FreshRSS vs ReadTheory
FreshRSS
freshrss.org
ReadTheory
readtheory.orgSide by side
| Figure | FreshRSS | ReadTheory |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $40/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 5 |
| Spec score · Reading Apps | 8.9 (#5) | 8.8 (#6) |
| Documentation | The administrator manual covers installation, updates, backups, logging, extensions, themes, databases, CLI use, access control, OIDC and web-server configuration. | The help center covers account setup, classroom creation, activities, billing, troubleshooting, reporting and FAQs. |
| Integrations | FreshRSS receives WebSub push notifications from compatible sources such as Friendica, WordPress, Blogger and Medium, and supports mobile and native clients through Google Reader and Fever APIs. | Official materials list LMS and LTI integrations, rostering assistance, and SSO with Google, Microsoft, Clever and ClassLink. |
| What it does | FreshRSS is a self-hosted RSS and Atom feed aggregator. | ReadTheory is a web-based adaptive reading-comprehension platform for K-12, ESL, special-education and adult learners. |
Plans
ReadTheory
- BasicFree
- BasicFree
- School Champion$40 a month
- School Champion$40 a month
- School & DistrictPriced on request
In their own words
FreshRSS
FreshRSS is a free, self-hosted RSS and Atom feed aggregator for following websites, podcasts, and video channels. Users can read and search articles, save searches, and organize items with custom tags. Feed management includes OPML import and export, creating feeds from filters, and scraping websites to make feeds. WebSub provides real-time updates from compatible feeds. The project says the software can manage 1M+ articles and 50k+ feeds. FreshRSS supports multiple users, anonymous reading, themes, extensions, configurable options, and a command-line interface. APIs support mobile clients, and Google Reader and Fever APIs enable use with mobile and native clients. Self-hosting requires a web server, PHP 8.1 or later, and PostgreSQL 10+, SQLite, MariaDB 10.6+, or MySQL 8.0+. The project advises exposing only the ./p/ folder to the web because ./data/ contains personal data. It offers no warranty and welcomes bug reports and feature requests through GitHub issues.
ReadTheory
ReadTheory is a web-based platform for personalized reading comprehension practice. A benchmark assessment identifies a student's reading level, then the platform adjusts practice as the student works. Its library includes thousands of fiction and nonfiction texts aligned to standards, alongside printable materials and tools for creating custom content. Reports cover Lexile and grade levels, ELA standards, and student progress history. The platform serves K–12, ESL, and special education learners, and the School & District plan is aimed at schools and districts. Browser-based access is designed for Chromebooks, tablets, and Windows or macOS computers; phones are not optimized for student use. Integrations listed include LMS, LTI, and rostering, with single sign-on through Clever, Google Classroom, and ClassLink. ReadTheory says student personal information is not sent to third-party AI systems or used to train AI or machine-learning models. The free Basic plan covers one staff member and 30 students with limited quizzes and progress history. School Champion costs $40 a month for one staff member and 40 students, with unlimited quizzes and progress history.