Comparison

Readwise Reader vs Text to Speech

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

Text to Speech

Transform any text into natural-sounding speech with a variety of expressive voices. Customize playback speed and volume, and easily convert content from documents and web pages. This app is ideal for multitasking, learning on the go, and improving accessibility.

Highlights
  • Text-to-speech conversion
  • Multiple expressive voices
  • Adjustable speaking rate
  • Customizable volume
  • Web page and document integration
  • Hands-free listening
Features
Read full description

Listen AI is a text to speech app that helps readers, students, and busy professionals get through PDFs, documents, and articles by turning them into clear, natural-sounding audio they can listen to anywhere. Key capabilities: - Converts PDFs, documents, and web pages into spoken audio in a few taps, with no copy-pasting. - Generates podcasts from your documents, texts, and articles, so you can listen to your own material in an engaging podcast format. - Reads with a range of expressive, natural-sounding voices and accents, so you can pick the right narrator for any content. - Adjusts the speaking rate to match how fast you take things in, from a relaxed pace to high-speed listening. Use cases: - Turn study material and long documents into a podcast you can listen to on your commute instead of reading at a desk. - Catch up on saved articles and reports while you exercise, cook, or get through chores. - Turn lengthy PDFs into audio so you can absorb them with your eyes and hands free. Benefits: - Get through more reading in less time by listening at your own pace while you do other things. Listen AI turns PDFs, documents, and articles into natural-sounding audio and podcasts you can listen to anywhere, at the speed that works for you. Terms and Conditions: https://static.listenai.app/terms-conditions-en.html Privacy Policy: https://static.listenai.app/privacy-en.html Community Guidelines: https://static.listenai.app/community-guidelines-en.html

Screenshots

Readwise Reader4 screens
Text to Speech4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Readwise Reader at none against Text to Speech's shown. Readwise Reader also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 39%) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). Text to Speech's advantage is ratings volume (5.8K vs 579) and chart position (#11 vs unranked). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Text to Speech sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Readwise Reader against 4.5 for Text to Speech. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Text to Speech has 5.8K ratings behind it against 579, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Readwise Reader's written reviews are positive against 39% of Text to Speech's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Readwise Reader ships an update weekly, Text to Speech fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Readwise Reader versus Text to Speech: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReadwise ReaderText to Speech
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (579 ratings) — better4.5 (5.8K ratings)
Positive reviews72.0% of reviews — better38.7% of reviews
Number of ratings5795.8K — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#11 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size178 MB204 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperReadwise, IncDEEP FLOW SOFTWARE SERVICES

Customer experience

Readwise Reader

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

Text to Speech

All ratings5,784 ratings
Positive87.7%
Neutral2.7%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews847 reviews
Positive38.7%
Neutral8.9%
Negative52.4%

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)

Text to Speech

From 5.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent for social change
  • 🗣️ Natural-sounding voice
  • 🎓 Helpful for studying and learning
  • 📚 Turns books into audiobooks

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Subscription management issues
  • ⏱️ Weekly upload limit
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance
  • 🚫 Not fully free

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

Text to Speech

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Freezing and crashing issues
  • Inability to navigate PDFs
  • Inaccurate text-to-speech
  • Incompatibility with certain file types

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to choose between UK and US English
  • Ability to manage subscription and content
  • Repeat audio feature
  • Uncensored mode

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
11 purchases

Text to Speech

Subscriptions11
  • Listen AI Premium3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium$6.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium3 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 8 more
  • Listen AI Premium7 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium7 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium$9.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium7 Days trial2 variants$11.997 Days
  • Listen AI Premium$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Readwise Reader free?
Readwise Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Text to Speech free?
Text to Speech is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Readwise Reader or Text to Speech?
Readwise Reader is rated higher. Readwise Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 579 ratings, while Text to Speech averages 4.5 from 5.8K ratings.
Do Readwise Reader or Text to Speech have ads?
Text to Speech shows ads; Readwise Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, Readwise Reader or Text to Speech?
Readwise Reader ships an update weekly, and Text to Speech fortnightly. Most recently, Readwise Reader was updated on September 24, 2026 and Text to Speech on September 25, 2026.

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