A Google News alternative where you decide what you see
Google News picks your stories for you. Muuted does the opposite: you pick the sources, everything arrives newest first, and anything you do not want to see can be muted by word or phrase — with a review list so you can always check what was hidden.
Why people go looking for an alternative
Google News is convenient, but the trade-off is control. Algorithms decide which stories appear and how parts of Google News are ordered. The "show fewer" button is a suggestion to that algorithm, not a rule — a topic you asked to see less of can keep coming back, and there is no list of what was filtered out on your behalf. And as of mid-2026 there is no OPML export, so the sources and preferences you build up over years cannot move with you. (Google changes its products often; the details here can change.)
If any of that is why you are here, the fix is not a better algorithm. It is no algorithm.
What Muuted does differently
Muuted is a calm feed for everything you follow. You add the sources yourself — news sites and blogs via RSS, YouTube channels, podcasts, weather and local news. Stories appear in one feed, newest first. There is no ranking, no recommendations, and no ads on any tier. When you reach the end, it tells you that you are caught up. Nothing refills the page to keep you scrolling.
Filtering is a rule you write, not a preference you hope sticks. Mute any word or phrase in one tap — forever, or for a day, a week, or a month. Every hidden story goes to a review list that shows the exact rule that caught it, and you can restore the story or remove the rule at any time. Detox packs go further: curated mute-word sets that quiet a whole subject, such as Politics or Spoilers. Each pack shows the exact words before you apply it, and it lands as a named list you can pause, edit, or delete.
Your data stays yours. Muuted supports OPML import and export plus one-click JSON backup, so there is no lock-in. Muuted uses no advertising trackers, and nothing you read is used to build a profile of you.
Muuted vs Google News
| Muuted | Google News | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides the feed | You. Your sources, newest first, no algorithm | An algorithm chooses and orders stories |
| Filtering out topics | Mute any word or phrase — forever or for a day, week, or month | "Show fewer" nudges the algorithm; it still decides |
| Reviewing hidden stories | Review list shows every hidden story and the exact rule; restore any time | No list of what was filtered out |
| Ads and pricing | No ads on any tier. Free tier at $0; Pro $4/month or $36/year founding price | Free |
| Data export | OPML import and export, one-click JSON backup | No OPML export as of mid-2026 |
Google News details captured June 2026 from public information; Google's features and policies can change. Muuted's founding price is kept for as long as the subscription stays active.
When Google News is the better pick
- You want zero setup. Google News works the moment you open it; Muuted asks you to add your own sources first.
- You want breadth and discovery. Google News surfaces outlets and stories you never asked for — sometimes that is exactly the point.
- You want free with no decisions. Google News costs nothing and requires no configuration; the ads and the algorithm are the trade.
- You want a native mobile app. Muuted is a web app. It works well on phones, but it is not in an app store.
When Muuted fits
Muuted fits if you already know which sources you trust and you want them in one quiet place. It fits if "show fewer" has burned you and you want muting that actually holds — and that you can audit. It fits if you follow more than news: YouTube channels and podcasts sit in the same feed, chronological, with no recommendations attached. And it fits if you want a way out later; your sources export in a click.
The Free tier is $0 forever: 70 sources, 20 muted words, 30-minute refresh, and one free sample from every starter pack. Pro adds unlimited sources and muted words, 10-minute refresh, junk filters, reading stats, and more, at the $4/month or $36/year founding price.
Muuted is built and run by one person. No ads, ever, on any tier. Headlines open the article on the source's own site.