Substack 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 Substack or The Old Reader better?

Neither clearly leads. Substack 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, Substack or The Old Reader?

Substack starts at Free and The Old Reader at Free.

Does Substack or The Old Reader run on more platforms?

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

Can I use Substack for free?

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

What is Substack best used for?

Substack is most often used for newsletter distribution, reader monetization, community building, subscriber management. Of those, newsletter distribution and reader monetization are not what The Old Reader is typically brought in for.

What can Substack do that The Old Reader cannot?

Substack covers Newsletter publishing, Subscriber management, Paid subscriptions, Email analytics. The Old Reader covers RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends, Keyboard shortcuts. Both handle Web support.