Comparison

Readwise Reader vs Listening

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

Head to head
About

Readwise Reader

This app consolidates all your reading content, including web articles, newsletters, and PDFs, into a single, organized platform. It offers advanced highlighting, text-to-speech, and AI-powered assistance to enhance your reading workflow and knowledge retention.

Highlights
  • Consolidate web articles, newsletters, RSS, Twitter threads, PDFs, EPUBs
  • Import from Pocket, Instapaper, and Feedly
  • Advanced highlighting and annotation tools
  • Text-to-speech narration
  • AI-powered reading assistant (Ghostreader)
  • Full-text search
  • Syncs across all devices, offline access
Features
Read full description

Readwise Reader is the first read-it-later app built specifically for power readers. If you’ve ever used Instapaper or Pocket, Reader is like those except it’s built for 2024 and brings all your reading into one place including: web articles, email newsletters, RSS feeds, Twitter threads, PDFs, EPUBs and more. ______________________ “Reader has completely redesigned the read-it-later app. It’s gorgeous and blazingly fast. In many ways, it’s the Superhuman of reading — you won’t want to read anywhere else.” Rahul Vohra (Founder of Superhuman) “I spend my entire day reading, researching, & writing and Readwise is the reading tool I’ve been waiting for. The perfect complement to my writing workflow. Absolute game changer.” Packy Mccormick (Author of Not Boring) “The Readwise reading app is the first read-it-later app that enables a true workflow for serious readers. As an ex-Pocket /Instapaper power user, it's hard to imagine ever going back.” Fitz Maro (Creative Technology Lead at Pinterest) ______________________ ALL YOUR READING IN ONE PLACE Stop juggling half a dozen reading apps. Reader brings all your content into one place including: • Web articles • Email newsletters • RSS feeds • Twitter threads • PDFs • EPUBs You can even import your existing library from Pocket and Instapaper and RSS feeds from Feedly, Inoreader, Feedbin, etc. POWERFUL HIGHLIGHTING FOR POWER READERS We believe that annotations are the key to getting more out of what you read. So we’ve developed highlighting as a first-class feature inside Reader. Highlight images, links, rich text, and more. On any device. READER WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU READ We’ve reinvented the digital reading experience to apply the power of software to the printed word. This includes TEXT-TO-SPEECH (listen to any document narrated with the lifelike voice of a real human), GHOSTREADER (your integrated copilot of reading enabling you to ask questions, define terms, simplify complex language, and more), and FULL-TEXT SEARCH (find whatever you’re looking for, even if you only remember a single word). FLEXIBLE SOFTWARE TO FIT YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS Your personal interests, your professional projects, your way of doing things — they’re unique. Reader is your home base for the varied documents in your life, customizable to match the way your brain works. PDFs for work, articles for your newsletter, and ebooks for pleasure all live comfortably side-by-side. No more juggling dozens of apps. INTEGRATED WITH YOUR FAVORITE TOOLS Your annotations should flow effortlessly from your reading app into your writing tool of choice. Instead you waste hours reformatting, reorganizing, and repeating. Reader eliminates this hassle. Reader seamlessly connects to Readwise which exports to Obsidian, Notion, Roam Research, Evernote, Logseq, and more READ ANYWHERE, ANYTIME Access all of your content from any of your devices with everything in sync. Even offline. Reader syncs across all platforms, including a powerful, local-first web app and iOS. You can even highlight the open web with the Reader browser extensions. ______________________ If you’re not already a Readwise subscriber, you can get a free 30-day trial with no credit card upfront. At the end of the trial, you will not be charged unless you choose to subscribe. Support: Check out readwise.io/faq or email us at hello@readwise.io Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://readwise.io/privacy

About

Listening

Transform written content like articles, papers, and PDFs into natural-sounding audio. Ideal for students and professionals, this app enables hands-free learning and efficient multitasking.

Highlights
  • Convert articles, papers, books, and PDFs to audio
  • Natural-sounding human-like voices
  • One-click note-taking while listening
  • Adjustable playback speed (0.5x to 4x)
  • Supports PDFs, Word documents, and articles
  • Efficient multitasking during listening
Features
Read full description

