Narr is a free, open source reader for Nostr and RSS feeds, built for people who want to follow both kinds of content in one place. It suits Windows users who prefer to keep their reading setup under their own control, whether on a desktop or on a server at home.
The program can run as a desktop application or as a personal self-hosted server, so the same reader can serve one machine or be reached from your own devices. Narr is written in Go, supports the Fever API for syncing with compatible apps, and ships prebuilt Windows binaries alongside Linux and macOS builds. The latest version is v0.3.3, and the most recent code update dates from April 2025.
What Is Narr and Why Combine Nostr With RSS?
Nostr is an open protocol for social posting. Messages are signed with the author's key pair and sent through relays, which are servers that store and forward them. Because no single company owns the network, people can move between apps and keep their identity.
RSS is an older but still widely used way to follow websites. Blogs, news outlets and podcasts publish feeds, and a feed reader gathers new items into one list instead of making you visit each site.
Narr brings both worlds into one reader. Someone who follows a handful of Nostr accounts and a dozen blogs can read them side by side, without juggling a social app and a separate RSS tool. It also helps to separate two roles: the reader displays content, while a server keeps your subscriptions and read status so every device shows the same state. That combination is the core idea behind the project.
Who Is Narr For?
Narr suits a few distinct groups. The first is long-time RSS users who want feed reading on a machine they control rather than on a hosted service. They can run Narr on a home PC, a small server or a home lab box and keep their subscriptions private to that setup.
The second group is Nostr users who prefer a desktop client to a phone. Narr gives them a Windows program that treats Nostr content alongside other sources, so they do not need a separate window for each.
A third group is people who already use Fever-compatible reading apps on a phone or tablet. Pointing those apps at a personal Narr instance keeps the mobile habit while moving the data to hardware they own.
Narr is less suited to readers who want a heavily designed app with many built-in integrations. It is a focused tool, and its strength lies in control rather than in extras.
How a Self-Hosted Feed Reader Works
A self-hosted reader divides the work in two. The server fetches feeds on a schedule, stores items and tracks which ones you have read. Client apps then ask the server for updates. Because the state lives on the server, your read list stays consistent whether you open the desktop program or a synced mobile app.
This design also explains why a background program can be useful. Narr can keep running while you work in other programs, so new items arrive without you launching anything each time. Keeping the program in one predictable folder makes it easier to manage over time.
Self-hosting means you decide when to update. Check the project's release page periodically, replace the program with a newer build, and back up any data directory the program creates. A few minutes of routine maintenance keeps the setup reliable.
Key features
Desktop App and Personal Server
Fever API Support
Open Source and Written in Go
Supported coins
Narr's documentation names Nostr as its supported network. RSS feeds sit alongside it as a content source rather than as a blockchain network, so the program is best understood as a reader for social posts and websites.
How to install Narr on Windows
- 1
Download the Windows build
Get the Windows 64-bit archive for version v0.3.3 from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page. Download only from the official website or GitHub, and avoid mirror sites that repackage the file.
- 2
Verify the file
If the release page publishes a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, compare it with your downloaded file before you extract it. PowerShell's Get-FileHash command can calculate the hash for you.
- 3
Unzip the archive
Extract the zip to a folder you control, such as a dedicated directory in your user profile. Keeping the program in one place makes later updates simpler.
- 4
Open narr.exe
Double-click narr.exe to start the program. It runs without a separate installer step.
-
Open the interface from the tray
Click the Narr icon in the system tray and select Open to show the main window.
How to use Narr
Narr is quick to start once the archive is unpacked. The steps below cover a first session on a Windows PC.
- Launch narr.exe and wait for its icon to appear in the system tray.
- Click the tray icon and select Open to bring up the interface.
- Add your Nostr content and RSS feeds as sources in the reader.
- If you plan to use a phone or tablet, set up Fever API access on the server side, following the project documentation.
- Connect a compatible Fever client to your server and confirm that both apps show the same read status.
Start with a small set of sources. Adding dozens of feeds on day one makes it harder to judge whether the setup works as expected, and it is easier to add more once the basics feel stable.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with no cost to download or run
- Works as both a desktop program and a self-hosted personal server
- Supports the Fever API for use with compatible reading apps
- Simple Windows start: unzip the archive and launch narr.exe
- Prebuilt binaries are also available for Linux and macOS
- Self-hosting means you maintain the server and its updates yourself
- Nostr is the only network named in its documentation, so it is not a multi-protocol hub
- The most recent code update dates from April 2025, so review project activity before relying on it daily
- Its focused feature set may feel sparse next to larger, heavily designed readers
Is Narr safe?
Narr is open source, so you can inspect the code, but that only helps if you run the official build. Get the archive from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, then compare its SHA-256 checksum or signature when one is published. Files from third-party download sites may be modified, so treat unofficial copies as untrusted.
Windows may show a warning for an unsigned program from a small project. Check the file hash first rather than turning off your security tools. Nostr accounts rely on private keys, so never paste a private key into a website that asks for it.
The last code update is from April 2025, so review the project's activity and check the latest version on the official website before using Narr for daily reading.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/fiatjaf/narr. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Narr sits in a small group of Nostr-focused software, and the differences are mostly about scope. Amethyst is a Nostr client, Gossip is a desktop Nostr client written in Rust, and Vega is a cross-platform desktop client for Nostr. Each concentrates on Nostr alone. Blockcore Notes is a progressive web app for organizing who you follow into circles.
Narr differs by adding RSS feeds to the mix and by offering a self-hosted server with Fever API support. If you only want a Nostr client, one of the dedicated apps will probably feel more focused. If you want one reader for blogs and Nostr that you host yourself, Narr is the more direct fit.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.3.3
- Last update
- 27 Apr 2025
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/fiatjaf/narr
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Narr is free and open source, so you can download the Windows build, run it on your own machine, and read its code without paying for a license. A self-hosted server may use hardware or hosting you already pay for, so factor that in if you plan to run it continuously.
Narr can be safe if you get it from the official source and check the file. Use the project's GitHub Releases page, compare the SHA-256 checksum or signature when one is published, and be cautious with copies from other sites. Never enter private keys into websites that ask for them.
Narr is used to read Nostr posts and RSS feeds in one place. Some people run it on a Windows PC as a desktop reader, while others host it as a personal server so that their feeds and read status stay on their own hardware.
The Fever API is a protocol that lets feed reading apps synchronize subscriptions and read status with a server. Narr supports it, so compatible apps can connect to your own instance. This gives you mobile access to your reading without relying on a hosted service.
Yes. The project publishes prebuilt binaries for Linux, macOS and Windows on AMD64. This page focuses on the Windows setup, which uses a zip archive containing narr.exe, but the program is also available for the other two systems.
No. Go is the language the program is written in and is used to build it from source. The ready-made Windows build is a standalone archive, so you only need Go if you want to compile Narr yourself from the GitHub repository.
Partly. Narr reads Nostr content, but it also handles RSS feeds and can run as a self-hosted server. If you want a dedicated Nostr app with a narrower focus, a client such as Amethyst may suit you better.
Verdict
Narr is a practical choice for Windows users who want Nostr and RSS in one reader and prefer to host their own data. It is free, open source and flexible, with a desktop mode, a self-hosted server option and Fever API support. Its latest code update dates from April 2025, and its feature set is focused rather than broad, so it suits people comfortable with self-hosting and occasional maintenance. If you want a polished Nostr-only client, look at Amethyst or Gossip first. If you want a control-focused feed hub, Narr is worth trying.