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Arc Publishing vs The Old Reader

Arc Publishing logo

Arc Publishing

Software

The enterprise publishing platform for news organizations

From
On request
Rated
-
The Old Reader logo

The Old Reader

Software

A classic RSS reader for the modern web

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only The Old Reader has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, The Old Reader covers RSS reading.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arc Publishing and The Old Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where Arc Publishing and The Old Reader differ
AttributeArc PublishingThe Old Reader
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20162012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arc Publishing

  • Modular CMS
  • Content creation
  • Publishing workflow
  • Paywall management
  • Subscription billing
  • Analytics dashboard
  • API framework
  • Commerce integration

Only in The Old Reader

  • RSS reading
  • Social sharing
  • Following friends
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • OPML import/export
  • Third-party apps
  • Browser bookmarklet
  • Ios support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arc Publishing

  • Content management for news and digital publishersnot The Old Reader
  • Subscription and paywall managementnot The Old Reader
  • Video publishing alongside articlesnot The Old Reader
  • Multi-site delivery for broadcast and B2B publishersnot The Old Reader

The Old Reader

  • RSS readingnot Arc Publishing
  • News aggregationnot Arc Publishing
  • Social readingnot Arc Publishing

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arc Publishing

  • Now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
  • Pricing is not published
  • Built for media companies, so the editorial workflow assumptions do not suit a general business site

The Old Reader

Nothing recorded yet. See the The Old Reader review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Arc Publishing

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Custom CMS
    • Paywall integration
    • Advanced analytics

The Old Reader

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 subscriptions
    • Social features
    • Web access
  • Premium$3/month
    • 500 subscriptions
    • Search history
    • Priority refresh
  • Supporter$5/month
    • Unlimited subscriptions
    • All premium features
    • Support development

Which should you pick?

Choose Arc Publishing if

  • You need modular cms.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want content creation.

Choose The Old Reader if

  • You need rss reading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want social sharing.

Questions people ask

Is Arc Publishing or The Old Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. Arc Publishing starts at On request and The Old Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arc Publishing or The Old Reader?
The Old Reader has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Arc Publishing and Free for The Old Reader.
Does Arc Publishing or The Old Reader run on more platforms?
Arc Publishing runs on Web, Mobile. The Old Reader runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use The Old Reader for free?
Yes. The Old Reader has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arc Publishing starts at On request.
What is Arc Publishing best used for?
Arc Publishing is most often used for content management for news and digital publishers, subscription and paywall management, video publishing alongside articles, multi-site delivery for broadcast and b2b publishers. Of those, content management for news and digital publishers and subscription and paywall management are not what The Old Reader is typically brought in for.
What can Arc Publishing do that The Old Reader cannot?
Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, Content creation, Publishing workflow, Paywall management. The Old Reader covers RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends, Keyboard shortcuts. Both handle Web support.

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