The Readwise Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Readwise in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Readwise
The Insider’s Guide
Highlight library with a daily review and a read-later app
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among read-later and bookmark apps, read from Readwise’s own pages.
Made by Readwise, Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Readwise’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Readwise’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 22 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade
Readwise gathers highlights from Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Instapaper and other reading sources into one searchable library, then resurfaces them in a Daily Review sent by email and shown in its apps. The full plan adds tags, notes and exports to note-taking apps, and it includes Reader, a read-later app for articles, RSS feeds, newsletters, PDFs, EPUBs and YouTube transcripts.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Readwise, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Once your reading sources are connected, new highlights sync in and the Daily Review turns up by email without you doing anything.
- 1
Best for keeping and revisiting everything you highlight
Readwise collects your highlights from Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo and Instapaper and sends a few back each day, and the full plan adds Reader, a read-later app for articles, feeds and PDFs.
- 2
Paid plans start at $5.59 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $5.59 per month, billed annually (Readwise Lite).
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial of Readwise and Reader, no credit card required
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Daily Review
A daily selection of past highlights, delivered by email and in the app and timed with spaced repetition so older passages come back around.
- 6
Highlight import
Syncs highlights from Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Instapaper and other listed sources, and captures passages from paper books by photographing the page.
- 7
Export to note-taking apps
Sends highlights to Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Roam, Logseq and other listed apps, or to Markdown and CSV. Exports are part of the full plan.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 22 of 36
That is against the other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Readwise you could make: highlights, read later and rSS reader. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Readwise at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $5.59 per month, billed annually (Readwise Lite)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial of Readwise and Reader, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Readwise, Inc., since 2017
- Category
- Read Later & Bookmarks
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 1,513 ratings
The report card
Best for keeping and revisiting everything you highlight
Readwise collects your highlights from Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo and Instapaper and sends a few back each day, and the full plan adds Reader, a read-later app for articles, feeds and PDFs. There's no free plan once the 30-day trial ends. Lite at $5.59 a month leaves out tags, notes, exports and Reader, so most people land on the $9.99 plan, above the $7.99 the dearest tenth of reading apps here charge. No Linux app either.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | The bits people come for, exports to note apps, tags and notes, and Reader itself, are all on the full plan at $9.99 a month billed yearly, $119.88, when reading apps here sit at $3.33 a month in the middle and $7.99 at the dearest tenth. Lite at $5.59 is cheaper and leaves those out. |
| Free plan and trial | C | There's no free plan. You get 30 days free with no credit card required, covering both Readwise and Reader, and then it's a paid subscription or nothing. Students, academics and nonprofits can ask for 50% off by email. |
| Features | A | It covers the whole job and does what rivals don't: highlights from Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Instapaper and photos of paper books, a Daily Review timed with spaced repetition, exports to Notion and Obsidian, and Reader for articles, RSS, newsletters, PDFs, EPUBs and YouTube transcripts. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.8 from 1,513 App Store ratings, which clears our bar for an A on both the score and the number of people behind it. Once your reading sources are connected, new highlights sync in and the Daily Review turns up by email without you doing anything. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | The full set: web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android and a browser extension, plus an API, a command-line tool and an MCP server for AI assistants. It syncs with Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo and Instapaper and exports to Notion, Obsidian, Evernote and Logseq. No Linux app is mentioned. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Readwise is for
- Fits if you highlight in Kindle or other ebooks and want those passages sent back to you
- Works for readers who'll pay $9.99 a month to get highlights into Notion, Obsidian or Logseq
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a free plan: after the 30-day trial it's a paid subscription or nothing
- Too light for note-takers on Lite at $5.59, which has no tags, notes, exports to note apps or Reader
- Pricey if you only want Reader, which isn't sold alone and comes with the $9.99 plan, or $12.99 monthly
- Not for you if you're on Linux, as the desktop apps are listed for Mac and Windows only
Good to know
Good for
- Kindle and ebook readers who want to see their highlights again
- People who send reading notes to Notion, Obsidian or a similar app
- Readers who want articles, RSS, newsletters and PDFs in one app
Worth knowing
- There is no free plan: a paid subscription is needed once the 30-day trial ends.
