Build Your RSS Backend for SmartRSS: A Beginner's Guide to FreshRSS, Miniflux, and RSSHub

Want to supercharge your SmartRSS experience with a powerful, self-hosted backend? This guide will show you how to set up FreshRSS, Miniflux, and RSSHub - even if you’ve never touched a server before! These services will sync seamlessly with SmartRSS, giving you complete control over your RSS reading experience.

Why Build Your Own RSS Backend?

Setting up your own RSS server gives you amazing benefits:

Perfect SmartRSS Integration: Sync your feeds across all devices
Complete Privacy: Your reading habits stay on your own server
No Monthly Fees: Pay once for a VPS, run forever
Unlimited Feeds: No restrictions on the number of subscriptions
Super Fast: Your own dedicated RSS infrastructure

What You’ll Need

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) - $5-10/month
About 30 minutes of your time
No coding experience required!

Quick Start: Try Official Instances First

Before setting up your own server, you can try these official demo instances:

Official FreshRSS Demo

URL: https://demo.freshrss.org/
Features: Clean interface, mobile-friendly, great API support
Perfect for: Beginners who want a traditional RSS experience

Official Miniflux Demo

URL: https://miniflux.app/ (offers free trial)
Features: Modern design, excellent keyboard shortcuts, powerful API
Perfect for: Power users who want speed and efficiency

These demos let you test both services before deciding which one to self-host. Both work perfectly with SmartRSS!

Step 1: Get Your VPS Ready

Choosing and Purchasing a VPS

For RSS hosting, you don’t need anything powerful. Here’s what I recommend:

Minimum specs: 1GB RAM, 1 CPU core, 20GB storage
Perfect choice: 2GB RAM, 1 CPU core, 40GB storage
Cost: $5-10/month

Easy VPS providers for beginners:

DigitalOcean - Most beginner-friendly, great tutorials
Linode - Excellent performance, good support
Vultr - Simple interface, reliable service

Deploy Your Server (Super Simple!)

Create an account at your chosen provider
Click “Create Droplet/Server”
Choose Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Pick the $5-10/month plan
Click “Create” and wait 2-3 minutes
You’ll get an email with your server IP and password!

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Open your terminal (or PowerShell on Windows) and connect:

ssh root@your_server_ip

First time? You’ll see a message asking “Are you sure you want to continue connecting?” Type yes and press Enter.

Password? Paste the password from your VPS provider’s email (you won’t see it appear on screen - that’s normal!).

Step 3: Install Docker (One Command!)

Just copy and paste this single command:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

This will automatically install Docker and everything you need. Grab a coffee - it takes 2-3 minutes!

Test Docker Installation

docker run hello-world

If you see “Hello from Docker!” - you’re ready to go!

Step 4: Choose Your RSS Services

Before setting up, let’s understand your options. We have a 2+1 architecture:

The Main RSS Reader (Choose One)

You need one main RSS reader to manage your feeds:

FreshRSS - The Beginner-Friendly Choice

Perfect for:

First-time self-hosters
Users who want a traditional, familiar interface
Those who prefer simplicity over advanced features

Why Choose FreshRSS:

Clean, intuitive web interface
Easy mobile app integration
Great API support for SmartRSS
Simple setup and maintenance
Large community and documentation

Resource Usage: Light (~100MB RAM)

Miniflux - The Power User’s Choice

Perfect for:

Experienced users who want maximum speed
Keyboard shortcut enthusiasts
Users who prefer minimal, distraction-free reading
Those who want the most modern tech stack

Why Choose Miniflux:

Blazing fast performance
Excellent keyboard navigation
Powerful filtering and search
Modern, responsive design
Built-in feed fetching optimization

Resource Usage: Light (~150MB RAM including PostgreSQL)

Can’t Decide? Start with FreshRSS - it’s easier for beginners, and you can always switch later!

Optional: RSSHub - The RSS Supercharger

What is RSSHub?

RSSHub is a game-changer for RSS users. Many modern websites (YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, etc.) don’t provide RSS feeds anymore. RSSHub solves this by generating RSS feeds from virtually any website!

Why You Might Want RSSHub:

No RSS? No Problem! - Generate feeds from 400+ platforms
Social Media Feeds - YouTube channels, Twitter users, Instagram posts
Custom Content - Create feeds from specific websites, filters, or keywords
Flexible & Powerful - Customize feed content, update frequency, and format
Free & Open - No API keys needed, community-driven

Examples of what RSSHub can do:

Get RSS feeds from your favorite YouTube channels
Follow Twitter users without using Twitter
Track Instagram posts from specific accounts
Monitor Telegram channels
Create feeds from websites that don’t have RSS
And hundreds more use cases!

Resource Usage: Moderate (~200MB RAM with Redis)

Recommendation: Start without RSSHub. Add it later if you need feeds from social media or non-RSS websites.

