Compare Readwise Reader and Gemmy AI: Which App is the Best?
Gemmy AI is a Gemini-powered chat assistant that helps with creativity, productivity, and daily tasks through smart conversations and helpful prompts. | Readwise Reader is a powerful read-it-later app that consolidates web articles, newsletters, PDFs, and ebooks into one platform. With advanced highlighting, AI assistance, and seamless note-taking integrations, it's designed for serious readers who want a distraction-free, feature-rich reading experience. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each app. |
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| Our Rating Prod Apps's expert review score for each app, based on hands-on testing and research. | 6.9 | 7.6 Winner in this category |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 0 | 0 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 0 | 0 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | — ⭐ | — ⭐ |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the app. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
| Android User rating and stats for the app on Android browser. |  Downloads | Downloads |
| iOS User rating and stats for the app on iOS browser. |  | |
| Features Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each app. | 7.5 Gemmy AI packs in enough features to make it a solid AI assistant. Beyond just chatting with AI, it offers tools for creative work and productivity that actually come in handy. What Gemmy AI does well: 1. Gemini AI Integration: This is where Gemmy shines. It uses Google's advanced AI model for conversations that actually make sense. You can ask questions, get creative help, and receive detailed responses powered by one of the best AI models around. When we tested it, we could easily chat about various topics - from creative writing to technical questions. The AI responses were generally helpful and well-structured, though we did notice some outdated information here and there. 2. Prompt Library: This is a standout feature. There's a huge collection of pre-made prompts for different situations. Need help writing a story? Crafting social media content? Brainstorming ideas? There's likely a prompt to get you started. The prompts are organized well and easy to browse. We found this really useful when we needed inspiration for creative projects or wanted to try different writing styles. 3. Multi-language Support: Gemmy works in multiple languages, making it accessible to users worldwide. You can chat with the AI in your preferred language without any complicated setup. This feature works smoothly, and we tested it with several languages. The AI keeps its conversational quality across different languages, which is pretty impressive. 4. Save & Share: You can easily save important conversations and share insights with others. This is great for collaborative projects or when you want to keep track of useful AI responses for later. The save feature works reliably, and sharing is straightforward. We found this helpful when working on projects that needed input from multiple people. 5. Creative Content Help: Whether you need help writing stories, poems, or social media content, Gemmy can assist with various creative tasks. The AI provides suggestions and can help you develop ideas further. We tested this with several creative projects and found the AI quite helpful in generating ideas and providing structure for creative writing. 6. Regular Updates: The prompt library gets updated regularly with fresh content, so you always have access to current and relevant prompts. What's missing:
That's why we give features a 7.5 out of 10. The core AI functionality is strong, but the free tier limitations and occasional accuracy issues keep it from scoring higher. | 8.5 This is where Readwise Reader really shines. The features are genuinely impressive - not just marketing fluff, but stuff that actually makes reading online better. What we love:
The rough spots? Search is surprisingly bad for such a polished app. Some stuff doesn't work great on e-readers. We hit bugs that shouldn't exist in a paid app. But the core features solve real problems and do it well. Winner in this category |
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 6.5 The app works okay in most situations, letting you chat with the AI without major interruptions. However, we noticed some performance issues that could affect the user experience. The basic functionality works fine - you can send messages and get responses from the AI without significant delays. The prompt library loads quickly, and the save and share features work reliably without performance problems. Performance strengths:
Performance issues:
