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Readwise VS Reading Mode

Compare Readwise VS Reading Mode and see what are their differences

Readwise

Effortlessly rediscover and organize your Kindle highlights

Rating
5.0 · 1 review
Alternatives Is it good?
RM
Reading Mode

With Reading mode, you can personalize your screen reading experience on Android. You can customize the contrast, color, and font size of text without changes to the content. You can also use the read

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
Sendaway.co
Send files and text between devices with a simple 6-digit code. No account, email or shared link required. sponsored

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
88 vs 0
Productivity popularity
98% vs 2%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 6

Base details

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

Readwise
RM
Reading Mode
Website readwise.io support.google.com
Pricing
Official pricing
—
Listed in
Productivity Note Taking Bookmarks Bookmark Manager +1
Bookmark Manager Productivity Bookmarks Note Taking +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Readwise 5 features
RM
Reading Mode 5 features
  • 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.
  • Enhanced Focus
    Reading Mode removes distractions like ads and sidebars, allowing users to focus solely on the text content.
  • Improved Accessibility
    The feature is designed to improve access for users with visual impairments or reading difficulties, allowing them to customize text size, type, and contrast according to their needs.
  • Simplified Layout
    Reading Mode presents content in a clean and organized layout, making it easier to follow the text without unnecessary elements.
  • Customizable Appearance
    Users can adjust text size, style, and background color to suit their reading preferences and improve readability.
  • Text-to-Speech Functionality
    This mode can read content aloud to users, which is beneficial for those who prefer auditory learning or have difficulty reading.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Content Formatting
    Reading Mode may strip away certain formatting elements like images and videos, which can be important for understanding the content fully.
  • Potential Content Misinterpretation
    Some complex layouts or interactive features might not be accurately represented, leading to potential misinterpretation of some materials.
  • Less Engagement
    Removing interactive elements and multimedia can reduce user engagement with web content that is designed to be interactive and visually engaging.
  • Not Always Fully Supported
    Some websites might not fully support Reading Mode, leading to compatibility issues or improperly displayed content.
  • Loss of Context
    Some users may find that removing contextual elements like navigation bars or related content links can hinder their overall understanding or navigation of a website.

Analysis

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

Readwise
RM
Reading Mode

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

Overall verdict

  • Reading Mode is a solid, free accessibility tool built into Chrome and Android that improves readability by stripping away visual clutter and offering customization, making it a genuinely helpful feature for many users.

Why this product is good

  • It removes ads, sidebars, and other distractions to present a clean, focused view of the content
  • It lets you customize font size, typeface, spacing, and background color for comfortable reading
  • It includes text-to-speech functionality that can read content aloud
  • It's completely free and built directly into Chrome and Android, requiring no extra installation
  • It supports accessibility needs, helping people with dyslexia, low vision, or attention difficulties

Recommended for

  • People with visual impairments or low vision
  • Users with dyslexia or reading difficulties who benefit from customizable text
  • Anyone who wants a distraction-free reading experience on the web
  • Users who prefer listening to articles via text-to-speech
  • Students and researchers who read long-form articles frequently

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Readwise 2 videos + Add
RM
Reading Mode 0 videos + Add

Readwise: How to use Spaced Repetition with your books

More videos

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

No Reading Mode videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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
Readwise
RM
Reading Mode
98% 98%
Productivity
2% 2%
97% 97%
Bookmark Manager
3% 3%
97% 97%
Note Taking
3% 3%
95% 95%
Bookmarks
5% 5%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

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

Readwise 5.0 · 1 review
RM
Reading Mode no reviews yet
  • 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...

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Readwise 88 mentions
RM
Reading Mode 0 mentions
  • 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 / 4 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 / almost 2 years 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

View more

Tracking Reading Mode since Jul 2025.

Alternatives to Readwise and Reading Mode

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

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