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Software · head to head

Chartbeat vs The Old Reader

Chartbeat logo

Chartbeat

Software

Real-time analytics for publishers

From
$1000/month
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: Chartbeat covers Real-time analytics, The Old Reader covers RSS reading.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Chartbeat and The Old Reader differ
AttributeChartbeatThe Old Reader
Starting price$1000/monthFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20092012

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 Chartbeat

  • Real-time analytics
  • Audience insights
  • Content metrics
  • Traffic tracking
  • Google Analytics
  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment
  • English language support

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.

Chartbeat

  • Publisher analyticsnot The Old Reader

The Old Reader

  • RSS readingnot Chartbeat
  • News aggregationnot Chartbeat
  • Social readingnot Chartbeat

Where each one falls short

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

Chartbeat

  • Pricing is customized by website and native app pageviews across four tiers, Essentials, Plus, Premium and Enterprise, and the pricing page publishes no figures, directing visitors to Talk to Sales or Get a Demo

The Old Reader

Nothing recorded yet. See the The Old Reader review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Chartbeat

$1000/month
  • Professional$1000/month
    • Real-time analytics
    • Audience insights

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 Chartbeat if

  • You need real-time analytics.
  • You also want audience insights.

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 Chartbeat or The Old Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. Chartbeat starts at $1000/month and The Old Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chartbeat or The Old Reader?
The Old Reader has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1000/month for Chartbeat and Free for The Old Reader.
Does Chartbeat or The Old Reader run on more platforms?
Chartbeat runs on Web. 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. Chartbeat starts at $1000/month.
What is Chartbeat best used for?
Chartbeat is most often used for publisher analytics. Of those, publisher analytics is not what The Old Reader is typically brought in for.
What can Chartbeat do that The Old Reader cannot?
Chartbeat covers Real-time analytics, Audience insights, Content metrics, Traffic tracking. The Old Reader covers RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends, Keyboard shortcuts. Both handle Web support.

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