However, we found several performance concerns that significantly impact the user experience. Multiple users specifically mentioned that the app is "very slowly" or has slow movement, indicating consistent performance issues. One user noted "Very Slowly moment this apps 😴😴" which suggests the performance problems are noticeable enough to affect user satisfaction. Some users also reported that the app can be resource-intensive, particularly when processing complex AI requests. The performance issues seem to be worse on older devices or when the app is handling multiple requests at once. That's why we give performance a 6.5 out of 10. While the app maintains basic functionality, the reported speed issues and performance inconsistencies prevent it from scoring higher. | 7.0 Performance presents a tale of two experiences - the core reading functionality works smoothly and reliably, but recent updates have introduced stability issues that affect the overall user experience. The strong points are evident during daily use. Reading feels responsive with smooth scrolling and quick page navigation. Content synchronization across devices works consistently, and importing articles, PDFs, and RSS feeds processes efficiently. The basic reading, highlighting, and annotation functions that form the app's foundation operate reliably. Recent developments tell a different story though. The significant drop from a 4.3 overall rating to 3.78 for recent reviews signals genuine stability problems with newer versions. Android users report more issues than their iOS counterparts, including navigation problems and functionality regressions. Some users have experienced critical issues like being unable to add new content after updates, while others consistently note that search performance remains poor. Device compatibility also varies, with particular issues reported on e-ink devices and certain Android configurations. While active development appears to be addressing these concerns, the reliability issues prevent the app from achieving the stability users expect from a paid service. Winner in this category |
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 7.0 The design is clean and functional - you can start using it right away without much fuss. We liked the chat-based interface and how the prompt library is organized. Users seem to love the intuitive chat interface and the well-organized prompt system. It's easy to navigate and find what you need quickly. The app also looks good on mobile devices, making it simple to access your conversations and prompts on your phone. Design highlights:
Design issues:
That's why we give design a 7.0 out of 10. The interface is functional and accessible, but could use more refined visual design and better user onboarding. | 7.5 The design philosophy centers on creating a distraction-free reading environment, and it largely succeeds. Users consistently describe the app as "gorgeous," and the overall aesthetic genuinely supports focused reading with clean typography and thoughtful spacing. Design strengths that impressed us:
The cross-platform execution reveals some inconsistencies though. The app clearly prioritizes iOS, and this shows in the Android experience. Navigation elements don't always follow Android design conventions, and gesture interactions occasionally feel foreign to the platform. While the core reading experience remains visually appealing, the iOS-first approach creates noticeable polish differences that affect the overall experience on Android devices. Winner in this category |
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 6.0 You can use Gemmy AI for free without signing up, which gives you access to basic AI chat functionality. However, the free tier comes with pretty tight limitations that might not provide great value for regular users. To really enjoy all the benefits of Gemmy AI, including unlimited access to advanced AI capabilities and custom prompts, you'll need to upgrade to premium features through in-app purchases ranging from $4.99 to $36.99 per item. Pricing breakdown:
Value concerns:
The pricing structure is where we found some concerns. The freemium model severely limits free users with daily question restrictions, which many users found frustrating and insufficient for regular use. Several users specifically mentioned that the free tier limitations are too restrictive, with one user noting they should "increase the limit of questions per day for whoever did not take the premium." That's why we give value for money a 6.0 out of 10. While the core AI functionality is valuable, the restrictive free tier and premium pricing structure limit the overall value proposition for many users. | 7.5 The value proposition is complex and heavily depends on your reading habits and tolerance for subscription models. The subscription approach generates polarized reactions - some users find it completely worthwhile while others strongly prefer one-time purchases. For power users, the comprehensive feature set justifies the cost. AI assistance, advanced highlighting, deep integrations, and reliable infrastructure create genuine productivity benefits. The 30-day trial period (with no credit card required) provides ample time to evaluate whether the app fits your workflow, and active development means you're paying for ongoing improvements. The subscription model does create barriers though. Unlike competitors, there's no permanently free tier with basic features, and the recurring cost adds up over time. Some users feel the subscription requirement should be more prominently displayed upfront, and occasional bugs or missing features (like robust search) can impact the perceived value when you're paying monthly. For serious readers who can utilize the full feature set and don't mind subscription costs, the value proposition is solid. Casual users or those preferring one-time purchases will likely find better alternatives elsewhere. