Inoreader vs The Old Reader: two web RSS readers compared, with what each plan gives you
The Old Reader is a simple RSS reader for the web. Inoreader adds its own apps, more source types, rules and search. Here is how they compare and how to move your feeds if you decide to switch.
Create a free accountLast updated October 16, 2026
What each one is
The Old Reader is a simple RSS reader for the web. You read in the browser, and you can use third-party apps with it through its Google Reader-style API. The service is still online, although its blog was last updated in December 2021 and an acquisition was announced in March 2024.
Inoreader is an RSS reader for the web, iPhone, iPad and Android, with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. Besides websites, it follows YouTube channels, Reddit and Google News searches on the free plan. Pro adds newsletters, feeds for websites without RSS, social feeds, rules, filters and AI summaries.
At a glance
| Inoreader | The Old Reader | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 150 feeds, no ads | 100 feeds |
| Paid plan | Pro, $9.99 a month or $89.99 a year | Premium, with no current price on its site |
| Feeds on the paid plan | 2,500 | 500 |
| Apps | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android, extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge | Web, plus third-party apps through its API |
| Search | Your own feeds on Free, every public feed on Pro | Full-text search on Premium |
| Refresh | At least hourly on Pro, and up to 100 boosted feeds every 10 minutes | Faster refresh on Premium |
Where The Old Reader is the better choice
If you follow websites and blogs, and you are happy reading in a browser or in a third-party app you already like, The Old Reader still does that job. Its free plan covers 100 feeds, which is enough for many people, and Premium raises the limit to 500 feeds and adds full-text search.
If all you want is a list of new posts from the blogs you follow, you may not need more than that. Choose Inoreader when you want your own mobile apps, sources other than websites, or a reader that sorts and forwards articles for you.
Where Inoreader does more
Apps on every device
Inoreader has its own apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, and with Pro you can make folders available offline. The browser extension shows when a site has a feed and lets you follow it with one click. If you prefer a third-party app, Reeder Classic syncs with Inoreader.
More kinds of sources
On the free plan, you can follow YouTube channels, Reddit, podcasts and Google News searches next to your websites. Pro adds newsletters, each with its own email address, and web feeds for sites that have no RSS feed, as well as Bluesky, Telegram and Facebook feeds.
Rules and filters
With Pro, filters keep only the articles that match your keywords, and rules act on every new article. A rule can tag an article, save it, send you an email or a push notification, or forward the article to Slack or a webhook.
Search beyond your own feeds
Search in your own feeds is free. With Pro, you can search every public feed that Inoreader collects and turn any search into a monitoring feed that brings you every new match.
AI when you want it
Pro includes AI summaries of articles, mentions of the companies and people in your feeds, and suggested tags. You decide when to use them.
How to move from The Old Reader to Inoreader
- In The Old Reader, export your subscriptions as an OPML file.
- Create an Inoreader account, open Add feed and choose Import feeds.
- Upload the OPML file. Inoreader keeps your folders and loads the recent articles of every feed.
- If you follow more than 150 feeds, upgrade to Pro, which holds up to 2,500.
- Install the Inoreader app on your phone and the extension in your browser, so you can follow new sites as you find them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Old Reader still working?
Yes, The Old Reader is online as of October 2026. Its blog was last updated in December 2021, and an acquisition was announced in March 2024, so it is worth keeping an export of your feeds whichever reader you use.
How much does The Old Reader Premium cost?
The Old Reader's site does not show a current price for Premium, so check with The Old Reader directly. Inoreader Pro costs $9.99 a month or $89.99 a year, and the pricing page lists what each plan includes.
Can I import my feeds from The Old Reader into Inoreader?
Yes. Export your subscriptions from The Old Reader as an OPML file, then open Add feed in Inoreader and choose Import feeds. Inoreader keeps your folders and loads the recent articles of every feed.
How many feeds can I follow for free?
The free Inoreader plan holds 150 feeds, with no ads. The Old Reader's free plan holds 100. If you follow more than 150 feeds, Inoreader Pro holds up to 2,500.
Can I keep using a third-party app with Inoreader?
Yes. Inoreader has its own apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, and Reeder Classic also syncs with Inoreader, so you can keep reading in the app you know.
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