Step 5: Set Up Your Chosen Service

Create Project Directory

mkdir -p ~/rss-services
cd ~/rss-services

Option A: FreshRSS Setup (Recommended for Beginners)

mkdir freshrss && cd freshrss
nano docker-compose.yml

version: "3.8"

services:
  freshrss:
    image: freshrss/freshrss:latest
    container_name: freshrss
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    volumes:
      - ./freshrss-data:/var/www/FreshRSS/data
      - ./freshrss-extensions:/var/www/FreshRSS/extensions
    environment:
      - CRON_MIN=*/10
      - TZ=Asia/Shanghai

Configuration:

TZ=Asia/Shanghai → Change to your timezone

Save and exit: Press Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter

Option B: Miniflux Setup (For Power Users)

cd ~/rss-services
mkdir miniflux && cd miniflux
nano docker-compose.yml

Copy and paste this configuration:

version: "3.8"

services:
  miniflux:
    image: miniflux/miniflux:latest
    container_name: miniflux
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "8081:8080"
    environment:
      - DATABASE_URL=postgres://miniflux:secret@miniflux-db/miniflux?sslmode=disable
      - RUN_MIGRATIONS=1
      - CREATE_ADMIN=1
      - ADMIN_USERNAME=admin
      - ADMIN_PASSWORD=changeme
      - BASE_URL=http://your_server_ip:8081
      - CLEANUP_FREQUENCY=24
      - POLLING_FREQUENCY=60
      - TZ=Asia/Shanghai
    depends_on:
      - miniflux-db

  miniflux-db:
    image: postgres:15
    container_name: miniflux-db
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER=miniflux
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=secret
      - POSTGRES_DB=miniflux
    volumes:
      - miniflux-db:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U miniflux"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

volumes:
  miniflux-db:

Configuration:

ADMIN_USERNAME=admin → Your desired username
ADMIN_PASSWORD=changeme → Choose a strong password
BASE_URL=http://your_server_ip:8081 → Replace with your server IP
TZ=Asia/Shanghai → Change to your timezone

Save and exit: Press Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter

Option C: Add RSSHub (Optional)

Only install RSSHub if you need feeds from social media or non-RSS websites.

cd ~/rss-services
mkdir rsshub && cd rsshub
nano docker-compose.yml

Copy and paste this configuration:

version: "3.8"

services:
  rsshub:
    image: diygod/rsshub:latest
    container_name: rsshub
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "1200:1200"
    environment:
      NODE_ENV: production
      CACHE_TYPE: redis
      REDIS_URL: redis://rsshub-redis:6379/
    depends_on:
      - rsshub-redis

  rsshub-redis:
    image: redis:alpine
    container_name: rsshub-redis
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - rsshub-redis-data:/data
    command: redis-server --appendonly yes

volumes:
  rsshub-redis-data:

Save and exit: Press Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter

Step 6: Launch Your Services

Navigate to your chosen service directory and start it:

For FreshRSS:

cd ~/rss-services/freshrss
docker compose up -d

For Miniflux:

cd ~/rss-services/miniflux
docker compose up -d

For RSSHub (if installed):

cd ~/rss-services/rsshub
docker compose up -d

This will download and start your services. Wait 2-3 minutes for everything to initialize.

Check if Everything is Running

# For FreshRSS
cd ~/rss-services/freshrss && docker compose ps

# For Miniflux
cd ~/rss-services/miniflux && docker compose ps

# For RSSHub
cd ~/rss-services/rsshub && docker compose ps

You should see services marked as “Up” - that means they’re working! 🚀

Step 7: Access and Configure Your Services

FreshRSS Setup

URL: http://your_server_ip:8080
First time: Click “Installation” and create your admin account
Perfect for: Beginners who want a simple, clean interface

Miniflux Setup

URL: http://your_server_ip:8081
Login: Use the username/password you set in the config file
Perfect for: Users who want speed and powerful features

RSSHub (No Setup Needed!)

URL: http://your_server_ip:1200
No login required - it just works!
Use it to: Generate RSS feeds from YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Documentation: Visit the URL to see all available routes and examples

Step 8: Enable API Access for SmartRSS

Now the exciting part - connecting your RSS services to SmartRSS!

Enable FreshRSS API

Login to FreshRSS at http://your_server_ip:8080
Click on your username (top right) → Administration
Go to “Authentication” → Enable “Enable API access”
Save changes
Generate API credentials:
- Still in Administration, go to “Profile”
- Scroll to “API” section
- Click “Generate” to create your API password
- Copy your API username and password - you’ll need these for SmartRSS!

Enable Miniflux API

Great news! Miniflux API is enabled by default - no setup needed!

Step 9: Connect SmartRSS to Your Server

Now you can connect SmartRSS to your self-hosted services!

For FreshRSS Users:

Open SmartRSS on your device
Add a new account → Select “FreshRSS”
Enter your server details:
- Server URL: http://your_server_ip:8080/api/
- Username: Your FreshRSS username
- Password: Your API password (from Step 7)
Test connection and enjoy your synced feeds!

