selfoss
Selfoss is a self-hosted, open-source PHP web application for aggregating and reading RSS feeds, social media, and other content sources in one place. It runs on basic web hosting with minimal setup and supports OPML import from other feed readers.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | fossar/selfoss |
| Owner | fossar |
| Primary language | HTML |
| License | GPL-3.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 2.5k |
| Forks | 338 |
| Open issues | 178 |
| Latest release | 2.19 (2022-10-12) |
| Last updated | 2026-06-28 |
| Source | https://github.com/fossar/selfoss |
What selfoss is
Written in PHP with a SQLite or database backend, Selfoss uses Composer for dependencies, Parcel for client-side bundling, and exposes a feed update endpoint via HTTP or CLI. It requires periodic cron jobs or systemd timers to refresh feeds and supports custom configuration via config.ini.
Get the selfoss source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/fossar/selfoss.gitcd selfoss# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Database permissions must allow table and trigger creation; ensure schema migration succeeds before production use.
- Feed update frequency depends on cron/timer reliability; misconfigured timers result in stale content.
- File upload includes invisible .htaccess files; ensure FTP/SFTP clients are configured to upload hidden files, or manual setup required.
- Configuration changes across version upgrades; review NEWS.md and update config.ini template to avoid breaking changes.
- Data directory (`data/`) must be backed up separately before upgrades to preserve feeds, cache, logs, and thumbnails.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Zero DevOps Tolerance — Project requires manual installation, file permissions setup, cron job configuration, and database connection tuning. Not a click-to-install SaaS.
- High-Volume Commercial Feed Service — Selfoss is volunteer-maintained part-time by Jan Tojnar; incident response and feature requests are not guaranteed. Not suitable for production SLAs.
- Requires Recent Major Feature Updates — Latest stable release is 2.19 (Oct 2022); development is maintenance-focused over new features per README. Active development is underway but prioritizes bug fixes.
- Closed-Source / Proprietary Requirement — GPL-3.0 license requires any modifications or distributions to remain open-source; not compatible with proprietary licensing strategies.
License & commercial use
GPL-3.0 (GNU General Public License v3.0). Source code and any modifications must be kept open-source and distributed under GPL-3.0 or later. Some source files are v3-only (not v3-or-later); ongoing resolution in issue #1218. Bundled dependency packages may be distributed under v3 only.
GPL-3.0 permits commercial use (e.g., operating a hosted instance), but any derivative code must be open-sourced and licensed under GPL-3.0+. Internal modifications for commercial purposes are legally permissible only if not distributed externally. Consult legal counsel before embedding in proprietary offerings. Unknown: whether dual licensing or commercial exceptions are negotiable with maintainers.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Project uses htmLawed for HTML sanitization and Graby for content extraction, reducing injection risk. GPL-3.0 source is auditable. No security audit, pen-test report, or vulnerability disclosure policy stated in data. Self-hosted model removes third-party data intermediaries. Operators must manage server hardening, HTTPS, and timely updates. Authentication mechanism not detailed in excerpt; review security docs before deploying.
Alternatives to consider
Feedly / Inoreader
Cloud-hosted SaaS alternatives with no self-hosting effort, mobile apps, and commercial support; trade off privacy and cost.
FreshRSS
Similar self-hosted PHP RSS reader with active maintenance and modern interface; stronger community support but slightly higher resource footprint.
Miniflux
Lightweight, self-hosted Go-based feed reader with simpler deployment (single binary) and faster performance; less aggregation / mashup functionality.
Build on selfoss with DEV.co software developers
Selfoss is ideal for individuals and teams seeking a privacy-respecting, self-hosted alternative to commercial feed services. Our team can help with deployment, configuration, and optimization on your infrastructure. Contact us to discuss your setup.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
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selfoss FAQ
Can I run Selfoss on shared hosting?
How do I migrate from another feed reader?
Is there a mobile app?
What if I find a bug?
Custom software development services
Need help beyond evaluating selfoss? DEV.co is a software development agency offering software development services and web development for teams of every size. Our software developers and web developers build custom software, web applications, APIs, and open-source devops integrations — and maintain them long-term.
Ready to Self-Host Your Feed Reader?
Selfoss is ideal for individuals and teams seeking a privacy-respecting, self-hosted alternative to commercial feed services. Our team can help with deployment, configuration, and optimization on your infrastructure. Contact us to discuss your setup.