RSS Feed Validator
Check your RSS, Atom, or JSON feed for errors. Preview content, validate W3C compliance, and fix issues before publishing — free, no signup required.
Try with example feeds
Click any example to instantly validate
Why Use This RSS Validator?
A comprehensive tool for developers and podcasters to validate, debug, and optimize their feeds.
W3C Strict Validation Mode
Enable strict validation to check against W3C RSS specifications. Catches issues like invalid URIs, RFC-822 date format errors, missing required elements, and encoding problems.
RSS, Atom & JSON Feed Support
Validate RSS 1.0, RSS 2.0, Atom 1.0, JSON Feed, and podcast feeds. Auto-detects format and applies the correct validation rules for each specification.
Instant Feed Preview
Preview how your RSS feed content appears to subscribers. See titles, descriptions, images, and dates exactly as feed readers will display them.
Line-by-Line Error Reports
Get detailed error analysis with exact line numbers (e.g., Line 6:96). Each issue shows the element, context, and specific fix instructions.
Podcast RSS Validation
Validate iTunes/Apple Podcasts tags including itunes:author, itunes:category, and episode enclosures. Ensure Spotify and Google Podcasts compatibility.
Common RSS Errors Fixed
Detect common issues: invalid characters in URLs, malformed pubDate formats, missing CDATA tags, broken links, and XML syntax errors.
How to Validate Your RSS Feed
Validate and preview your RSS feed in seconds. Paste the URL, get instant results, and fix any issues.
Enter Your Feed URL
Paste your RSS or Atom feed URL into the validator. We support all major feed formats including RSS 2.0, RSS 1.0, Atom, JSON Feed, and podcast feeds.
Instant Validation
Our validator fetches your feed and performs comprehensive checks in seconds. We analyze XML structure, required elements, date formats, URLs, and encoding.
Review Results
Get a detailed report showing any errors or warnings. Each issue includes a clear explanation and specific guidance on how to fix it.
Preview & Share
Preview how your feed will appear to subscribers. Once validated, share your feed with confidence knowing it works across all major feed readers.
What We Check During Validation
RSS Feed Validation FAQ
Common questions about validating and previewing RSS, Atom, and podcast feeds
What does W3C strict validation check for?
When you enable "Strict validation (W3C compliant checks)", the validator performs rigorous checks against W3C RSS specifications. This includes: invalid characters in URIs, RFC-822 date format compliance for pubDate elements, valid absolute URLs in link elements, proper XML encoding, and required element validation. You will see detailed errors like "Invalid character in a URI" or "pubDate must be an RFC-822 date-time" with exact line numbers.
Is this RSS validator free to use?
Yes, our RSS validator is completely free to use with no limitations. You can validate as many feeds as you want without creating an account or signing up. We believe every content creator and developer should have access to professional-grade validation tools.
What feed formats does the validator support?
Our validator supports all major feed formats including RSS 2.0, RSS 1.0 (RDF), Atom 1.0, JSON Feed, and podcast-specific RSS feeds with iTunes tags. The validator automatically detects the format and applies the appropriate validation rules.
How do I fix RSS feed errors?
When our validator detects errors, it provides detailed explanations of each issue along with specific guidance on how to fix it. Common fixes include correcting date formats to RFC 822 standard, ensuring required elements like <title> and <link> are present, fixing malformed XML tags, and properly encoding special characters using CDATA sections.
Why is my RSS feed showing as invalid?
RSS feeds can be invalid for several reasons: malformed XML syntax, missing required elements, incorrect date formats, invalid URLs, encoding issues with special characters, or incorrect namespace declarations. Our validator identifies the specific issues and shows you exactly where they occur in your feed.
Can I validate podcast RSS feeds?
Absolutely! Our validator fully supports podcast RSS feeds and checks for Apple Podcasts (iTunes) specific tags like <itunes:author>, <itunes:category>, <itunes:image>, and episode-level tags. This ensures your podcast is ready for submission to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and other directories.
What is the difference between errors and warnings?
Errors are critical issues that will cause your feed to fail in feed readers or podcast directories. These must be fixed. Warnings are recommendations for best practices that may affect compatibility with some readers but will not break your feed entirely. The validator clearly distinguishes between the two so you can prioritize fixes.
What is the difference between RSS and Atom feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) and Atom are both XML-based feed formats for syndicating content. RSS 2.0 is the most widely used format and is simpler, while Atom 1.0 is more precisely specified and better handles internationalization. Most feed readers support both formats, so the choice often depends on your platform or personal preference.
Does validating affect my actual RSS feed?
No, our validator only reads your feed to check for errors — it never modifies your actual RSS file. The validation process is completely safe and non-destructive. You will need to make any corrections manually in your source file or CMS.
Validate Your RSS Feed Now
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