For Miniflux Users:

Open SmartRSS on your device
Add a new account → Select “Miniflux”
Enter your server details:
- Server URL: http://your_server_ip:8081/
- Username: Your Miniflux username
- Password: Your Miniflux password
Test connection and you’re ready to go!

Add Feeds from RSSHub

Want to follow a YouTube channel or Twitter user that doesn’t have RSS?

Browse RSSHub at http://your_server_ip:1200
Find the route you need (e.g., /youtube/user/:username)
Copy the RSS feed URL
Add it directly in SmartRSS or your FreshRSS/Miniflux web interface!

Popular RSSHub routes:

YouTube: http://your_server_ip:1200/youtube/user/:username
Twitter: http://your_server_ip:1200/twitter/user/:username
Instagram: http://your_server_ip:1200/instagram/user/:username
Telegram: http://your_server_ip:1200/telegram/channel/:channelname

Quick Management Commands

Check Service Status

# For FreshRSS
cd ~/rss-services/freshrss && docker compose ps

# For Miniflux
cd ~/rss-services/miniflux && docker compose ps

# For RSSHub
cd ~/rss-services/rsshub && docker compose ps

View Logs (if something goes wrong)

# For FreshRSS
cd ~/rss-services/freshrss && docker compose logs -f

# For Miniflux
cd ~/rss-services/miniflux && docker compose logs -f

# For RSSHub
cd ~/rss-services/rsshub && docker compose logs -f

Restart a Service

# For FreshRSS
cd ~/rss-services/freshrss && docker compose restart

# For Miniflux
cd ~/rss-services/miniflux && docker compose restart

# For RSSHub
cd ~/rss-services/rsshub && docker compose restart

Update Your Services

# For FreshRSS
cd ~/rss-services/freshrss && docker compose pull && docker compose up -d

# For Miniflux
cd ~/rss-services/miniflux && docker compose pull && docker compose up -d

# For RSSHub
cd ~/rss-services/rsshub && docker compose pull && docker compose up -d

Stop Services

# For FreshRSS
cd ~/rss-services/freshrss && docker compose down

# For Miniflux
cd ~/rss-services/miniflux && docker compose down

# For RSSHub
cd ~/rss-services/rsshub && docker compose down

Common Issues and Fixes

Services Won’t Start

# Check what's wrong (replace with your service)
cd ~/rss-services/freshrss  # or miniflux or rsshub
docker compose logs

# Restart everything
docker compose restart

Can’t Access Your Server

Make sure your VPS provider’s firewall allows these ports (only for services you installed):

8080 (FreshRSS)
8081 (Miniflux)
1200 (RSSHub)

SmartRSS Won’t Connect

Double-check your server URL - include http:// and the port number
Verify your API credentials - re-generate them if needed
Test the web interface - make sure you can login in your browser first

Conclusion

You’ve just built your own RSS backend that works perfectly with SmartRSS! Your feeds will sync across all your devices, you have complete privacy, and you’re saving money on monthly subscription fees.

Start adding your favorite feeds and enjoy the ultimate RSS experience!

Need help? Check out the official documentation:

Happy reading!

Ready to supercharge your RSS experience? Download today and start using these powerful AI prompts!

📱 Download SmartRSS Now

Available on both iOS and Android platforms

🍎 Download for iOS 🤖 Download for Android

Build Your RSS Backend for SmartRSS: A Beginner's Guide to FreshRSS, Miniflux, and RSSHub

Why Build Your Own RSS Backend?

What You’ll Need

Quick Start: Try Official Instances First

Official FreshRSS Demo

Official Miniflux Demo

Step 1: Get Your VPS Ready

Choosing and Purchasing a VPS

Deploy Your Server (Super Simple!)

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Step 3: Install Docker (One Command!)

Test Docker Installation

Step 4: Choose Your RSS Services

The Main RSS Reader (Choose One)

FreshRSS - The Beginner-Friendly Choice

Miniflux - The Power User’s Choice

Optional: RSSHub - The RSS Supercharger

Step 5: Set Up Your Chosen Service

Create Project Directory

Option A: FreshRSS Setup (Recommended for Beginners)

Option B: Miniflux Setup (For Power Users)

Option C: Add RSSHub (Optional)

Step 6: Launch Your Services

For FreshRSS:

For Miniflux:

For RSSHub (if installed):

Check if Everything is Running

Step 7: Access and Configure Your Services

FreshRSS Setup

Miniflux Setup

RSSHub (No Setup Needed!)

Step 8: Enable API Access for SmartRSS

Enable FreshRSS API

Enable Miniflux API

Step 9: Connect SmartRSS to Your Server

For FreshRSS Users:

For Miniflux Users:

Add Feeds from RSSHub

Quick Management Commands

Check Service Status

View Logs (if something goes wrong)

Restart a Service

Update Your Services

Stop Services

Common Issues and Fixes

Services Won’t Start

Can’t Access Your Server

SmartRSS Won’t Connect

Conclusion

📱 Download SmartRSS Now

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