Quickly Convert Brave Browser Into an RSS Feed Reader in Just Minutes

If you’re utilizing Brave as an alternative to Chrome, you might not be aware of the Brave RSS reader, also known as Brave News. This feature transforms the typical blank New Tab window into a personalized feed of your favorite websites and blogs. Best of all, it’s completely free to use!

Activating the Brave RSS Reader

Brave News often comes enabled by default for most users, although those who opted for a custom installation may need to turn it on manually.

To check its status, simply open a New Tab in Brave and scroll down. If you can’t scroll past the search box, Brave News is not activated. Conversely, if scrolling reveals a list of stories from default publications, it’s all set up for you. Customized feeds can easily be configured.

Enabling Brave News is straightforward on both desktop and mobile platforms:

For Desktop: Click on Customize located in the bottom right corner, then select Brave News in the left menu. Finally, click on Turn on Brave News to activate the feature.
For Mobile: Open a new tab, tap the Settings icon (represented by three stacked dots), select Brave News, and then tap Turn on Brave News.

Configuring Brave News Settings on Desktop and Mobile

Once you have Brave News activated, you can customize your feed by following these steps to access its settings:

Desktop Access

Open a new tab and use one of these methods:

Click Customize in the bottom right corner.
Scroll until you see Brave News and click the + next to Channels or Publishers on the left side.
Click the Customize icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner.

Mobile Access

For mobile users, access is simple: open a new tab and click the Settings button (three stacked dots) at the bottom right, then select Brave News.

Managing Your Channels in Brave News

If you’re unsure about which sites to follow, Channels provide curated options around specific topics, including gaming, technology, and news. To follow channels on your desktop, navigate to the Brave News settings, scroll down to the Channels section, and click the + (plus sign) next to any channel you wish to add.

If you decide a channel isn’t for you, return to the Channels section. Hover over the channel name and click the – (minus sign) to unfollow.

From the mobile app, accessing channels is equally straightforward. Open the Brave News settings, tap Channels, and select Follow for channels that interest you, or Unfollow for those you’d like to remove.

Customizing Your Feed with Personal Sources

Brave News allows you to go beyond curated channels by adding your own sources. To include specific websites or topics, navigate to the Brave News settings and enter your desired source or RSS feed link in the search box. This feature is accessible on both desktop and mobile – for example, typing “MakeTechEasier”or entering our RSS feed address can seamlessly add these sources to your reader.

To remove an added source, click Unfollow next to the source in your list within the Brave News settings.

Leveraging Suggested Sources

Initially, the suggested sources may not seem particularly relevant. However, as you personalize your feed, Brave learns your preferences. To get better suggestions, consider adding a few sources or channels and using the feed for about a week. Through your interactions, Brave will start tailoring its recommendations to better suit your interests.

In the Brave News settings, you can find suggestions by scrolling to the Suggestions section. On desktop, click View more to explore additional options and follow anything that piques your interest; you can always remove it later.

As you browse through your feed, keep an eye out for suggested sources that Brave may display from time to time.

Challenges with the Brave RSS Reader

While I appreciate the capabilities of the Brave RSS reader, it does have some limitations. One notable issue is the lack of organization for your feeds and sources; they appear in a single, unstructured list. You can click on specific sources if you wish to narrow down your news, but sorting them for quick access is not possible.

Additionally, you’ll encounter ads in your feed, part of Brave’s private ad strategy. Though these ads are clearly marked and non-intrusive, they may still detract from the experience if you’re particularly sensitive to advertisements.

Synchronization between devices is another drawback. While I primarily use Brave on desktop for a more user-friendly navigation, I was disappointed to find that it doesn’t sync with the mobile app. Furthermore, on mobile, you currently cannot navigate directly to individual sources from your feed—you must scroll through all content.

Compared to traditional RSS readers available for Windows, Brave’s offering is less feature-rich; however, its strength lies in its simplicity and ease of use, as there’s no need for additional installations. For a more extensive self-hosted RSS setup, consider options like Tiny Tiny RSS or investigate how to create RSS feeds for social media using RSS-Bridge.

Source & Images