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Inoreader vs Substack

Inoreader logo

Inoreader

News

The content reader for power users

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substack logo

Substack

News

The newsletter platform for writers and publishers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Inoreader free plan limited to 150 RSS feeds and 20 web feeds; Substack substack does not publish pricing on its public pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: Inoreader covers RSS/Atom feeds, Substack covers Newsletter publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Inoreader and Substack actually diverge.

Attributes where Inoreader and Substack differ
AttributeInoreaderSubstack
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile
Founded20132017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (News).

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 Inoreader

  • RSS/Atom feeds
  • Newsletter subscriptions
  • Advanced rules engine
  • Active search
  • Content translation
  • Zapier
  • IFTTT
  • Pocket

Only in Substack

  • Newsletter publishing
  • Subscriber management
  • Paid subscriptions
  • Email analytics
  • Post scheduling
  • Archive creation
  • Free/paid tier split
  • Comments & discussion

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Inoreader

  • RSS feed aggregation and monitoringnot Substack
  • Social media monitoring across multiple platformsnot Substack
  • AI-powered content summarisation and article analysisnot Substack

Substack

  • Newsletter distributionnot Inoreader
  • Reader monetizationnot Inoreader
  • Community buildingnot Inoreader
  • Subscriber managementnot Inoreader

Where each one falls short

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

Inoreader

  • Free plan limited to 150 RSS feeds and 20 web feeds
  • Free plan lacks advanced features like filters, rules, and social media monitoring
  • Text-to-speech limited to 5 articles per day on Pro plan
  • Article translation limited to 10 articles per day on Pro plan

Substack

  • Substack does not publish pricing on its public pricing page

Pricing, plan by plan

Inoreader

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 150 RSS feed subscriptions
    • Web search
    • Google News alerts
  • Pro$7.5/month
    • 2,500 RSS feed subscriptions
    • 20 web feeds
    • 20 newsletter feeds
  • Custom$null/custom
    • Flexible payment options
    • Special add-ons available
    • API access

Substack

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited newsletters
    • Basic design
    • Archive access
  • Pro$12/month
    • Custom domain
    • Advanced analytics
    • Member chat

Which should you pick?

Choose Inoreader if

  • You need rss/atom feeds.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want newsletter subscriptions.
Inoreader review

Choose Substack if

  • You need newsletter publishing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want subscriber management.
Substack review

Questions people ask

Is Inoreader or Substack better?
Neither clearly leads. Inoreader starts at Free and Substack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Inoreader or Substack?
Inoreader starts at Free and Substack at Free.
Does Inoreader or Substack run on more platforms?
Inoreader runs on Web, iOS, Android. Substack runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Inoreader for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Inoreader best used for?
Inoreader is most often used for rss feed aggregation and monitoring, social media monitoring across multiple platforms, ai-powered content summarisation and article analysis. Of those, rss feed aggregation and monitoring and social media monitoring across multiple platforms are not what Substack is typically brought in for.
What can Inoreader do that Substack cannot?
Inoreader covers RSS/Atom feeds, Newsletter subscriptions, Advanced rules engine, Active search. Substack covers Newsletter publishing, Subscriber management, Paid subscriptions, Email analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Inoreader: What is the difference between Inoreader Free and Pro plans?

Inoreader Free includes 150 RSS subscriptions, web search, and Google News alerts. Pro upgrades to 2,500 subscriptions, 20 web feeds, 20 newsletters, 30 social feeds per service, plus API access and higher limits on translations and text-to-speech conversions.

Source
Substack: How much does Substack cost?

Substack does not publish rates on its pricing page. The site emphasizes earning potential for writers with the tagline Make money doing the work you believe in.

Source
Inoreader: How much does Inoreader Pro cost?

Inoreader Pro costs $7.50 per month when billed annually or $9.99 per month on a monthly plan. The annual plan is marked as the most popular option and offers a lower monthly rate.

Source
Inoreader: What payment methods does Inoreader accept?

Inoreader accepts all major credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. EU customers have VAT applied based on their country. Annual subscriptions have a 7-day refund window.

Source
Inoreader: Does Inoreader Pro include API access?

Yes, Inoreader Pro includes API access. Custom plans with flexible payment options and special add-ons are also available through a quote request.

Source
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