- Readwise Lite leaves out tags and notes, exports to note-taking apps, and the Reader app.
- Reader is not sold on its own; it comes with the full Readwise plan at $9.99 per month billed annually.
- Desktop apps are listed for Mac and Windows only, with no Linux app mentioned.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$5.59
A month to start
Readwise is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $5.59 per month, billed annually (Readwise Lite).
Readwise Lite
$5.59
per month, billed annually ($67.08), or $6.99 billed monthly
Daily Review by email and app, a searchable highlight library, and syncing of new highlights from all sources.
Readwise
$9.99
per month, billed annually ($119.88), or $12.99 billed monthly
The full plan: everything in Lite, plus tags and notes, exports to Notion, Obsidian and other note apps, and the Reader app.
Trying it first
30-day free trial of Readwise and Reader, no credit card required
Read from readwise.io on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 21% to 24% with yearly billing
The pricing page shows a 21% saving on Readwise Lite ($5.59 instead of $6.99 a month) and 24% on the full plan ($9.99 instead of $12.99) when billed yearly.
Stated on readwise.ioEducation
50% off for students and academics
Students and other members of academia get 50% off by emailing Readwise before subscribing, then subscribing through the Readwise website.
Stated on readwise.ioNonprofit
50% off for nonprofits
The Reader page lists the same 50% discount for nonprofits, educators, military and first responders, requested by email.
Stated on readwise.io
How its prices have moved
- Apr 13, 2024Readwise: $7.99 per month, billed annually ($95.88), or $8.99 billed monthly → $9.99 per month, billed annually ($119.88), or $12.99 billed monthlyThe archived copy of 13 April 2024 shows the full plan at $9.99 and $12.99; the copy before it, of 9 February 2024, shows $7.99 and $8.99. The price changed between the two.
- Apr 13, 2024Readwise Lite: $4.49 per month, billed annually → $5.59 per month, billed annuallyThe archived copy of 13 April 2024 shows Lite at $5.59 a month billed annually; the copy before it, of 9 February 2024, shows $4.49. The price changed between the two.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Readwise Full Monthly Plan”, against $8.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺65,99 | $1.34 | 85% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 129ribu | $7.21 | 20% less |
| Brazil | R$ 36,90 | $7.37 | 18% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 469.00 | $7.47 | 17% less |
| United Kingdom | £6.99 | $9.24 | about the same |
| South Africa | R159.99 | $9.68 | 8% more |
| Mexico | $179.00 | $9.84 | 9% more |
| Australia | $14.99 | $10.46 | 16% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Highlight library with a daily review and a read-later app. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, public API, AI features, keyboard-first, read later, rSS reader, highlights.
It syncs with Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo and Instapaper and exports to Notion, Obsidian, Evernote and Logseq.
- Daily Review
- A daily selection of past highlights, delivered by email and in the app and timed with spaced repetition so older passages come back around.
- Highlight import
- Syncs highlights from Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Instapaper and other listed sources, and captures passages from paper books by photographing the page.
- Export to note-taking apps
- Sends highlights to Notion, Obsidian, Evernote, Roam, Logseq and other listed apps, or to Markdown and CSV. Exports are part of the full plan.
- Reader
- A read-later app for web articles, RSS feeds, email newsletters, PDFs, EPUBs, YouTube transcripts and X threads, with highlighting, full-text search and text to speech.
- Ghostreader and chat with highlights
- Ghostreader answers questions about a document, defines terms and simplifies passages. Chat answers show the highlights they were drawn from.
