Readwise Reader
A read-later app for articles, PDFs, EPUBs, newsletters and RSS, built around highlighting.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Readwise Reader
Readwise Reader comes from the team behind Readwise, the service that collects highlights from Kindle and other sources. Reader puts everything you might want to read in one library: saved web articles, PDFs, EPUBs, email newsletters, YouTube videos with transcripts, podcasts, RSS feeds and X threads. Highlighting and annotation are the core of the app, both inside Reader and on the open web through its browser extension, and highlights can flow into Notion, Obsidian and other note tools. The Ghostreader AI can summarise, define terms and answer questions about a document, and text-to-speech reads articles aloud. Reader runs on the web, iOS, Android and desktop apps for Mac and Windows, and power users can drive it from the keyboard or connect AI agents through its API, CLI and MCP server. There is no free plan after the 30-day trial; you can subscribe to Reader alone or to a bundle with Readwise highlights review. It is best for heavy readers who want to keep and reuse what they read.
Best for: Heavy readers and researchers who highlight a lot and want one inbox for every format.
Pros and cons
What works
- One library for articles, PDFs, EPUBs, newsletters and RSS
- Excellent highlighting with export to note-taking apps
- Keyboard-driven, with AI summaries and text-to-speech
- API, CLI and MCP server for automation
Why people leave
- No free plan once the trial ends
- So many features that the interface takes time to learn
- Highlight review is a separate product unless you buy the bundle
Top Readwise Reader alternatives
See all 6- 1
Matter66.5Simpler and more design-focused, with a free tier and standout text-to-speech.
- 2
Instapaper62.6A lighter, cheaper read-later queue with unlimited free saves.
- 3
Readeck59.6Self-hosted and free, with highlights, labels and video transcripts.
- 4
wallabag57.2Open-source read-later app you can self-host, with annotations and e-reader support.
- 5
Cubox55.3Another all-in-one reading inbox with highlights, AI summaries and an e-ink app.
Why people left Readwise Reader
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Reviews
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Readwise Reader: common questions
Is Readwise Reader free?
No, Readwise Reader is a paid product. Reader-only price: $7.99/month, billed yearly (checked on Readwise Reader's own site).
Is Readwise Reader open source?
No, Readwise Reader is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Readeck, wallabag and Karakeep.
What platforms does Readwise Reader run on?
Readwise Reader is available for Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Browser extension.
What are the best alternatives to Readwise Reader?
The highest-ranked Readwise Reader alternatives right now are Matter, Instapaper and Readeck. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.