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Podcasting · head to head

Podomatic vs The Old Reader

Podomatic logo

Podomatic

Podcasting

Simple podcast creation and hosting

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
The Old Reader logo

The Old Reader

News

A classic RSS reader for the modern web

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: Podomatic covers Podcast hosting, The Old Reader covers RSS reading.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Podomatic and The Old Reader differ
AttributePodomaticThe Old Reader
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryPodcastingNews
Founded20052012

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

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 Podomatic

  • Podcast hosting
  • Distribution
  • Built-in recording
  • Audio editing
  • Podcast website
  • RSS feed
  • Podcast platforms
  • Social media

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.

Podomatic

  • Hosting and publishing a podcast with a ready made listener pagenot The Old Reader
  • Starting a podcast on a free tier before paying for bandwidthnot The Old Reader
  • Serving audio downloads to a growing audience on metered bandwidth plansnot The Old Reader

The Old Reader

  • RSS readingnot Podomatic
  • News aggregationnot Podomatic
  • Social readingnot Podomatic

Where each one falls short

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

Podomatic

  • Free plan caps storage at 500MB and bandwidth at 15GB per month, which Podomatic equates to roughly 300 listens
  • Pro Plus at $9.99 per month caps storage at 3GB and bandwidth at 200GB per month
  • Pro Platinum at $24.99 per month still caps bandwidth at 500GB per month
  • Unlimited storage and bandwidth require the $49.99 per month Broadcaster plan
  • Billing is metered on listener bandwidth, so a popular episode consumes the monthly allowance regardless of how few files are stored

The Old Reader

Nothing recorded yet. See the The Old Reader review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Podomatic

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Podcast hosting
    • Basic distribution
    • Audio player

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 Podomatic if

  • You need podcast hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want distribution.
Podomatic review

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.
The Old Reader review

Questions people ask

Is Podomatic or The Old Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. Podomatic 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, Podomatic or The Old Reader?
Podomatic starts at Free and The Old Reader at Free.
Does Podomatic or The Old Reader run on more platforms?
Podomatic runs on Web. The Old Reader runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Podomatic for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Podomatic best used for?
Podomatic is most often used for hosting and publishing a podcast with a ready made listener page, starting a podcast on a free tier before paying for bandwidth, serving audio downloads to a growing audience on metered bandwidth plans. Of those, hosting and publishing a podcast with a ready made listener page and starting a podcast on a free tier before paying for bandwidth are not what The Old Reader is typically brought in for.
What can Podomatic do that The Old Reader cannot?
Podomatic covers Podcast hosting, Distribution, Built-in recording, Audio editing. The Old Reader covers RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends, Keyboard shortcuts. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Podomatic: What does Podomatic's free plan include?

The free plan includes 500 MB storage (up to 6 hours of recording), first 20 episodes, and 15 GB bandwidth per month. Source: https://www.podomatic.com

Source
Podomatic: How much do Podomatic's PRO plans cost?

Podomatic mentions PRO plans starting at $9.99 but does not publish specific pricing tiers or features for paid plans on their main website. Source: https://www.podomatic.com

Source
Podomatic: Can I use Podomatic free forever?

Yes, Podomatic emphasizes free podcast hosting forever, though paid premium options exist for expanded capacity at undisclosed rates. Source: https://www.podomatic.com

Source
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