Self-hosting FreshRSS the easy way
Yulei ChenFreshRSS is a free, self-hostable RSS feed aggregator. It lets you follow hundreds of news sources, blogs, and podcasts in one place - without algorithms deciding what you see. Services like Feedly or Inoreader work, but they come with subscription fees and usage limits. Self-hosting FreshRSS gives you full control over your reading experience with zero recurring costs.
Sliplane is a managed container platform that makes self-hosting painless. With one-click deployment, you can get FreshRSS up and running in minutes - no server setup, no reverse proxy config, no infrastructure to maintain.
Prerequisites
Before deploying, ensure you have a Sliplane account (free trial available).
Quick start
Sliplane provides one-click deployment with presets.
Deploy FreshRSS >- Click the deploy button above
- Select a project
- Select a server (If you just signed up you get a 48-hour free trial server)
- Click Deploy!
About the preset
The one-click deploy above uses Sliplane's FreshRSS preset. Here's what it includes:
- Official FreshRSS Docker image (
freshrss/freshrss) with a specific version tag for stability - Two persistent volumes: one for FreshRSS data (
/var/www/FreshRSS/data) and one for extensions (/var/www/FreshRSS/extensions) - Automatic feed updates via a built-in cron job that refreshes feeds every 30 minutes (minutes 1 and 31)
- Timezone set to
Europe/Berlinby default
Next steps
Once FreshRSS is running on Sliplane, access it using the domain Sliplane provided (e.g. freshrss-xxxx.sliplane.app).
Initial setup
When you open FreshRSS for the first time, you'll see an installation wizard. It walks you through:
- Language selection: Pick your preferred language
- Database setup: Choose SQLite (simplest, works great for personal use) or configure an external database
- Admin account: Create your username and password
After completing the wizard, you can start adding RSS feeds right away.
Environment variables
You can customize the preset's behavior with these environment variables:
| Variable | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
CRON_MIN | 1,31 | Minutes of each hour when feeds are refreshed. Change to */5 for every 5 minutes |
TZ | Europe/Berlin | Timezone for feed update scheduling and display |
Installing extensions
FreshRSS supports extensions to add extra features. The /var/www/FreshRSS/extensions volume is already mounted, so any extensions you install will persist across restarts. You can browse available extensions in the FreshRSS extension repository.
Logging
FreshRSS logs go to Docker's standard output, which integrates with Sliplane's built-in log viewer. For general Docker log tips, check out our post on how to use Docker logs.
Troubleshooting
If feeds aren't updating, check the CRON_MIN environment variable. The default 1,31 means feeds refresh twice per hour at minute 1 and minute 31. If you need more frequent updates, change it to something like */10 for every 10 minutes.
If you're having issues with the initial setup wizard, try clearing your browser cache and reloading the page.
Cost comparison
You can also self-host FreshRSS with other cloud providers. Here is a pricing comparison for the most common ones:
FAQ
How many feeds can FreshRSS handle?
FreshRSS can easily handle hundreds of feeds. Users regularly report running 500+ feeds with SQLite without any performance issues. For very large setups (1000+ feeds), consider using PostgreSQL or MySQL as the database backend.
How do I import feeds from another RSS reader?
FreshRSS supports OPML import. Go to Subscription management and use the import feature to upload your OPML file. Most RSS readers (Feedly, Inoreader, Miniflux, etc.) can export to OPML format.
How do I update FreshRSS?
Change the image tag in your Sliplane service settings to the newer version and redeploy. Check Docker Hub for the latest stable version. Your data and extensions are stored in persistent volumes, so they survive updates.
Are there alternatives to FreshRSS?
Yes, popular options include Miniflux (minimalist, Go-based), Tiny Tiny RSS (feature-rich, PHP-based), and NewsBlur (social features). Each has different trade-offs in terms of resource usage and features.
Can I access FreshRSS from my phone?
Yes. FreshRSS has a responsive web interface that works on mobile browsers. It also supports the Google Reader API and Fever API, so you can connect mobile apps like Reeder, FeedMe, or NetNewsWire to your self-hosted instance.
