The Old Reader

Active[1][2][6]

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2012
Developer: Elena Bulygina, Dmitry Krasnoukhov, and Anton Tolchanov[2]
Pricing: Freemium (free up to 100 feeds, premium for more)[2]
Open source: No
Platforms: Web, macOS (via WebCatalog), Windows (via WebCatalog), iOS/Android (third-party apps via API), Linux (web-based)

Indexes

RSS Readers Read Later

Overview

The Old Reader is a web-based RSS news aggregator that delivers content from websites, blogs, and other internet sources to a web inbox. Created after Google Reader discontinued social features, it supports RSS feeds, social sharing including likes, friend discovery via social networks, feed organization, marking items read/unread, and commenting.¹²⁶ It targets users migrating from Google Reader or seeking a centralized platform for RSS and social content consumption with import capabilities.²

Key Features

RSS Feed Management - Subscribe to RSS feeds from blogs, news sites, and websites, organize into categories.
Social Features - Like content, share articles, find and connect with friends via Facebook or Google.
OPML Import - Import feeds from Google Reader or other RSS readers via OPML export.
Full-Text Search (Premium) - Search across subscriptions and stored posts (up to 500 feeds and 1 year storage).
Bookmarklet - Send web pages directly to The Old Reader account from browser.
Read Later Support - Integration with Readability, Instapaper, and Spritz for faster reading.
Mobile API - Google Reader-like API enables third-party mobile apps.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	Free	Up to 100 feeds.
Premium	Not specified	Up to 500 subscriptions, full-text search, 1 year of post storage.

Platforms & Requirements

Primarily a web-based application accessible via any modern browser on desktop or mobile. Desktop wrappers available via WebCatalog for macOS and Windows; Linux supported through web. Third-party mobile apps for iOS and Android connect via Google Reader-compatible API; no official native apps.¹³⁴

Integrations & Ecosystem

OPML import/export
Facebook/Google for sign-in and friend finding
Readability
Instapaper
Spritz
Google Reader API (mobile compatibility)
Browser bookmarklet
OAuth API access

Alternatives

App	Difference
Feedly	Offers more modern interface and broader integrations but less focus on social features from Google Reader era.
Inoreader	Provides advanced filtering and automation, with steeper learning curve compared to The Old Reader's simplicity.
NewsBlur	Self-hosted option available, emphasizes privacy and longer article storage.
Feedbin	Minimalist design with better email notifications but fewer social features.

Reputation

The Old Reader is recognized as a reliable Google Reader successor among RSS enthusiasts for its social features, easy import, and stability.² Users appreciate the clean interface and sharing capabilities, though some note limitations in the free tier and lack of official mobile apps.¹⁴ Criticisms include basic search in free version and dependency on third-party mobile clients.²

Sources (8)