- MCP server, CLI and API
- An MCP server connects Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or another MCP-compatible assistant to the library, alongside a command-line tool and an API.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Kindle
- Apple Books
- Kobo
- Instapaper
- Notion
- Obsidian
- Evernote
- Logseq
Readwise is made by Readwise, Inc., and has been around since 2017.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
22/36
Other read-later and bookmark apps it is graded above
Readwise's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 22 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 35 of 36) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $5.59 a month, against a middle price of $3 for the category: 19 of the 24 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 4.0 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 37 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Readwise’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 36
- CFree plan and trialAbove 2 of 36
- AFeaturesAbove 33 of 36
- AEase of useAbove 35 of 36
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 32 of 36
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 33 read-later and bookmark apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Readwise is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Readwise you could make: highlights, read later and rSS reader. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $67.08 a year.
What you could make
- Highlights, read later and rSS reader: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Kindle, Apple Books and Kobo among them, and has an API.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features A, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Readwise’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Matter, Instapaper, Glasp, Raindrop.io and Inoreader
The 5 tools Readwise is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Matter
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Read-later app for iPhone, iPad and web with audio playback.
- Matter has a free plan. Readwise does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Readwise lists macOS, Windows and Android apps.
- 3.0GPA
Instapaper
Free plan · from $5.99/mo
Read-later app that strips articles down to clean text.
- Instapaper has a free plan. Readwise does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Readwise lists a Windows app.
- Readwise also covers rSS reader.
- 2.4GPA
Glasp
Free plan · from $12.50/mo
Social web highlighter with AI summaries of videos and articles.
- Glasp has a free plan. Readwise does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Readwise lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Readwise also covers rSS reader.
- 3.2GPA
Raindrop.io
Free plan · from $28/yr
Bookmark manager with collections, tags and highlights.
- Raindrop.io has a free plan. Readwise does not, though it has a free trial.
- Readwise also covers rSS reader.
- Raindrop.io also covers bookmarks.
- 3.0GPA
Inoreader
Free plan · from $7.50/mo
RSS reader with rules, filters and keyword monitoring.
- Inoreader has a free plan. Readwise does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Readwise lists macOS and Windows apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
16
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Readwise free?
No, Readwise is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial of Readwise and Reader, no credit card required.
How much does Readwise cost?
Readwise lists 2 plans. Readwise Lite: $5.59 per month, billed annually ($67.08), or $6.99 billed monthly.
What platforms does Readwise work on?
Readwise is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does Readwise offer any discounts?
Readwise publicly lists the following: Save 21% to 24% with yearly billing; 50% off for students and academics; 50% off for nonprofits.
How is Readwise rated?
Readwise's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1,513 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Readwise have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Readwise is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is Readwise open source?
Readwise is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Readwise work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does Readwise have an API?
Yes. Readwise offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Readwise integrate with?
Readwise's listing names Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Instapaper, Notion, Obsidian, Evernote and Logseq.
Does Readwise have a student discount?
50% off for students and academics. Students and other members of academia get 50% off by emailing Readwise before subscribing, then subscribing through the Readwise website.
Who makes Readwise?
Readwise is made by Readwise, Inc. It dates from 2017.
What are the alternatives to Readwise?
The closest alternatives to Readwise in our directory are Matter, Instapaper, Glasp, Raindrop.io and Inoreader.
How does Readwise compare with other read-later and bookmark apps?
Readwise's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 22 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 9.
Is Readwise good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Readwise D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $5.59 a month, against a middle price of $3 for the category: 19 of the 24 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Readwise?
The plain part of Readwise you could make: highlights, read later and rSS reader.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Readwise’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Readwise's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-15.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Readwise, Inc. Prices change, so check readwise.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Readwise, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/readwise
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Readwise: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/readwise
Know someone choosing between read-later and bookmark apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/readwise/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded read-later and bookmark apps after Readwise, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Read Later & Bookmarks Insider's GuideEvery one of the 37 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, compared
- FeedFlow Insider's GuideFree, open-source RSS reader for mobile and desktop3.2 GPA
- Flipboard Insider's GuideFree news aggregator built around topics and shared Magazines3.2 GPA
- Miniflux Insider's GuideMinimalist open-source feed reader, self-hosted or hosted3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Readwise’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Readwise is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Readwise, Inc. Prices and plans change: check readwise.io before you buy.