How to host FreshRSS (self-hosted RSS reader) anonymously (2026)

TL;DR

FreshRSS is the leading self-hosted RSS reader. Replaces Feedly, Inoreader, NewsBlur, Google Reader. Tiny footprint:

• Sizing: 1 vCPU / 1 GB RAM / 5 GB disk. Runs on the smallest VPS.
• Best provider: AlexHost ($4/mo), HostHatch ($2/mo annual prepay), or BuyVM ($2/mo).
• Install: Docker; 10 minutes.
• Mobile: works with FluentReader, Reeder, Read You, and any Fever- or Google Reader-API client.

Why self-host RSS

RSS reading is back. Feedly tracks you. Inoreader is paid + cloud. Google Reader is dead. Self-hosted FreshRSS:

• Your reading list is on your server.
• No third party knows what you read.
• Free forever (vs $5-10/mo subscriptions).
• Mobile sync via the Google Reader API or Fever API — works with most reader apps.
• Full-text article extraction built in.

Step-by-step

1. Provision

Smallest available VPS. HostHatch IS at $2/mo (annual prepay) is the cheapest path with non-US jurisdiction.

2. Install via Docker Compose

services:
  freshrss:
    image: freshrss/freshrss:latest
    restart: always
    environment:
      TZ: Europe/Reykjavik
      CRON_MIN: "*/15"
      LISTEN: "0.0.0.0:80"
    volumes:
      - ./freshrss-data:/var/www/FreshRSS/data
      - ./freshrss-extensions:/var/www/FreshRSS/extensions
    ports:
      - 127.0.0.1:8080:80

  caddy:
    image: caddy:latest
    restart: always
    ports:
      - 80:80
      - 443:443
    volumes:
      - ./Caddyfile:/etc/caddy/Caddyfile
      - ./caddy_data:/data

Caddyfile:

rss.yourdomain.com {
    reverse_proxy localhost:8080
}

Start:

docker compose up -d

3. First-time setup

• Visit https://rss.yourdomain.com.
• Run the FreshRSS install wizard.
• Pick SQLite (fine for personal use; PostgreSQL for >5,000 feeds).
• Create your admin user.

4. Import existing feeds

If migrating from Feedly / Inoreader / Reeder, export OPML and import in FreshRSS: Subscriptions → Import → upload OPML.

5. Enable API for mobile sync

Settings → Authentication → API Password → set a password. Now you can sign into mobile clients (FluentReader, Reeder 5, Read You, Newsboat) using:

• Server URL: https://rss.yourdomain.com/api/greader.php
• Username: your FreshRSS username
• Password: the API password (not your login password)

6. Mobile client picks (2026)

• Reeder 5 (iOS / macOS) — premium, polished.
• FluentReader (desktop) — open-source.
• Read You (Android) — modern Material 3 design.
• Newsboat (terminal) — for power users.

Hardening

• Disable open registration: Settings → Authentication → Disable user registration.
• Two-factor auth is not native; protect via reverse proxy auth (e.g. Caddy with basic auth) or via a Tor onion endpoint.
• Limit feed-fetcher User-Agent to avoid being IP-banned by hostile sites.

Cost

For comparison: Feedly Pro+ is $12/month, Inoreader Pro is $10/month. Self-hosted FreshRSS is one-tenth the cost with full data ownership.

Related

• Buying an anonymous VPS with Monero
• How to host Nextcloud anonymously
• HostHatch full review