The Old Reader
A simple web feed reader in the style of the original Google Reader, with social sharing.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
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About The Old Reader
The Old Reader started in 2012 as a social RSS reader for people who missed Google Reader's look and sharing features, and it has kept that spirit. You add sites or feeds, organise them into folders by dragging, read in expanded or list view with keyboard shortcuts, and like, share or comment on posts with friends who use the service. Importing an OPML file brings your subscriptions and folders across from another reader. It is web-first, and works with third-party apps such as Reeder, Vienna and Liferea, plus Android clients. Many parts of the service are free, with premium features available for a fee that adds capacity and faster refresh. The design has barely changed over the years, which longtime fans like, but it lacks newsletters, AI features and the automation found in newer services. It suits people who want a straightforward, social, chronological reader.
Best for: Former Google Reader users who want a familiar, simple and social web reader.
Pros and cons
What works
- Familiar Google Reader-style layout and shortcuts
- Social likes, shares and comments with friends
- Easy OPML import with folders
- Supported by Reeder, Vienna, Liferea and others
Why people leave
- Dated design and slow feature development
- No newsletter, AI or advanced filtering features
- Pricing details are only shown at purchase
Top The Old Reader alternatives
See all 5- 1
Inoreader66.5Far more features, including rules and newsletters, with a bigger free plan.
- 2
Feedly62.6More modern hosted reader with native mobile apps.
- 3
NewsBlur59.6Also has social sharing, plus training and native apps.
- 4
CommaFeed57.2Google Reader-inspired and self-hosted, if you'd rather run it yourself.
- 5
Feedbin55.3Clean paid service with newsletters, podcasts and YouTube.
Why people left The Old Reader
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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The Old Reader: common questions
Is The Old Reader free?
The Old Reader has a free plan and paid plans.
Is The Old Reader open source?
No, The Old Reader is not open source. Open-source alternatives include NewsBlur and CommaFeed.
What platforms does The Old Reader run on?
The Old Reader is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to The Old Reader?
The highest-ranked The Old Reader alternatives right now are Inoreader, Feedly and NewsBlur. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.