Back in March of 2013, Google announced the closing of Google Reader in what they called a Spring Cleaning. Google Reader was a way that you could manage your RSS subscriptions. It’s no surprise that Google is closing yet another handy service with the same excuse that they believed the service was losing a following and no longer needed.
Google Reader originally started in late 2005, so that makes it just short of 8 years being open. Google Reader officially closed July 1.
So, what about all those site’s you subscribed to? Are they gone? Will this closing effect your site?
NO, they are not gone not yet. You can download them at Google Takeout until midday on July 15, 2013. After you download the file, unzip it and use the XML file for subscription in any reader you want to use. It might just effect your site. Kimberly Castleberry covers some fears about the Google Reader closing.
So, now that Google Reader has closed there are several alternatives.
Google actually lists a page for alternatives for Google Reader within their closing message.
Google Reader Alternatives
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These are my top two picks for Google Reader alternatives. I really am a person that needs something simple as I have a lot of things I am doing.
Feedly actually has a Google login and the design is very simple, clean, and free. Some of the features include that is responsive for mobile use, and allows you to share on social networks.
Digg Reader
Digg Reader is free, and aside from being able to sign in with your Digg account, it allows you to sign in with either Twitter, Facebook, and Google. It also has a clean and simple design like Feedly.
These other Google Reader alternatives that I have looked and tried, that are free and decent:
If you would like more details on Google Reader alternatives, Kristi Hines at Kikolani shares 12 Google Reader Alternatives to Consider.
Have you downloaded your Google Reader subscription list yet? Are you already using a different RSS reader and if so, what is it and why did you choose it?
I started using Feedly two years ago because Google Reader was just ticking me off. LOL
I used Google Reader quite a bit. It really helped with allowing me to get through reading other sites faster.
hi nile
Google Reader is one of the lovely thing I have ever used on internet. But sadly, Google is killing the Google Reader service for their own profits, and benefits. However, it is time to move on from Google Reader to something else. I have already shifted all of my feeds to Feedly, and Digg Reader.
I was using the FeedDemon software together with Google Reader. While the software is discontinued, it still works perfectly without the synchronization with Google Reader. So for now I’m good. Just had to remove the synchronization option (didn’t get any updates yesterday until I realized that was the cause).
Google Reader was one of the lovely service that I have ever used on internet. Google Reader was actually one of my best tool to monitor the latest trends, and coupe up with editors around the different niches. Now I have moved all of my feeds to Feedly, and some on FeedWrangler for iOS
Hi Nile,
thanks for this informative post.
I didn’t know about the Digg reader.
I have used Feedly on and off since I knew that Google Reader is closing and it seems almost as good as Google reader, allowing you to rename the feeds, which I like doing so I have the Twitter ID handy incase it does not show up when I tweet a post.
I appreciate the link to the 12 alternatives.
Cheers,
Yorinda
Hi Nile,
I think Google did the right thing by closing Google reader as there were only few people using this service. And moreover I feel that Google must concentrate on its Search Engine and leave other services to other smaller companies and start ups. If Google keeps on starting every service then there will be a time when everything on web will have a Google logo and there will be no space for other creative minds to tryout something new. What do you think, should Google close some more of its services or no?
There were a LOT of people using Google Reader. The only issue was that Google was not seeing any growth, and that was due to the fact that they didn’t connect the dots for website owners hooking their site up to Feedburner that they should be encouraging their readers and subscribers to use their service.
Nothing was wrong with the service except Google’s own choice to get a good marketing team on board for Google Reader. This is the same thing that Yahoo! does.
haha, i switched to Feedly about two weeks ago, I was too lazy to look for alternatives.
Feedly got really popular lately, it is on the top reader’s lists, like, everywhere, so i thought if everyone is switching there it must be good, and it is, i kinda like it more than the Google reader.
Google is now regularly change their statistic. So it is really important to learn about this. Thanks for have this great post.
Google has killed almost everything that makes sense.
I’ve never used Google Reader. I just use Flipboard on my Android tablet and phone. It works quite well.
Hey,google reader is very lovely think..so sad news for google reader..
Thanks so much for this memorable trip down memory lane of wordpress
I only started using it and suddenly it is about to disappear.. I was wondering which service to try and I wasn’t too keen on Feedly, I think Digg Reader sounds right up my street! Will be trying that asap.. thanks!
Dave
PS. Google give me a pain in the áss with the way they chop and change!
Its typical… Google learned bad habits from Yahoo aka Yahell! lol. They always are getting rid of good things.
Wow!! What a great writing, really I appreciate such kind of topics. It will be very helpful for us
Thanks
I set up a few RSS feeds on Google Reader but to tell you the truth I never looked at them again. I guess it all depends on what you use the service for. I use another one now that just emails me when there are new posts on the sites that I like. And another one I like, Scoop.it is pretty good too.
Hi, I read your article this is an amazing stuff. I recomend you to put this comment box above the comments display. People need to scroll down a long page to share their views.
I am using feedly and really recommend it. It is the best one that I have found.
I’m starting to wonder if the RSS game is dying out. I mean, if Google are getting out of it, is it because they’ve noticed a steep decline in usage? Are things like Facebook, Reddit and Twitter replacing RSS readers?
Thanks for the workaround regarding google closing yet another service. Nice blog btw…bookmarked!
I appreciate all the great suggestions, Nile. I’ve already used Google Takeout to get my info, but haven’t transferred it anywhere else yet. Feedly is the name that keeps coming up most frequently, but Digg looks good too.
I still do not get why Google Reader is closed. Spring cleaning? c’mon. I use Google Reader and Digg. Now that Google reader already retired, I highly recommend Digg.
This is very useful
Yes Google Reader is closed on 1st July 2013.Nothing to say Feedly is the best choice among all other feed readers.
Thanks for the great information i have to shift my all feed links to another reader, really your posting a good useful information in your blogs. before i red this blog i don’t know about this Google reader updates, keep continue postings…….
Hi, I read your article this is an amazing stuff. I recomend you to put this comment box above the comments display. People need to scroll down a long page to share their views.
Wow Great post! I really inspired by it. Thanks
Thanks for the share. I’ve migrated from Google reader to Feedly. Its as good as GReader
Hi Nile,
I’ve not been a Google Reader user and now I won’t get a chance. I’m wondering what regular users felt was so special about it. Will it be missed, or is the general consensus that other tools have evolved to replace it?