Tool profile
Miniflux: cost, fit and limits
Miniflux is a minimalist feed reader developed by Frédéric Guillot and released as open source under Apache 2.0, available as self-hosted software or as a $15 a year hosted instance, with no AI features named on its pages.
What to know first
Miniflux has two ways in: run the free open-source server yourself, or pay $15 a year for the hosted instance after a 15-day trial. It fetches original article text, strips tracking parameters and pixel trackers, and proxies media. The homepage names no AI feature, so summaries would have to come from another tool through its integrations. Plan on checking the integration list before buying.
Miniflux at a glance
| Maker | Frédéric Guillot (developer named on the homepage; Miniflux is an open-source project under Apache 2.0), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | $15 per year for hosting |
| API access | Yes |
| Category | Best AI RSS Readers in 2026, rank 6 of 13 |
| Website | miniflux.app |
Who Miniflux is best for
Self-hosters who want one binary
The vendor describes a single binary compiled without external dependencies, plus Docker, RPM and Debian packages, which keeps a home server simple.
Privacy-minded readers
Tracker removal, a media proxy and no referrer sent to third-party sites reduce what publishers can learn about your reading habits.
Budget hosted readers
At $15 a year with a 15-day trial, hosted Miniflux is the cheapest paid hosted reader in this ranking, with no feed cap printed.
Miniflux plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Free | Open source under the Apache 2.0 license, run on your own server with the single binary, Docker, RPM or Debian packages, with documentation in the user guide. |
| Paid Hosting | $15 per year | Gives access to the hosted Miniflux instance without running a server, and a 15-day trial account can be opened before paying. |
Checked November 2026.
What Miniflux does
- Original article fetch
- Downloads the full article for feeds that show only a summary, so the reading view holds the whole piece without leaving the app or opening the publisher's site.
- Tracker removal
- Strips pixel trackers and tracking parameters from URLs and uses a media proxy, so third-party sites receive no referrer when you open an image or link.
- Keyboard-driven reading
- Keyboard shortcuts move through unread items, which suits people who clear hundreds of items quickly and prefer not to reach for the mouse at all.
- Rules and scrapers
- Filter, rewrite and scraper rules are documented in the user guide, letting you fix feeds that arrive with broken or partial content or noisy titles.
- Third-party saves
- Integrations send items to Pocket, Instapaper, Wallabag, Readwise Reader, Notion, Slack, Telegram and Apprise, which is also where an AI summary step could be added.
How Miniflux handles your data
The homepage and documentation describe the software and the hosted offer but do not state hosting region, retention, certifications or whether customer content is used for training. Self-hosting keeps all data on your own server, so the retention and region are yours to set. For the $15 a year instance, the vendor's policy was not checked beyond the opened pages, so ask before storing sensitive subscriptions there.
Where Miniflux falls short in practice
- No AI named. The homepage and docs name no summary or assistant feature, so AI needs an outside tool fed through the listed integrations, with its own cost.
- You run the server. Self-hosting needs your own server, database and updates, and the installation guides list Docker, package and manual installs, so it is not a casual option.
- Integrations are third-party. The documented integrations connect other services rather than a built-in catalogue, so each link depends on that outside service staying available and configured. Check that each target is still maintained.
Works with
Alternatives to Miniflux
Miniflux: common questions
How much does hosted Miniflux cost?
Hosted Miniflux costs $15 a year, and a 15-day trial account can be opened first. The software itself is free to self-host under the Apache 2.0 license. The hosted plan removes the need for a server, while the free route needs your own hardware and updates.
Does Miniflux have AI features?
No AI feature is named on the homepage or documentation we read. The reader fetches original articles, removes trackers and runs rules. For summaries you would send items to Readwise Reader or another tool, since Miniflux lists those as integrations.
How do I install Miniflux myself?
The vendor lists a single binary compiled without external dependencies, plus Docker, RPM and Debian packages, with installation guides in the documentation. You need your own server and a database. Plan time for upgrades and backups, which the vendor leaves to the owner.
Does Miniflux protect privacy?
The homepage says it removes pixel trackers and tracking parameters from URLs and runs a media proxy that sends no referrer to third-party sites. That reduces tracking from publishers. It does not describe a data policy for the hosted plan, so ask before using it for sensitive topics.
Where is Miniflux made?
The homepage names developer Frédéric Guillot and describes an open-source project under Apache 2.0, but states no company country. The hosting region of the paid instance is also not stated. Self-hosting is the way to control where your data sits.