Readwise Reader vs The StoryGraph
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Readwise Reader is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.5. Readwise Reader wins on 3 of the 5 scores, The StoryGraph on 1, with 1 tied.
Researchers, students and heavy readers who highlight and take notes
Readers who want stats, mood-based picks and an easy exit from Goodreads
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Readwise Reader | The StoryGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reading & News | Reading & News |
| Category rank | #3 of 7 | #5 of 7 |
| Developer | Readwise | The StoryGraph Ltd |
| Pricing | Subscription | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | No | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Readwise Reader better than The StoryGraph?
Readwise Reader is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.5. Readwise Reader wins on 3 of the 5 scores, The StoryGraph on 1, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Readwise Reader or The StoryGraph?
Readwise Reader: 30-day free trial, then $9.99 a month billed yearly, or $12.99 monthly. The StoryGraph: Free with ads; StoryGraph Plus is $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year on the App Store. On value for money, The StoryGraph scores higher.
Do Readwise Reader and The StoryGraph work on the same devices?
Only Readwise Reader runs on Mac, Windows.
Which is more private, Readwise Reader or The StoryGraph?
Readwise Reader scores higher on privacy (8.2/10). App Store label: no tracking. Email, name, user ID, usage and diagnostics are linked to you for analytics and app functions. Google Play says no data is shared with third parties.
Strengths and weaknesses
Readwise Reader
- Handles nearly every format you read
- Highlights sync to your notes apps
- Apps for phones and desktops, plus the web
- No free plan after the 30-day trial
- Not included in the cheaper Readwise Lite plan
Readwise Reader pulls everything you mean to read into one library: saved articles, PDFs, EPUBs, newsletters, RSS feeds, YouTube transcripts and threads. Highlight anything and it flows to Obsidian, Notion or Logseq. Ghostreader, the built-in AI, summarizes, looks things up and answers questions across your library. It's the most capable reader here. It's also subscription-only after a 30-day trial, and not cheap.
Full Readwise Reader review
The StoryGraph
- Recommendations that go beyond star ratings
- Quarter-star ratings and DNF tracking
- Easy import from Goodreads
- Free tier shows ads
- Advanced stats and charts need Plus
- Lighter social features than Goodreads
The StoryGraph tracks what you read and recommends what's next based on mood, pace and the books you've loved. Rate in quarter stars, log the books you didn't finish, check content warnings and see charts of your reading habits. Bringing your Goodreads history is easy, and buddy reads hide spoilers in reactions. Free users see ads, and the deeper stats and custom charts sit behind Plus.
Full The StoryGraph review
