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Deploy FreshRSS on Hostim.dev (One-Click)

FreshRSS is a self-hosted RSS and Atom feed aggregator. It reads your feeds on a schedule, keeps the articles in your own database, and serves them through a web interface, a mobile-friendly view, and a Google Reader compatible API that clients like Reeder Classic, FeedMe, Fluent Reader or NetNewsWire can talk to. With Hostim.dev, you can deploy FreshRSS with Docker and managed PostgreSQL in one click – complete with automatic domain and HTTPS.

📰 Your feeds, read on your own server, with no algorithm in between.

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Why Host FreshRSS on Hostim.dev?​

  • One-click Docker deployment
  • Managed PostgreSQL, no setup required
  • Install and admin user created automatically on the first boot
  • Feed refresh cron runs inside the container, no external scheduler
  • Automatic HTTPS and domain
  • Real-time logs and metrics
  • Fully self-hosted and private

What's included​

ResourceDetails
Appfreshrss/freshrss Docker image
DatabaseManaged PostgreSQL
Volumes/var/www/FreshRSS/data, /var/www/FreshRSS/extensions
Adminadmin user with a generated password
DomainFree *.hostim.dev subdomain
SSLLet's Encrypt (auto-enabled)
Port80

How to Deploy​

  1. Go to your Hostim.dev dashboard.
  2. Click Create Project → Use a Template.
  3. Select FreshRSS.
  4. Choose a resource plan.
  5. Deploy.
  6. Copy the generated ADMIN_PASSWORD from the app's environment variables and log in as admin.

First steps after deploy​

  1. Change the admin password under Settings → Profile. The generated one is visible to anyone who can read the app's environment variables.
  2. Add your feeds. Use Subscription management → Add a feed, or import an OPML file exported from your old reader.
  3. Check the refresh schedule. The template refreshes feeds at minutes 3 and 33 of every hour. Change CRON_MIN if you want a different schedule, or clear it to refresh manually only.
  4. Connect a mobile client. The API is enabled and the API password is already set to the generated ADMIN_PASSWORD. Point your client at https://your-domain/api/greader.php, user admin, and that password. The API password is separate from the login password, so changing the login password in step 1 does not change it. To change it, use Settings → Profile → External access via API.

FAQ​

Where is my data stored?

Articles, feeds and categories live in the managed PostgreSQL database. The volume mounted at /var/www/FreshRSS/data holds the global configuration and the user accounts — each user's settings, login password and API password — and the one at /var/www/FreshRSS/extensions holds third-party extensions.

How often are feeds refreshed?

A cron job inside the container runs at minutes 3 and 33 of every hour, set by the CRON_MIN variable. Set it to another cron minute expression to change the schedule, or leave it empty to disable the cron and refresh feeds from the web interface only.

Is it safe to restart or update the app?

Yes. The install step and the admin user creation both run only when they are needed. On a restart or after an image update FreshRSS detects that it is already installed, skips both, and leaves your data alone.

Can I use a mobile or desktop RSS client?

Yes. FreshRSS exposes a Google Reader compatible API at /api/greader.php , which is enabled in this template. The API password is pre-set to the generated ADMIN_PASSWORD and is separate from your login password — changing the login password does not change it. Change the API password under Settings → Profile → External access via API.

How do I add more users?

Log in as admin and go to Settings → Manage users. Each user gets their own feeds and their own read state.

How do I import my feeds from another reader?

Export an OPML file from the old reader, then use Subscription management → Import / export in FreshRSS.

How do I back up FreshRSS?

Back up the managed PostgreSQL database and the /var/www/FreshRSS/data volume. The database holds the articles; the volume holds the user accounts and the configuration.

How do I update FreshRSS?

Docker: docker compose pull && docker compose up -d Hostim.dev: redeploy the app.

Alternatives​

  • Miniflux — minimal, single-binary feed reader
  • Tiny Tiny RSS — older PHP feed aggregator with plugins
  • CommaFeed — Java feed reader with a Google Reader style interface

Source + Docs​

Looking for something else? Browse all templates →

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