any similar app below to compare it with ReadKit side by side.