Bloglines: The Web RSS Reader That Beat Google Reader (and What Happened)
Bloglines was one of the first and most popular web-based RSS feed readers. In 2008 a Hitwise study showed it was still the most visited web feed reader in the US, ahead of the fast-growing Google Reader. This article looks at that study, what happened to Bloglines, and which RSS readers to use in its place today.
Quick answer: Bloglines no longer exists. Ask.com announced it would close the service in 2010, MerchantCircle took it over, and it finally went offline around 2015. Google Reader, its big rival, closed in 2013. Good modern replacements include Feedly, Inoreader, NewsBlur and The Old Reader.
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Bloglines vs Google Reader in 2008
Everyone was buzzing about Google Reader in 2008, but the old favourite Bloglines was still leading the charts. A Hitwise study of US visits found Bloglines was the most popular web-based feed reader, though Google Reader was quickly closing the gap.
Some interesting observations from the study:
- Google Reader sent 61% more visits to news and media websites than Bloglines.
- Google Reader users leaned toward mainstream media, using the reader like the front page of a newspaper, while Bloglines was used more for following blogs.
- Bloglines users were more inclined toward photography websites, while Google Reader users visited more television websites.
- Bloglines users were 24% more likely to continue on to a retail (shopping and classifieds) website.
What our own readers used
Our own numbers told a different story. When we analyzed our 15,000 feed readers, 47% used Google Reader, while only 10% used Bloglines. FeedBurner’s Google figure actually combined Google Reader and iGoogle subscribers, and Hitwise tracked US visits only, so international readers may have behaved differently.
At the time I personally used Google Reader and recommended it, but Bloglines was also great. If you could show only two RSS subscribe buttons, they should have been Google and Bloglines.
What happened to Bloglines
Bloglines was founded in 2003 by Mark Fletcher and sold to Ask.com (part of IAC) in 2005. In 2010 Ask.com announced Bloglines would shut down on November 15, 2010, and we urged readers to export their Bloglines subscriptions. MerchantCircle then announced it would take control of Bloglines and keep it running, but the service became unavailable in early 2015.
Google Reader did not last either. Google closed it in July 2013, which pushed millions of readers to new services. We asked at the time whether FeedBurner would be next.
Best Bloglines alternatives today
RSS is still the best way to follow many sites without an algorithm. These readers carry on what Bloglines started:
- Feedly: the most popular web feed reader, with free and paid plans.
- Inoreader: a powerful reader with rules, filters and search.
- NewsBlur: a reader that can show the original site layout and learn what you like.
- The Old Reader: a simple reader built in the spirit of Google Reader.
- NetNewsWire: a free reader app for Mac and iPhone.
For a full comparison, see our guide to the best RSS readers.
FAQ
Does Bloglines still exist?
No. Bloglines went offline around 2015 after years of uncertain ownership.
Can I recover my old Bloglines subscriptions?
Only if you exported them as an OPML file before it closed. An OPML file can be imported into most modern RSS readers.
What replaced Google Reader and Bloglines?
Feedly, Inoreader, NewsBlur and The Old Reader are popular web readers, and NetNewsWire is a good free app for Apple devices.
Is RSS still used in 2026?
Yes. Most blogs, news sites and podcasts still publish RSS feeds, and dedicated readers make them easy to follow.
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I personally believe that bloglines is much better than google reader.
Great information. I think I’ll be checking more into bloglines and google reader and maybe use them in my sites.
Thanks for the post.
So at last someone beats the google.
Really? Don’t tell me. Its really astonishing. Thanks by the way for sharing.
Thanks for your analysis. I was looking for this information that of which site rss feed is having more readers.
I like blog lines because it works and because it is online based. I don’t want to have to install a program on each computer I use to read my rss feeds.
Hello this is very interesting the google reader is Link popularity and Google PageRank have been the talk of the town in the search engine optimization community.
I use Feedreader to manage my feeds. Some day I have to look into whether Bloglines would deliver any better benefits than my current solution. Staying on top of niche developments is key.