What is FeedHQ?

FeedHQ is a Django-based feed reader you can host yourself. It handles RSS and ATOM feeds, lets you organize them into categories, and provides a responsive interface that works on phones and desktops. Articles can be saved to Pocket, Instapaper, or Readability. The reader also supports OPML import, keyboard shortcuts, syntax highlighting for code, and real-time updates via PubSubHubbub. It requires PostgreSQL, Redis, and Elasticsearch, with all settings controlled through environment variables. Development has been quiet since 2022 and the version remains at 0.2 (beta).

Should you self-host FeedHQ?

FeedHQ scores 43/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #57 of 85 in Feed Reader. It has 578 GitHub stars.

There was no stable release in the past 12 months, so check the repository's recent activity before you rely on it.

Setup is advanced: plan for several services and some ongoing maintenance. It is BSD-3-Clause-licensed and written mostly in Python.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is RSSHub (85/100, 46 702 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See FeedHQ vs RSSHub side by side.

Features

ETag and Last-Modified support
Exponential backoff
Feed categories
Filter read entries
Hide images/media by default
Keyboard Navigation
Multiple user support
OPML Import
PubSubHubbub support
Reading list integration
RSS and ATOM support
Subtome support
Syntax highlighting

How to configure FeedHQ

ALLOWED_HOSTSSpace-separated list of hosts which serve the web app
Space-separated list of hosts which serve the web app
DATABASE_URLHeroku-like database URL for PostgreSQL
Heroku-like database URL for PostgreSQL
DEBUGEnable Django debug mode
Enable Django debug mode
values: non-empty value
DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULESet to feedhq.settings
Set to feedhq.settings
EMAIL_URLURL for configuring email (SMTP)
URL for configuring email (SMTP)
ES_ALIAS_TEMPLATEfeedhq-{0}String template for per-user Elasticsearch alias
String template for per-user Elasticsearch alias
ES_INDEXfeedhqName of the Elasticsearch index
Name of the Elasticsearch index
ES_NODESlocalhost:9200Space-separated list of Elasticsearch nodes
Space-separated list of Elasticsearch nodes
ES_REPLICAS1Number of replicas for Elasticsearch shards
Number of replicas for Elasticsearch shards
ES_SHARDS5Number of shards for Elasticsearch index
Number of shards for Elasticsearch index
FROM_EMAILEmail address that sends automated emails
Email address that sends automated emails
HEALTH_SECRETShared secret for /health/ endpoint protection
Shared secret for /health/ endpoint protection
HTTPSConfigure FeedHQ for SSL access
Configure FeedHQ for SSL access
values: non-empty value
INSTAPAPER_CONSUMER_KEYInstapaper API consumer key
Instapaper API consumer key
INSTAPAPER_CONSUMER_SECRETInstapaper API consumer secret
Instapaper API consumer secret
LOG_SYSLOGSend logs to /dev/log instead of stdout
Send logs to /dev/log instead of stdout
values: 1
MEDIA_ROOTAbsolute location where media files are stored
Absolute location where media files are stored
MEDIA_URL/media/URL that handles media files
URL that handles media files
READABILITY_CONSUMER_KEYReadability API consumer key
Readability API consumer key
READABILITY_CONSUMER_SECRETReadability API consumer secret
Readability API consumer secret
READITLATER_API_KEYPocket API key for reading list integration
Pocket API key for reading list integration
REDIS_URLURL for configuring Redis
URL for configuring Redis
SECRET_KEYLong random string for Django secret key
Long random string for Django secret key
SENTRY_DSNDSN to enable Sentry error reporting
DSN to enable Sentry error reporting
SESSION_COOKIE_PATHPath set on the session cookie
Path set on the session cookie
STATIC_ROOTAbsolute location where static files are stored
Absolute location where static files are stored
STATIC_URL/static/URL that serves static files
URL that serves static files