Looking for a Readwise Alternative?
Compare Readwise pricing side by side, then switch with CSV or API import. Screvi gives you AI search, spaced repetition, and a modern highlights feed in one focused product.
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What is Readwise?
Readwise launched in 2018 as a highlights manager that syncs your Kindle, Apple Books, and other reading highlights, then resurfaces them via daily review emails. In 2022, Readwise launched Reader, a read-it-later app that became their primary focus. Reader is now included in the Readwise Full plan. They also offer Readwise Lite (daily review only) at a lower price. At $12.99/month (or $9.99/month billed annually for the Full plan), Readwise is one of the more expensive options in the space.
Read moreWhy people look for Readwise alternatives
- Readwise Full costs $12.99/month ($9.99/month annually), significantly more than many alternatives
- The team's focus has shifted to Reader only, which is now bundled into the Full plan
- No AI semantic search: Readwise only offers basic keyword search across highlights
- The UI feels dated compared to modern alternatives
- No AI topic discovery to find connections across your reading
- No AI-powered physical book scanner: Readwise has basic OCR but not AI-powered text extraction
Screvi vs Readwise: Feature Comparison
Screvi: 23/29 features · Readwise: 11/29 features
| Feature | Screvi | Readwise |
|---|---|---|
| Import Kindle highlights | ||
| Import Kobo highlights | ||
| Import Apple Books highlights | ||
| Import PDF annotations | ||
| Import Twitter/X bookmarks | ||
| Spaced repetition review | ||
| Daily email digest | ||
| Tags | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| iOS & Android apps | ||
| Public API | ||
| Article reader (read-it-later) | Included in Full plan (Reader) | |
| AI semantic search | ||
| Highlights feed | ||
| AI topic discovery | ||
| AI highlight cleanup | ||
| Physical book scanner (OCR) | AI-powered (Gemini) | Basic OCR |
| Save YouTube transcripts | Full plan only (Reader) | |
| Personal newsletter inbox | Full plan only (Reader) | |
| AI article summaries | Full plan only (Ghostreader) | |
| EPUB reader | Full plan only (Reader) | |
| RSS feed reader | Full plan only (Reader) | |
| Text-to-speech | Full plan only (Reader) | |
| iOS home screen widget | ||
| Tags with colors | ||
| Share highlights as images | ||
| Audio transcription (voice to highlight) | ||
| Lifetime plan available | $199 one-time | |
| Starting price | $4.99/mo | $5.59/mo (Lite) / $9.99/mo (Full, annual) |
Readwise pricing vs Screvi
If price matters in your Readwise alternative search, this is the practical breakdown of public plan pricing.
| Plan detail | Readwise | Screvi |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Readwise Lite: $5.59/mo (annual), daily review only | Screvi Monthly: $4.99/mo with all core features |
| Full plan (annual billing) | Readwise Full: $9.99/mo ($119.88/year) | Screvi Yearly: $49.99/year ($4.16/mo effective) |
| Month-to-month full plan | Readwise Full: $12.99/mo ($155.88/year) | Screvi Monthly: $4.99/mo ($59.88/year) |
| Lifetime option | No lifetime plan | Screvi Lifetime: $199 one-time |
Pricing references publicly listed plans and can change. Check each product pricing page for the latest numbers.
Why choose Screvi over Readwise
Lower price, more features
Screvi starts at $4.99/month vs Readwise Full at $9.99/month (annual) or $12.99/month. Or get lifetime access for $199, a one-time payment with no recurring fees. All plans include every feature.
AI-powered semantic search
Readwise offers basic keyword search. Screvi uses AI embeddings to find highlights by meaning. Ask "what did I read about decision-making?" and get results even if those words don't appear.
Your highlights feed
A scrollable feed of your highlights, designed like a social media feed but filled with your own ideas. Readwise shows a static list. Screvi makes rediscovery feel natural.
All-in-one from the start
Readwise evolved into two products (Readwise + Reader) now bundled under one subscription. Screvi was designed from day one as a unified highlights manager and article reader, simpler and more focused.
AI-powered book scanner
Both apps scan physical books, but Screvi uses Google Gemini AI to extract highlighted and underlined text from photos, handling messy handwriting and complex layouts. Readwise uses basic OCR.
AI topic discovery
Screvi clusters your highlights into themes across all sources. Discover that your reading about psychology, business, and philosophy connects around decision-making.
How to migrate from Readwise to Screvi
Most users complete the migration in under 10 minutes. You can run both tools in parallel while validating the import.
Step 1
Export from Readwise
Use either a CSV export or your Readwise API token for direct sync. Both paths are supported.
Step 2
Import into Screvi
In Screvi, open Integrations > Readwise Import and upload the CSV or paste your API token.
Step 3
Check tags and metadata
Review a few books and articles to confirm highlights, tags, and source metadata were mapped correctly.
Step 4
Switch your daily workflow
Turn on daily digest and spaced repetition in Screvi, then continue saving new reading highlights there.
Switching from Readwise?
Switching from Readwise is straightforward: import by CSV or API token, verify your tags, and move your daily review workflow to Screvi. You can run both in parallel during the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try it with your highlights
Create your account, add your highlights and see how Screvi can change the way you read.