Comparison

ReadNotes vs Pinakes

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

Head to head
About

ReadNotes

This app helps you remember what you read by taking notes while you read, cleaning them with AI, and generating key takeaways. It tracks your reading progress, builds a personal knowledge library, and offers spaced repetition flashcards.

Highlights
  • AI-powered note cleaning
  • Key takeaway generation
  • Reading progress tracking
  • Spaced repetition flashcards
  • Personal knowledge library
  • Reading statistics and streaks
  • Goodreads library import
Features
Read full description

ReadNotes is the reading tracker and AI note-taking app for people who want to remember what they read, not just finish books. Take notes while you read, clean them up instantly with AI, and generate a single key takeaway from each idea. Over time, ReadNotes builds your personal knowledge library from every book you finish. What you can do: • Write or record voice notes while reading • AI cleans up messy notes into clear, concise text • Generate one key takeaway per note — no rewriting needed • Track books across Reading, Finished, and Want to Read • Review what you learned with spaced repetition flashcards • See your reading stats, streaks, and knowledge by genre • Share insights with friends and see what they're reading • Import your Goodreads library in seconds • Export your notes as PDF Free users get limited AI usage per week. Upgrade to ReadNotes+ for Unlimited AI takeaways and PDF export. Got ideas or questions? Reach out to us at readnotesapp@gmail.com. TERMS: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ PRIVACY POLICY: https://readnotes.vercel.app/privacy

About

Pinakes

Features
Read full description

Pinakes — Your Personal Library, Always with You The reading tracker for iOS book lovers. Track reading sessions with Live Activity, manage your library with Smart Collections, and sync everything privately via iCloud. No account. No ads. Import from Goodreads in seconds. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR WAY Organize your books with five reading statuses: Currently Reading, To Read, Wishlist, Already Read, and Did Not Finish. Smart Collections automatically group your library by genre, reading format, and more — no manual sorting needed. Filter by genre, format, or your own custom tags. Sort by author, title, or date. Group by shelf, author, or series — and collapse an entire series into a single row. DISCOVER YOUR NEXT GREAT READ Search millions of books by title, author, or subject — with improved results for non-English books across parallel catalog sources. Scan any book's barcode with your camera to add it instantly. Add books manually if they're not found in any catalog. Replace a book to fix incomplete metadata from a Goodreads import. Browse current NYT bestsellers and genre-based discovery lists. Watch BookTok-style video recommendations curated to your favourite genres. YOUR AI READING GUIDE Not sure what to read next? Books Guide uses Apple Intelligence to suggest up to five books from your own library — one similar to your current read, one refreshingly different, the one gathering dust the longest, a comfort pick from a favourite author, and a short read for busy days. Every reason is generated entirely on-device, with no data leaving your phone. TRACK YOUR READING TIME Start a reading session with a tap and follow your progress on the lock screen and Dynamic Island via Live Activity. Pause, resume, and finish sessions from your Apple Watch companion app. Browse your complete reading history month by month in the built-in calendar. Start and stop sessions hands-free with Siri. RICH BOOK DETAILS Rate books (1–5 stars), write reviews, and log exactly how and when you read each one — down to the life stage if the exact date is lost. Attach notes and quotes, even scanning text directly from a physical page with your camera. STAY ON TRACK Set a reading goal and receive personalised notifications featuring the book you're currently reading. Inactivity reminders nudge you back after 14 days. Library loan reminders fire 3 days before — and on — the return date. WORKS EVERYWHERE Home screen and lock screen widgets show your wishlist or upcoming loan returns at a glance. Apple Watch app lets you control reading sessions from your wrist. Ask Siri to update a book's status or start a reading session — without opening the app. Quick Actions jump you straight to the barcode scanner or your favourites. IMPORT & EXPORT Moving from Goodreads? Import your entire library with a single CSV file. Export your library anytime to share or back it up. PRIVACY FIRST Your library syncs privately and securely across all your devices via iCloud. No account required — your data stays yours. Start your reading journey with Pinakes today.

Screenshots

ReadNotes4 screens
Pinakes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pinakes at none against ReadNotes's 2. Pinakes also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). ReadNotes's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.1). On price, ads and device support 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. ReadNotes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Pinakes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ReadNotes ships an update monthly, Pinakes every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
ReadNotes versus Pinakes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReadNotesPinakes
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.1
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAKSHAT ROHELLAPablo Gomez Fernandez

In-app purchases

2 purchases

ReadNotes

Subscriptions2
  • ReadNotes+ Monthly$4.991 Month
  • ReadNotes+ Annual$19.991 Year
None

Pinakes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ReadNotes free?
ReadNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pinakes free?
Pinakes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ReadNotes or Pinakes have ads?
Neither ReadNotes nor Pinakes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ReadNotes or Pinakes?
ReadNotes ships an update monthly, and Pinakes every 9 days. Most recently, ReadNotes was updated on October 5, 2026 and Pinakes on October 2, 2026.

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