NewsBlur vs ReadTheory
NewsBlur
newsblur.com
ReadTheory
readtheory.orgSide by side
| Figure | NewsBlur | ReadTheory |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3/mo | $40/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 9 | 5 |
| Spec score · Reading Apps | 9.0 (#3) | 8.8 (#6) |
| Integrations | The FAQ says NewsBlur connects with IFTTT and Zapier and can automate actions involving Pocket, Instapaper, Evernote, Notion, Slack and email. | Official materials list LMS and LTI integrations, rostering assistance, and SSO with Google, Microsoft, Clever and ClassLink. |
| Product | NewsBlur is a personal news reader for RSS and web feeds, synced across platforms. | ReadTheory is a web-based reading platform for personalized reading comprehension practice. |
| Rating on Trustpilot | 3.7 out of 5 from 5 reviews. | 1.4 out of 5 from 48 reviews. |
| Self-hosting | NewsBlur says its code is open source and can be run on a user's own instance with a single Docker command. | ReadTheory is presented as a hosted web application and its official materials provide no self-hosting package. |
| What it does | NewsBlur is a personal reader that combines websites, blogs and RSS feeds in one place. | ReadTheory is a web-based adaptive reading-comprehension platform for K-12, ESL, special-education and adult learners. |
Plans
NewsBlur
- FreeFree
- FreeFree
- Premium Pro$29 a month
- Premium Pro$29 a month
- Premium$36 a year
- Premium$36 a year
- Premium Archive$99 a year
- Premium Archive$99 a year
- DIYPriced on request
ReadTheory
- BasicFree
- BasicFree
- School Champion$40 a month
- School Champion$40 a month
- School & DistrictPriced on request
In their own words
NewsBlur
NewsBlur is a personal reader for RSS and web feeds, synchronized across web, iOS, Android, API, and self-hosted use. Readers can train feeds to highlight or hide stories by author, tag, and title; the Archive plan adds full-text training. Web Feeds monitor sites without RSS and present updates as custom feeds. The free plan supports up to 64 sites, real-time RSS updates, story saving, training, and mobile apps. New accounts receive a 30-day premium trial without a credit card, then retain feeds and training on the free tier. Premium costs $36 a year, Premium Pro $29 a month, and Premium Archive $99 a year. Depending on plan, features include search, larger site limits, more frequent fetching, River of News, story clustering, permanent searchable archives, Ask AI, daily briefings, and MCP tools. NewsBlur also describes IFTTT and Zapier workflows, a public API, third-party reader sync, and open-source self-hosting.
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.