The Old Reader vs Ground News
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading news & media solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose The Old Reader if you need RSS reading and prefer a free starting option. Choose Ground News if you prioritize News comparison and want a free tier to start. Ground News has a higher user rating (4.7 vs 4.3).
The Old Reader vs Ground News: At a Glance
| Criteria | The Old Reader | Ground News |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | freemium | freemium |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Ios, Android, Web |
| Category | News & Media | News & Media |
| Founded | 2012 | 2018 |
Feature Comparison: The Old Reader vs Ground News
| Feature | The Old Reader | Ground News |
|---|---|---|
| RSS reading | ||
| Social sharing | ||
| Following friends | ||
| Keyboard shortcuts | ||
| OPML import/export | ||
| Third-party apps | ||
| Browser bookmarklet | ||
| Web support | ||
| Ios support | ||
| Android support | ||
| News comparison | ||
| Bias ratings | ||
| Source transparency | ||
| Blindspot analysis | ||
| Ownership data | ||
| Browser extension |
The Old Reader vs Ground News: Pricing Breakdown
The Old Reader Pricing
Model: freemium
- 100 subscriptions
- Social features
- Web access
- OPML import
- 500 subscriptions
- Search history
- Priority refresh
- No ads
- Unlimited subscriptions
- All premium features
- Support development
Ground News Pricing
Model: freemium
- Basic news comparison
- Bias ratings
- Limited stories
- Mobile app
- Unlimited stories
- Blindspot feed
- Ownership data
- Ad-free
- Everything in Pro
- Support journalism
- Early features
- Community access
Pros and Cons
The Old Reader
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.3/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Ios, Android)
- Rich feature set with 10+ capabilities
- Strong RSS reading functionality
- Strong Social sharing functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Ground News
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.7/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Ios, Android, Web)
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong News comparison functionality
- Strong Bias ratings functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use The Old Reader vs Ground News?
Choose The Old Reader if you:
- Need RSS reading
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Ios
- Value Social sharing
Choose Ground News if you:
- Need News comparison
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Ios and Android
- Value Bias ratings
Frequently Asked Questions: The Old Reader vs Ground News
Is The Old Reader better than Ground News?
It depends on your needs. The Old Reader has a 4.3/5 user rating while Ground News has 4.7/5. The Old Reader excels in RSS reading and Social sharing, while Ground News stands out with News comparison and Bias ratings. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, The Old Reader or Ground News?
The Old Reader offers a free plan and starts at Free. Ground News offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use The Old Reader and Ground News together?
While both are news & media tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core news & media needs.
What are the main differences between The Old Reader and Ground News?
The key differences include: pricing model (freemium vs freemium), platform support (Web, Ios, Android vs Ios, Android, Web), and feature focus. The Old Reader emphasizes RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends while Ground News focuses on News comparison, Bias ratings, Source transparency. User ratings differ slightly: 4.3 vs 4.7 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both The Old Reader and Ground News.