Comparison

Reading List vs Kernels

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Reading List

Save web pages to read later, accessing them anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Easily add sites via share extensions or a dedicated button, and manage your list by deleting read articles.

Highlights
  • Save web pages to read later
  • Access saved content anytime, anywhere
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Add sites via share extension
  • Delete read articles easily
Features
Read full description

Have you ever felt like you don't have enough time to read an interesting web page you found? "Reading List" app will help you out! You can access your saved web pages anytime, anywhere and on any device! Howto: ・ You can add the site to the list by pressing the (+) button or by selecting the "Reading List" app from other app's Share Extension. ・ You can access from other devices by signing up. ・ You can delete sites that you have read by long pressing.

About

Kernels

This app acts as a personal search engine, allowing you to index and quickly find your saved text, web pages, images, emails, and documents. It prioritizes user privacy and synchronizes your data across devices for easy access anywhere. It helps boost productivity by making your digital information instantly searchable.

Highlights
  • Personal search index
  • Save text, web pages, images
  • Search emails and documents
  • Privacy-focused indexing
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Boost productivity and organization
Features
Read full description

Hello, we are Kernels Your personal search engine for all your stuff. Only you decide what's indexed. Imagine being able to easily find a specific article you saw on a website a few weeks ago or quickly access an important presentation you gave last year. Kernels enable this functionality. Unlike traditional search engines that search the entire web, Kernels focuses on information you save in your personal search index. This can include your emails, text messages, documents, free text notes, browsing history, and even images and screenshots. • Unleash the Power of Personal Search with Kernels While Kernals excels at capturing ideas and boosting productivity, it shines as a powerful Personal Search Engine (PSE) for your digital life. • Go Beyond Notes: Search Made Simple Forget scouring endless folders. Kernals lets you save articles, web clips, and screenshots alongside your notes. Our intuitive search enables you to find exactly what you need instantly. • Privacy First: Your Data, Your Control Unlike traditional search engines, Kernals keeps your information secure and private. You can focus on your thoughts, not on who might be tracking them. • Access Anywhere: Unleash the Power of Synchronization Your notes and searches are always at your fingertips. Kernals seamlessly sync across devices, so you can pick up where you left off, whether on your phone, tablet, or computer. • Your PSE Evolves with You: Constant Innovation We're constantly improving Kernals based on user feedback. Our commitment is to provide the best possible PSE experience, empowering you to take control of your digital world. Join us on this note-taking journey and unlock your potential for creativity, productivity, and organization. Download Kernels today and experience the convenience of quickly capturing and organizing your ideas.

Screenshots

Reading List1 screens
Kernels4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Kernels at 83% against Reading List's 0%. Kernels also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (10 vs 2). Reading List's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Kernels holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kernels has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Reading List's written reviews are positive against 83% of Kernels's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading List ships an update monthly, Kernels every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Reading List versus Kernels: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading ListKernels
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.7 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings210 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB30 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperShogo YoshidaFunnls LLC

Customer experience

Reading List

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Kernels

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

In-app purchases

None

Reading List

No in-app purchases

None

Kernels

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Reading List free?
Reading List is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kernels free?
Kernels is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Reading List or Kernels?
Kernels is rated higher. Reading List averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Kernels averages 4.7 from 10 ratings.
Do Reading List or Kernels have ads?
Neither Reading List nor Kernels shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading List or Kernels?
Reading List ships an update monthly, and Kernels every 2 months. Most recently, Reading List was updated on October 9, 2026 and Kernels on October 6, 2026.

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