Chrome has no built-in RSS reader, so you add one with an extension. Feeder's Chrome extension, called RSS Feed Reader in the Chrome Web Store, keeps your feeds one click away in the toolbar. It shows your unread count on its icon and tells you when a site you visit has a feed.
Does Chrome have a built-in RSS reader?
No. Chrome on your computer can't subscribe to a feed or show it as a list of posts. Chrome for Android had a Follow button for a while, which showed new posts from sites you followed on the New Tab page, but Google has retired it there. Chrome for iPhone and iPad still has Follow, with a Following section on its New Tab page.
To read RSS in Chrome today, you use an extension or a web-based reader. If you are new to feeds, What is RSS? explains the basics.
How do I install Feeder's Chrome extension?
- Get the extension. Open RSS Feed Reader in the Chrome Web Store, click Add to Chrome, then Add extension.
- Pin it. Click the Extensions icon (the puzzle piece) next to the address bar, then the pin next to RSS Feed Reader, so Feeder's icon stays in view.
- Choose how to use it. Click the Feeder icon, then create a free account, log in, or continue without an account.
- Add your first feeds. Click the plus button (Add feed) and paste the address of a site you want to follow. Feeder finds its feed. Coming from another reader? Import your feeds as an OPML file.
What does Feeder's Chrome extension do?
- Unread count on the icon. You see at a glance when there is something new.
- Your feeds in a popup. Switch between all feeds, unread posts and starred posts without leaving the page you are on.
- Notifications. Get a desktop notification, a sound or both when a feed posts, for all feeds or only the ones you pick. See Get notifications about important things.
- Feed spotting. The icon gets a small green plus when the page you are on has a feed.
- Podcasts. Play podcast episodes from the popup.
How do I find a website's RSS feed in Chrome?
With Feeder installed, you rarely need to look:
- Watch the icon. When it shows a green plus, click it, then the plus button, to follow the site.
- Open a feed link. Feeder shows a preview of the feed with a Follow button, for Feeder or for another reader you use.
- No feed at all? Right-click the page and choose Follow this page. Feeder opens a tool where you pick the part of the page to watch. More in How to follow a website that does not support RSS.
To find a feed by hand, look for the orange RSS icon or an RSS link, often in the site's footer. Many sites serve their feed at an address like example.com/feed or example.com/rss. You can also right-click the page, choose View page source and search for rss.
Are there other RSS extensions for Chrome?
Yes, the Chrome Web Store has several. Some are full readers, like Feeder. Others only find a page's feed, or add feeds to a reader you already use. How to choose an RSS feed reader lists what to compare.
Already happy with another reader? Feeder's feed preview can send a feed to Feedly, Inoreader, Feedbin or NewsBlur instead.
Common questions
Do I need a Feeder account to use the Chrome extension?
No. You can continue without an account and keep your feeds in that browser. A free account syncs them with feeder.co and the Feeder apps for iPhone and Android.
Why does an RSS feed show as code in Chrome?
A feed is an XML file made for apps, not for people. Chrome has no feed preview of its own, so a feed link opens as raw code or downloads as a file. With Feeder installed, it opens as a readable preview with a Follow button.
Is there a Feeder extension for Edge and Firefox?
Yes. Feeder has extensions for Microsoft Edge and Firefox too. For Edge, see RSS feed reader for Microsoft Edge.
Try Feeder
Feeder is an RSS reader for the web, iOS and Android, with extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. The free plan follows up to 200 feeds, updated as often as every 30 minutes, with no ads. Plus is $7.99 a month, billed yearly, for 2,500 feeds, updates as often as every 5 minutes and e-mail summaries.
Get started with Feeder for free