Software Alternatives & Startups

Reading List VS Readwise

Compare Reading List VS Readwise and see what are their differences

Reading List

Reading List is a read-it-later app by Microsoft, which is bundled in Windows 8.1 onwards.

Rating
0 reviews
Readwise

Effortlessly rediscover and organize your Kindle highlights

Rating
5.0 · 1 review

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Readwise seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 88 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 88
Productivity popularity
7% vs 93%
alternatives listed
48 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Reading List
Readwise
Website microsoft.com readwise.io
Pricing
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Reading List 3 features
Readwise 5 features
  • Organization
    Reading List allows users to keep track of articles and content they wish to read later, helping organize information in one place.
  • Cross-device Syncing
    Provides the ability to sync across multiple Windows devices, ensuring access to saved content regardless of the device being used.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The application has a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to add, organize, and access their reading items.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Platform Availability
    Reading List is only available on Windows devices, which limits its use for users who operate on other platforms.
  • Basic Functionality
    The app offers limited features compared to other modern reading list managers, lacking advanced tools like categorization, tagging, or offline reading.
  • Obsolescence
    As the app is outdated and no longer actively developed, it may not receive further updates or improvements.
  • Centralized System
    Readwise allows users to consolidate highlights and notes from various reading platforms, such as Kindle, Instapaper, and Pocket, into one place.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform is user-friendly, making it easy to import, organize, and review highlights.
  • Spaced Repetition
    Readwise uses spaced repetition algorithms to help users retain and recall information over time by regularly revisiting highlights.
  • Customizable Export Options
    Users can export their highlights and notes to other services like Evernote, Notion, or plain text files, allowing for flexible usage of the stored data.
  • Search Functionality
    Readwise offers robust search capabilities, making it simple to find specific highlights or notes across your library.

Possible disadvantages

  • Subscription Cost
    Readwise operates on a subscription model, which may be considered expensive for some users relative to the features offered.
  • Limited Functionality Without Subscription
    While there is a free trial available, many features are gated behind a subscription, limiting the usability of the free version.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its overall user-friendliness, some users might find a learning curve when initially setting up and configuring the system to suit their needs.
  • Dependence on Third-Party Integrations
    Readwise’s value is largely dependent on its integrations with third-party services, meaning any changes or issues with those services can impact its effectiveness.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Since Readwise collects and stores data from multiple reading platforms, there may be privacy concerns regarding how this data is handled and stored.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Reading List
Readwise

No analysis of Reading List yet.

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Readwise is well-regarded for its utility in helping users actively engage with and digest their reading materials. It provides a streamlined way to revisit and reinforce key concepts, making it a valuable tool for those serious about boosting their information retention.

Why this product is good

  • Readwise is designed to help users retain information from their readings by organizing, highlighting, and revisiting key excerpts. It integrates with various platforms like Kindle, Instapaper, and Pocket to collate highlights in one place. The daily review feature encourages consistent engagement with past highlights, aiding in better recall and comprehension. The platform is beneficial for avid readers, students, and professionals who wish to maximize their learning retention and make the most out of their reading habits.

Recommended for

  • Avid readers looking to remember more from their books
  • Students who need to recall key concepts from academic materials
  • Professionals who want to maintain a repository of valuable insights from articles and reports for reference
  • Anyone interested in personal development and continuous learning through reading

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Reading List 3 videos + Add
Readwise 2 videos + Add

The Reading List | Book Review | Booketlist

More videos

  • - The Reading List Book Review
  • - Barack Obama's Summer Reading List 2021 📚

Readwise: How to use Spaced Repetition with your books

More videos

  • - Keep track of Kindle highlights with Readwise [#49] Adam Franklin

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Reading List
Readwise
7% 7%
93% 93%
100% 100%
0% 0%
4% 4%
96% 96%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Reading List no reviews yet
Readwise 5.0 · 1 review

We have no reviews of Reading List yet. Be the first one to post

  • Great help to review books
    SaaSHub review
    · Nov 2021

    I imported my kindle highlights, as many others. Now I daily review some highlights (thanks to a dashboard, I am motivated). And where I didn't create highlights, as I only listened to the audiobooks, I get the...

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Reading List 0 mentions
Readwise 88 mentions

Tracking Reading List since Mar 2021.

  • Relego, a free, self-hostable alternative to Readwise
    Anyway, as I reached the end of the chapter, I wanted to read my Readwise's daily recap. However, my iPhone was in other room. I didn’t want to get up; I was tired. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Exporting Mac OSX Book Highlights into an Obsidian Vault or Markdown Files
    The only highlights that Readwise retrieves semi-automatically are from the books I buy from Kindle, by going into the Readwise app and clicking a button. If I upload them to Kindle or need highlights from the Apple Books app, I have to... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Show HN: I combined spaced repetition with emails so you can remember anything
    Readwise also has this feature. I get a daily email with a random assortment of highlights that have been pulled in from multiple sources (Reader, Notion, Kindle, etc.) The product benefit in their case is that it's kind of like Zapier,... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago

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When comparing Reading List and Readwise, you can also consider the following products.