Comparison
Tuck vs Readwise Reader: an honest comparison
Readwise Reader is the most powerful reading app ever built, and the steepest learning curve. Tuck is read-later for people who want to start reading in 60 seconds, not 60 minutes.
Where Tuck wins
- Free tier that actually works (Reader has no free tier at all)
- About 60% cheaper: €4.99/mo vs $9.99/mo for Reader (or $12.99/mo bundled with Readwise)
- No learning curve. Open the app, save an article, read it. Reader takes a weekend to set up properly.
- Native iOS and Android feel: Reader's mobile apps are React Native wrappers and it shows
Where Readwise Reader wins
- Best-in-class highlight engine: every passage syncs into Readwise's spaced-repetition system
- Ghostreader / AI prompts: Reader's LLM is woven through the whole reading flow
- Deep PKM integrations: Notion, Obsidian, Roam, Logseq all work out of the box
- Power-user shortcuts: vim-style keys, command palette, custom filters with saved views
Feature comparison
Tuck vs Readwise Reader, side by side
| Feature | Tuck | Readwise Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier ⚠️ Reader is paid only. | ✅ | ❌ |
| Native iOS app | ✅ | ✅ |
| Native Android app | ✅ | ✅ |
| Web app | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mac / Windows app ⚠️ Reader has dedicated desktop apps. Tuck uses the web app on desktop (PWA installable). | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Offline reading | ✅ | ✅ |
| Highlights with notes | ✅ | ✅ |
| AI summaries ⚠️ Reader's Ghostreader is more powerful (custom prompts). Tuck's is one-tap and free with Pro. | ✅ | ✅ |
| Text-to-speech | ✅ | ✅ |
| Newsletter inbox | ✅ | ✅ |
| PKM integration (Notion / Obsidian / Roam) ⚠️ Reader exports highlights to PKM tools natively. Tuck exports Markdown; you wire it up. | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Spaced-repetition review ⚠️ Reader inherits Readwise's SRS. Tuck doesn't do flashcards by design. | ❌ | ✅ |
| Browser extension | ✅ | ✅ |
| Imports from other apps | ✅ | ✅ |
| Export anytime (open formats) | ✅ | ✅ |
Pricing
Tuck
Free forever (unlimited articles, 2 devices) · Pro €4.99/mo · Family €7.99/mo
Readwise Reader
No free tier · Reader $9.99/mo standalone · Reader + Readwise bundle $12.99/mo · Annual discounts available
Platforms
Tuck
- iOS
- Android
- Web
- Browser extension
Readwise Reader
- iOS
- Android
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Browser extension
Switch from Readwise Reader
Import in 30 seconds. Tags, archive, highlights, all preserved.
Honest section
When Readwise Reader is the better choice.
We’d rather you pick the right tool than the Tuck tool. Here are situations where Readwise Reader genuinely fits better.
Your reading workflow centers on spaced-repetition review
If you actually open Readwise's daily review every morning and review highlights via Anki-style flashcards, Reader is the right home. Tuck stores highlights for re-reading and Markdown export, not flashcard scheduling.
You live in Notion, Obsidian, Roam, or Logseq
Reader's native PKM exports are a genuine moat: they push highlights into the right database with the right schema, automatically. Tuck exports Markdown, which works everywhere but requires you to wire up the pipeline yourself.
You've already paid for Readwise highlights
If you're already subscribed to Readwise, Reader is included at no extra cost on the bundle plan. The marginal cost of staying inside the Readwise ecosystem is zero.
From people who switched
Why they moved off Readwise Reader.
“Reader was incredible but I never opened it. Tuck I open every morning. Ship beats overshoot.”
Aya T.
Designer
“I was paying $13/mo to use 10% of Readwise Reader. Tuck does the 10% I actually use for €5.”
Dan R.
Developer
Common questions
About switching from Readwise Reader.
Ready to actually finish what you save?
Free to start. Unlimited articles, two devices, export anytime. Pro is €4.99/mo when you want offline, AI summaries, and unlimited devices.
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