Sequel vs ReadInstead
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sequel
Easily track your favorite TV shows, movies, books, and games. Get release reminders, monitor your progress, and discover new titles with this intuitive media wishlist.
- Media wishlist and tracking
- Release reminders and countdown widgets
- Progress tracking for episodes and books
- Discovery of popular and upcoming titles
- Sync with iCloud and Trakt
- Where to watch and time to beat information
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Whether it’s the TV show your friend raved about, a new book from your favorite author, or an upcoming video game, Sequel is your go-to media wishlist. “Sequel. It’s pretty cool.” – Quinn Nelson, Snazzy Labs “The app […] is one of the very best media trackers in a very crowded field.” – MacStories “Sequel is great for managing media you want to interact with.” – Christopher Lawley It reminds you of new releases, keeps track of your progress, and more. Say goodbye to messy notes and hello to a sleek, intuitive app that puts all your media in one place. ▶ EASY TRACKING Sequel does the heavy-lifting so you can enjoy your media instead of managing it. - Share to Sequel via Magic Lookup and AI to instantly save media from the web - Easily view your wishlist and track what you complete - Mark items as Playing or Reading for quick access - Mark off episodes as you watch them - Sync with iCloud and Trakt ▶ DON’T MISS A THING Sequel is designed to help you keep track of those titles you’re eagerly waiting for. - Countdown widgets let you keep items on your Home Screen or Lock Screen - Get release reminder notifications - See your latest releases and upcoming titles - Stay on top of your series with the Watch Next queue ▶ PICK WHAT TO ENJOY NEXT If you’re not sure what to pick from your wishlist, Sequel gives you the right details to help you choose. - Synopsis and trailers - Ratings count and average - Where to watch (Movies/Series) – Access streaming apps with just a tap - Time to beat (Games) – Know what you’re getting yourself into ▶ DISCOVER YOUR NEXT OBSESSION Find new favorites to add to your list with Sequel’s discovery features. - Browse popular and upcoming titles - Explore cast and crew members’ filmographies - See other books by an author you like ▶ WHAT’S FREE - Save and track unlimited items - Smart search across all media types - Basic details including synopsis, ratings, and trailers - Filmographies - Quick access widget - Create up to 5 collections - Rate items you complete - Discover upcoming and popular items - iCloud sync ▶ WHAT’S PLUS Sequel+ is an optional subscription that unlocks the app’s more advanced features. - Sync your movies and series with your Trakt account - See where to watch movies and series - Get release reminders for items on your wishlist - Use Magic Lookup and AI to instantly save media from the web into Sequel - Create unlimited collections to organize your media - Open media in your favorite sources like IMDb, Audible, and more - Capture thoughts, quotes, and more with Markdown formatting - See how long video games take to finish - Advanced widgets including countdown and Watch Next - Alternative app icons Sequel is lovingly crafted by Romain Lefebvre in London, UK. Terms of Use: https://getsequel.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://getsequel.app/privacy
ReadInstead
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You opened YouTube to watch one specific video. By the time you found it, three other thumbnails had pulled at you, autoplay had queued the next thing, and the speaker was already four minutes in at a pace you did not set. The content is good. The interface is the problem. ReadInstead turns the videos you already trust into full articles you can actually stay with. The same creators, the same talks, the same lectures and interviews and long-form thinking - in a quiet reader where the medium stops moving and you set the pace. Reading is not slower than watching. What changes is your attention. Video carries you through. Reading asks you to stay. One channel, no edits, no autoplay countdown - just the argument and you. This is not a summarizer. It is a faithful reformatter. The article is structured for the page, with headings, paragraphs, examples, and the reasoning that connects one idea to the next. The creator's reasoning stays. Their examples stay. Their conclusions stay. The AI is a typesetter, not an author. FIVE READING SHAPES, ONE SOURCE The article takes the shape that fits the read. - Textbook - definitions, structure, study-ready recaps - Newspaper - conclusions first, built for scanning - Analytical - premises, evidence, the shape of the argument - Essay - a reflective read that keeps the speaker close - Detective - the idea unfolds like an investigation The mode changes structure, not what the creator said. DESIGNED FOR READING - Search YouTube, browse channels, or paste a URL - Start with a video you would genuinely like to read - Choose full, medium, or brief length - Read in 26 supported languages - Save articles to your library - Resume reading across devices - Customize font, size, line height, and theme - Use Focus Mode when you want the interface to disappear Articles end. No autoplay after the last line. No recommendation feed under the page. CALM BY DESIGN ReadInstead does not run advertising or third-party tracking SDKs, and there are no third-party analytics SDKs inside the app. No streaks, no notifications pushing you back, no engagement traps. The app is built to be opened, used, and put down - and to be a place you actually want to return to, on your own time. WHAT THIS IS FOR For the reader who already knows reading feels better. For the saved-tab list that keeps growing. For the lecture you wanted to take in, the interview you wanted to think about, the talk you would rather sit with than scroll past. Same creators. Quieter medium. Articles that end. ReadInstead is free to start. Previously generated articles stay in your library permanently. readinstead.app Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ReadInstead at 13.0 against Sequel's 18.5. 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
Both are free to download. Sequel sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ReadInstead sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.19 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Sequel ships an update weekly, ReadInstead every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sequel | ReadInstead |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.3K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 8 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 252 MB | 67 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Eventide Studio Ltd | Pavlo Kovalchuk |
Bugs and requests
Sequel
Reported bugs
3 issues- Certain shows/movies not appearing in search
- Occasional crashes or freezes
- Inconsistent behavior when marking items as watched
Requested features
6 requests- Add notes/comments for individual media items
- Implement chapter/episode tracking for books
- Introduce a habit tracker or progress visualization
- Integrate with more media services like Apple Podcasts
- Allow sorting/filtering of watch lists by various criteria
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Add the ability to share media lists with others
ReadInstead
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Sequel
- Sequel+$2.991 Month
- Sequel+ (Family Plan)$4.991 Month
- Sequel+7 Days trial$19.991 Year
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- Sequel+1 Year trial$19.991 Year
- Sequel+ (Family Plan)7 Days trial$34.991 Year
- Sequel+ (Lifetime)$99.99
- Sequel+ (Lifetime Family)$174.99
ReadInstead
- Pro Monthly Sale 203 Days trial$7.191 Month
- Pro Monthly Sale 153 Days trial$7.591 Month
- Max Monthly Sale 20$11.991 Month
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Max Monthly Sale 15$12.491 Month
- ReadInstead Max$14.991 Month
- Pro Annual Sale 20$71.991 Year
- Pro Annual Sale 15$76.001 Year
- Max Annual Sale 20$119.991 Year
- Max Annual Sale 15$126.991 Year
- ReadInstead Max (Annual)$149.991 Year









