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Cision vs The Old Reader

Cision logo

Cision

News

The complete PR and earned media platform

From
On request
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

  • Only The Old Reader has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Cision covers Media monitoring, 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 Cision and The Old Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where Cision and The Old Reader differ
AttributeCisionThe Old Reader
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded18672012

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Cision

  • Media monitoring
  • PR Newswire distribution
  • Media database
  • Analytics & reporting
  • Influencer identification
  • Salesforce
  • Google Analytics
  • Slack

Only in The Old Reader

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Cision

  • Press release distributionnot The Old Reader
  • Media monitoringnot The Old Reader
  • PR measurementnot The Old Reader
  • Media outreachnot The Old Reader
  • Crisis communicationsnot The Old Reader

The Old Reader

  • RSS readingnot Cision
  • News aggregationnot Cision
  • Social readingnot Cision

Where each one falls short

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

Cision

  • No transparent pricing published for media monitoring and PR tools

The Old Reader

Nothing recorded yet. See the The Old Reader review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Cision

On request
  • Cision Communications CloudFree
    • Media monitoring
    • Media database
    • PR analytics
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Full platform access
    • PR Newswire distribution
    • Custom integrations

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 Cision if

  • You need media monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want pr newswire distribution.
Cision 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 Cision or The Old Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. Cision starts at On request and The Old Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cision or The Old Reader?
The Old Reader has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Cision and Free for The Old Reader.
Does Cision or The Old Reader run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use The Old Reader for free?
Yes. The Old Reader has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cision starts at On request.
What is Cision best used for?
Cision is most often used for press release distribution, media monitoring, pr measurement, media outreach. Of those, press release distribution and media monitoring are not what The Old Reader is typically brought in for.
What can Cision do that The Old Reader cannot?
Cision covers Media monitoring, PR Newswire distribution, Media database, Analytics & reporting. The Old Reader covers RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends, Keyboard shortcuts. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cision: How much does Cision cost?

Cision does not publish standard pricing on its website. The company offers media monitoring, journalist outreach, and social listening tools through CisionOne platform with pricing based on media monitoring scope, number of keywords, and service level. Contact sales for quotes.

Source
Cision: What services does Cision offer?

Cision offers media monitoring, instant insights and reporting, journalist outreach, social listening and management, professional services, and CisionOne AI. All services are part of the CisionOne unified platform.

Source
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