Fluent Reader Lite vs Circles Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Fluent Reader Lite
A simple, open-source RSS client that supports various self-hosted and commercial services. It offers features like dark mode, content filtering, and article organization. Optimized for multitasking on iPad.
- Supports Fever, Google Reader, Inoreader, and Feedbin APIs
- Dark mode for UI and reading
- Configure content loading (full or webpage)
- Dedicated subscriptions tab with article titles
- Search and filter local articles
- Organize subscriptions with groups
- Two-pane view and multitasking on iPad
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Fluent Reader Lite is a simplistic, cross-platform, and open-source RSS client. The following self-hosted and commercial RSS services are supported. * Fever API (TT-RSS Fever plugin, FreshRSS, Miniflux, etc.) * Google Reader API (Bazqux Reader, The Old Reader, etc.) * Inoreader * Feedbin (official or self-hosted) Other key features include: * Dark mode for UI and reading. * Configure sources to load full content or webpage by default. * A dedicated subscriptions tab organized by latest updates with article titles. * Search for local articles or filter by read status. * Organize subscriptions with groups. * Support for two-pane view and multitasking on iPad. The following features from the desktop app are *NOT* present: * Local RSS support and source / group management. * Importing or exporting OPML files, full application data backup & restoration. * Regular expression rules that mark articles as they arrive. * Fetch articles in the background and send push notifications. * Keyboard shortcuts.
Circles Reader
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Stay updated with the latest news, blogs, and articles from your favorite sources with Circles Reader, the ultimate RSS reader designed for the modern user. Whether you're a news junkie, a blog enthusiast, or simply someone who loves to stay informed, Circles Reader is your go-to app for a seamless reading experience. Key Features: - Syncs all your feeds and articles via your favorite RSS aggregator service - Dark mode: reduce eye strain and enjoy reading in low-light environments
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Fluent Reader Lite at none against Circles Reader's shown. Fluent Reader Lite also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). Circles Reader's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Fluent Reader Lite ships an update every 6 months, Circles Reader fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Fluent Reader Lite | Circles Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (10 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 47.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 58 MB |
| Age rating | +17 | 17+ |
| Developer | Haoyuan Liu | Circles Incorporated |
In-app purchases
Fluent Reader Lite
No in-app purchases
Circles Reader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Fluent Reader Lite free?
Is Circles Reader free?
Do Fluent Reader Lite or Circles Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Fluent Reader Lite or Circles Reader?
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