# Readwise Highlights vs IronEx

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: IronEx at none against Readwise Highlights's 8. Readwise Highlights's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 2). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Readwise Highlights sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. IronEx asks for nothing beyond the download.

IronEx holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Readwise Highlights has 1.5K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Readwise Highlights ships an update every 2 weeks, IronEx monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Readwise Highlights | IronEx |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwise-highlights/id1476885528/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ironex/id6753989969/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 69.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 112 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Readwise, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476885527) | [David J Hart, P.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846159727) |

## What reviewers say

### Readwise Highlights

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwise-highlights/id1476885528)

This app helps you retain more of what you read by centralizing and revisiting your highlights from various reading platforms. It uses spaced repetition and active recall techniques to improve memory and offers features like tagging, note-taking, and OCR for physical books.

**Highlights:** Synchronize highlights from multiple platforms, Daily review habit via app and email, Spaced repetition and active recall, Tag, note, and search highlights, OCR for paper book highlights, Convert highlights to flashcards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Readwise Lite Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Readwise Lite Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Readwise Full Monthly Plan | $8.99 | per month |
| Readwise Full Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Readwise Lite Yearly | $52.99 | per year |
| Readwise Lite Yearly | $66.99 | per year |
| Readwise Full Yearly | $94.99 | per year |
| Readwise Full Yearly | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful spaced repetition
- 📚 Seamless integration with reading apps
- 🔍 Helpful AI-powered features
- 🗓️ Useful daily review routine
- 🧠 Boosts knowledge retention

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔌 Sync issues with some platforms
- 📱 Subpar mobile app experience
- 🕰️ Lack of flexibility in daily review
- 🔍 Limited search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Sync failures with certain accounts
- Unreliable highlight capture

**Requested features**

- Add support for more reading apps
- Improve sync and import capabilities
- Introduce more customization options
- Enhance search and organization tools
- Develop a more intuitive mobile interface


### IronEx

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ironex/id6753989969)

This app offers a unique way to engage with content by selecting interpretive options instead of commenting. It focuses on understanding perceptions and reducing harassment, especially for sensitive topics, through structured responses and an enhanced safety framework.

**Highlights:** No comments or replies, Four structured interpretive selections, Enhanced safety framing for sensitive topics, Clear labeling of hostile interpretations, Focus on measurement and education, Harm reduction through structured engagement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Readwise Highlights free?

Readwise Highlights is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is IronEx free?

IronEx is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Readwise Highlights or IronEx?

IronEx is rated higher. Readwise Highlights averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while IronEx averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Readwise Highlights or IronEx have ads?

Neither Readwise Highlights nor IronEx shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Readwise Highlights or IronEx?

Readwise Highlights ships an update every 2 weeks, and IronEx monthly. Most recently, Readwise Highlights was updated on November 7, 2026 and IronEx on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*