Meltwater vs The Old Reader
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 Meltwater if you need Media monitoring and prefer comprehensive paid features. Choose The Old Reader if you prioritize RSS reading and want a free tier to start. The Old Reader has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.2).
Meltwater vs The Old Reader: At a Glance
| Criteria | Meltwater | The Old Reader |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.2 | 4.3 |
| Pricing | Contact for pricing | Free |
| Pricing Model | subscription | freemium |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Api, Mobile | Web, Ios, Android |
| Category | News & Media | News & Media |
| Founded | 2001 | 2012 |
Feature Comparison: Meltwater vs The Old Reader
| Feature | Meltwater | The Old Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Media monitoring | ||
| Social listening | ||
| Influencer discovery | ||
| Sentiment analysis | ||
| Competitive intelligence | ||
| PR analytics | ||
| Report automation | ||
| Crisis monitoring | ||
| Salesforce | ||
| HubSpot | ||
| Slack | ||
| Microsoft Teams | ||
| Tableau | ||
| SOC2 | ||
| GDPR | ||
| RSS reading | ||
| Social sharing | ||
| Following friends | ||
| Keyboard shortcuts | ||
| OPML import/export | ||
| Third-party apps | ||
| Browser bookmarklet | ||
| Web support | ||
| Ios support | ||
| Android support |
Meltwater vs The Old Reader: Pricing Breakdown
Meltwater Pricing
Model: subscription
- Media monitoring
- Social listening
- Influencer database
- Analytics dashboard
- Advanced analytics
- API access
- Custom integrations
- Dedicated support
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
Pros and Cons
Meltwater
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.2/5)
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Api, Mobile)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Media monitoring functionality
- Strong Social listening functionality
Cons
- No free plan available
- May require time to learn advanced features
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
Who Should Use Meltwater vs The Old Reader?
Choose Meltwater if you:
- Need Media monitoring
- Have a budget of Contact for pricing+
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Social listening
Choose The Old Reader if you:
- Need RSS reading
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Ios
- Value Social sharing
Frequently Asked Questions: Meltwater vs The Old Reader
Is Meltwater better than The Old Reader?
It depends on your needs. Meltwater has a 4.2/5 user rating while The Old Reader has 4.3/5. Meltwater excels in Media monitoring and Social listening, while The Old Reader stands out with RSS reading and Social sharing. Consider your budget (Contact for pricing vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Meltwater or The Old Reader?
Meltwater starts at Contact for pricing. The Old Reader offers a free plan and starts at Free. The Old Reader has a clear pricing advantage with its free tier.
Can I use Meltwater and The Old Reader 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 Meltwater and The Old Reader?
The key differences include: pricing model (subscription vs freemium), platform support (Web, Api, Mobile vs Web, Ios, Android), and feature focus. Meltwater emphasizes Media monitoring, Social listening, Influencer discovery while The Old Reader focuses on RSS reading, Social sharing, Following friends. User ratings differ slightly: 4.2 vs 4.3 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Meltwater and The Old Reader.