Listening transforms articles, research papers, books, and PDFs into high-quality, natural-sounding audio. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply love learning on the go, Listening offers a seamless way to consume written content effortlessly. Key Features: Versatile Content Conversion: Turn a wide range of text—whether it’s academic papers, business reports, articles, or eBooks—into audio, making it easy to listen wherever you are. Natural Voices: Enjoy human-like voices, even for complex or technical terms, that make listening more engaging and easier to follow. One-Click Note-Taking: Capture key ideas with just one tap while listening. Perfect for keeping track of important points during your commute or workout. Efficient Multitasking: Listen while you exercise, drive, or relax, freeing up time for other activities without missing out on important reading. Custom Listening Experience: Adjust playback speeds from 0.5x to 4x to suit your needs. Speed through easier content or slow down for detailed comprehension. Multi-Format Support: Convert PDFs, Word documents, articles, and more into audio, supporting a wide variety of formats. Who Is Listening For? Whether you’re a busy professional trying to stay on top of the latest reports, a student balancing a heavy reading load, or simply someone who enjoys audiobooks and podcasts, Listening makes it easy to turn written text into a hands-free, on-the-go experience. Pricing: Premium Plans: Unlock unlimited listening and enhanced features with flexible monthly or yearly subscriptions. Join thousands of users who are transforming the way they read and learn with Listening. [:mav: 5.1.2]

Screenshots

Readwise Reader4 screens
Listening4 screens

Verdict

The call

Readwise Reader and Listening both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of Readwise Reader's written reviews are positive against 28% of Listening's. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Readwise Reader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Listening sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Readwise Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 579 and 1.4K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Readwise Reader's written reviews are positive against 28% of Listening's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Readwise Reader ships an update weekly, Listening every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Readwise Reader versus Listening: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReadwise ReaderListening
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (579 ratings) — better4.4 (1.4K ratings)
Positive reviews72.0% of reviews — better28.3% of reviews
Number of ratings5791.4K — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size178 MB119 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperReadwise, IncThe Listening App Inc.

Customer experience

Readwise Reader

All ratings579 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral4.3%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews275 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral11.3%
Negative16.7%

Listening

All ratings1,364 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral6.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews237 reviews
Positive28.3%
Neutral17.3%
Negative54.4%

User reviews

Readwise Reader

From 579 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fantastic reading experience
  • 👍 Seamless integration with Readwise
  • 🎨 Beautiful and intuitive UI
  • 📚 All-in-one reading solution
  • 🔍 Powerful search and organization

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
  • 🔍 Cluttered interface for some users
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🖥️ Lack of iPad-specific features
  • 📚 Missing basic reader features (e.g., bookmarks)

Listening

From 1.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Clear and natural-sounding voice
  • 📚 Helpful for academic papers and articles
  • 🚶‍♀️ Convenient for listening on-the-go
  • 🔖 Skips citations and formatting

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy PDF conversion
  • 🔀 Jumbles paragraphs and sentences
  • 🔢 Struggles with technical terms and numbers
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription

Bugs and requests

Readwise Reader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inconsistent sync between devices
  • Unreliable RSS feed updates
  • Frequent crashes on iPad
  • Issues with resuming reading position

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved PDF and ebook support
  • Customizable reading themes and layouts
  • Better integration with note-taking apps
  • Reading progress and statistics tracking
  • Bulk management of saved items

Listening

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent app crashes
  • Inconsistent performance across PDFs
  • Login and password reset issues
  • Unexpected charges after cancellation
  • Inability to delete or manage uploaded files

Requested features

6 requests
  • Multiple voice options
  • Ability to edit and annotate text
  • Improved section detection and navigation
  • Offline mode for downloading content
  • Better integration with cloud storage
Show 1 more
  • More affordable pricing options

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Readwise Reader

Subscriptions4
  • Reader Monthly Plan$8.991 Month
  • Reader Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Reader Annual Plan$95.901 Year
Show 1 more
  • Reader Yearly$119.991 Year
19 purchases

Listening

Subscriptions19
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly14 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Unlimited, Monthly$12.991 Month
Show 16 more
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly3 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly3 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly14 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly7 Days trial$24.991 Month
  • Unlimited, Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited, Yearly$39.001 Year
  • Unlimited, Yearly1 Year trial$39.001 Year
  • Listening Premium Annual3 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly3 Days trial$99.001 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly14 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly3 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly3 Days trial$119.991 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly7 Days trial$124.991 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly14 Days trial$139.991 Year

Questions

Is Readwise Reader free?
Readwise Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Listening free?
Listening is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Readwise Reader or Listening?
Readwise Reader is rated higher. Readwise Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 579 ratings, while Listening averages 4.4 from 1.4K ratings.
Do Readwise Reader or Listening have ads?
Neither Readwise Reader nor Listening shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Readwise Reader or Listening?
Readwise Reader ships an update weekly, and Listening every 8 days. Most recently, Readwise Reader was updated on September 24, 2026 and Listening on September 23, 2026.

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