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Software · head to head

The Old Reader vs Beehiiv

The Old Reader logo

The Old Reader

Software

A classic RSS reader for the modern web

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Beehiiv logo

Beehiiv

Software

The all-in-one platform for newsletter creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: The Old Reader covers RSS reading, Beehiiv covers Newsletter creation.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where The Old Reader and Beehiiv differ
AttributeThe Old ReaderBeehiiv
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20122021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 The Old Reader

  • RSS reading
  • Social sharing
  • Following friends
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • OPML import/export
  • Third-party apps
  • Browser bookmarklet
  • Ios support

Only in Beehiiv

  • Newsletter creation
  • Email automation
  • Subscriber management
  • Monetization tools
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Referral program
  • A/B testing
  • Spam checking

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

The Old Reader

  • RSS readingnot Beehiiv
  • News aggregationnot Beehiiv
  • Social readingnot Beehiiv

Beehiiv

  • Newsletter creation and hosting with monetizationnot The Old Reader
  • Content creator monetisation through ad networks and paid subscriptionsnot The Old Reader
  • Podcast hosting and distributionnot The Old Reader

Where each one falls short

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

The Old Reader

Nothing recorded yet. See the The Old Reader review.

Beehiiv

  • Platform lacks native SMS support; requires third-party integrations via API or webhooks
  • Free Launch plan offers only read-only AI capabilities

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Beehiiv

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Beehiiv review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Beehiiv if

  • You need newsletter creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email automation.
Beehiiv review

Questions people ask

Is The Old Reader or Beehiiv better?
Neither clearly leads. The Old Reader starts at Free and Beehiiv at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, The Old Reader or Beehiiv?
The Old Reader starts at Free and Beehiiv at Free.
Does The Old Reader or Beehiiv run on more platforms?
The Old Reader runs on Web, Ios, Android. Beehiiv runs on Web.
Can I use The Old Reader for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is The Old Reader best used for?
The Old Reader is most often used for rss reading, news aggregation, social reading. Of those, rss reading and news aggregation are not what Beehiiv is typically brought in for.
What can The Old Reader do that Beehiiv cannot?
The Old Reader covers RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends, Keyboard shortcuts. Beehiiv covers Newsletter creation, Email automation, Subscriber management, Monetization tools. Both handle Web support.
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Related pages

More on The Old Reader

More on Beehiiv

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