Medium vs The Old Reader

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.

What people use each for

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

Where each one falls short

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Which should you pick?

Questions people ask

Is Medium or The Old Reader better?

Neither clearly leads. Medium starts at Free and The Old Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Medium or The Old Reader?

Medium starts at Free and The Old Reader at Free.

Does Medium or The Old Reader run on more platforms?

Medium runs on Web, Mobile. The Old Reader runs on Web, Ios, Android.

Can I use Medium for free?

Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.

What is Medium best used for?

Medium is most often used for publishing articles without running your own blog, reading long-form writing across technology, culture and news, earning from writing through the medium partner program. Of those, publishing articles without running your own blog and reading long-form writing across technology, culture and news are not what The Old Reader is typically brought in for.

What can Medium do that The Old Reader cannot?

Medium covers Story publishing, Member program, Earning potential, Reading time estimates. The Old Reader covers RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends, Keyboard shortcuts. Both handle Web support.