Switching readers is annoying, but the part you dread is easier than it looks. Your whole NewsBlur subscription list moves in one file, folders included. About 5 minutes, 5 steps — you'll need your NewsBlur and tribb logins.

Steps

  1. Open NewsBlur's OPML export page. On a desktop browser, sign in to NewsBlur and go directly to newsblur.com/import/opml_export. You can also reach it from inside the app via Manage → Account → Download OPML. OPML export needs your account signed in — there's no equivalent export in the NewsBlur mobile apps.

  2. Download your OPML. The export page returns your file directly rather than showing a button to click first — your browser saves (or shows inline) a file containing your full subscription list with its folder structure. Note where it lands — usually your Downloads folder.

    Gotcha: If it opens as text in the browser tab instead of downloading, use your browser's Save Page As to store it with an .opml extension. Separately, NewsBlur's exporter has been reported to time out or error for very large subscription lists (see the NewsBlur forum's OPML export threads) — if your export comes back empty or truncated, try again after trimming a few feeds, or split the export by folder.

  3. Open Import in tribb. Sign in to tribb and go to the Import page at /import. You'll see a drop zone that reads "drop an .opml file."

  4. Upload the file you exported. Drag the .opml file onto the drop zone, or click it to pick the file from your computer. tribb parses the file, recreates your folders from its structure, and skips any feed you're already subscribed to. When it finishes, you'll see how many feeds were in the file, how many were newly subscribed, and how many you already had.

  5. Open the reader and pick up where you left off. Follow the link to the reader. Your imported feeds are there and start filling with items over the next poll cycle. From the reader you can open an item to read it, save it for later, dismiss it once you're done, or downrank a source to see less like it.

You're done. Every feed made the trip, and tribb takes it from here — welcome aboard.

Coming from a different reader? Here's the Feedly guide, or see the general OPML import guide if your old reader isn't listed.

FAQ

Does my read/unread state carry over?

No. An OPML file lists your feeds and folders, but it carries no per-item read/unread history and no saved stories — that's a limit of the format, not of tribb. Every source you followed comes across; you start with a clean, unread queue rather than a reconstructed one.

What happens to my folders?

Folders come across. tribb reads the folders in your OPML and recreates them, filing each feed under its folder. Deeply nested subfolders are flattened to a single level — each feed lands under its closest folder name. NewsBlur's saved stories and shared items aren't part of the OPML export, so they don't transfer; organize saved reading in tribb once you're in.

Is tribb free to use?

You import feeds, read, and triage with a standard tribb account — no separate reader subscription to switch on. tribb is BYOK (bring your own key) for its AI features: the point-of-need summarizing and questioning runs on an AI key you supply, so those costs stay yours and your reading never becomes anyone's training data. Importing and reading don't require a key.

How long does the import take?

The upload and parse take a few seconds even for a large list. After that, your feeds appear immediately, then fill in with items over the next poll cycles rather than all at once — so an empty-looking feed right after import is normal and resolves on its own.

Can I keep using NewsBlur while I try tribb?

Yes. Exporting an OPML doesn't change or close your NewsBlur account — it just copies your subscription list. Run both in parallel for as long as you like, and re-export and re-import later if you add feeds in NewsBlur before you fully move over.

What if some feeds are missing after import?

tribb skips feeds you're already subscribed to and drops any entry that isn't a valid public feed URL, so the "already had" and "feeds in file" counts explain most gaps. If a feed you expected is missing, check whether NewsBlur's export left it out — large subscription lists have occasionally hit export errors — then re-export and import again.