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 7.5 Gemmy AI works right out of the box - no complicated setup needed. Installing it is simple, and you can easily add it to both Android and iOS devices. Once installed, the chat interface is ready whenever you want to talk to the AI. The whole process is intuitive and easy to figure out. If you need help, the prompt library has plenty of examples that guide you through the features. With so many powerful features, Gemmy might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but everything clicks into place pretty quickly. The chat interface, in particular, is easy to use and much simpler than some other AI assistants we've tested. You can start typing immediately and get responses from the AI without any complicated setup. However, we noticed some usability issues that affect the overall experience. Several users mentioned that the app seemed complicated at first, suggesting the onboarding process could be more user-friendly. There's definitely a learning curve, though it's not steep - but it might put off users who expect everything to work immediately. We also found that the premium features and limitations aren't clearly explained upfront, which can be frustrating when users hit usage limits unexpectedly. The aggressive promotion of premium features throughout the interface can also be distracting. That's why we give ease of use a 7.5 out of 10. The app is generally intuitive once you get familiar with it, but could benefit from better onboarding and clearer communication about limitations and premium features. Winner in this category | 7.0 The usability picture is mixed - while the core reading experience feels intuitive once you're up and running, several barriers can frustrate new users during the initial setup and exploration phases. Where the app excels in usability:
The friction points become apparent early on though. The mandatory account creation before even testing the app frustrates many potential users, and Android users face additional hurdles with gesture navigation that doesn't behave as expected. The wealth of features also means there's a genuine learning curve - power users eventually find everything intuitive, but newcomers need time to discover and understand all capabilities. These initial barriers prevent the app from being truly accessible to everyone, despite its strong foundation once you're familiar with it. |
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 7.0 For Security & Privacy, we give Gemmy AI a solid 7.0/10. The app claims to prioritize user privacy and security, which is a good foundation for any AI application. The app says it's built with robust security measures to protect user data, and we didn't find any reports of major security incidents in user reviews. This suggests the basic security implementation is working as intended. Security strengths:
Privacy concerns:
While the app claims to have security measures in place, there's limited transparency about what specific protections are actually implemented. Users have no clear way to understand how their conversations and data are being handled, stored, or shared. That's why we give security and privacy a 7.0 out of 10. While the app makes positive claims about privacy protection, the lack of transparency and clear communication about data handling practices prevents a higher rating. | 8.0 Readwise Reader handles security and privacy reasonably well for a cloud-based reading service, though the nature of the product requires some data collection and account management that privacy-conscious users should be aware of. Privacy and security strengths:
Areas of privacy consideration:
For a service that fundamentally requires cloud sync and AI processing, Readwise Reader handles privacy appropriately. However, users seeking maximum privacy might prefer local-only solutions. We rate security and privacy at 8.0 out of 10. Winner in this category |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | After testing Gemmy AI ourselves, we can say it's a decent AI assistant that does what it promises. The Google Gemini integration works well and provides real value for creative tasks and general productivity. The app is easy to use and has enough features to be useful for writing, brainstorming, and creative projects. The free version works fine for basic needs, but the limits are pretty tight if you want to use it regularly. That said, the freemium model with its restrictive free usage and the performance issues we ran into might not work for everyone. The app shows potential but could use some work on speed and more generous free limits. If you're looking for a basic AI assistant and don't mind the limitations, Gemmy AI is worth a try. But if you need better performance and more generous usage limits, you might want to look elsewhere. | After weeks of actually using Readwise Reader, we're impressed. It's not perfect, but it genuinely solves the "reading stuff scattered everywhere" problem that drives us crazy. The highlighting works great, the AI assistant is actually useful (shocking!), and having everything sync to your notes automatically is pretty amazing. The downsides are real though. The subscription model will annoy people, you can't try it without making an account first, and if you're on Android, it's going to feel a bit clunky. Plus, for a paid app, it crashes more than we'd like. But here's the thing - if you read a lot online and you're tired of managing content across multiple apps, this might change how you work. The 30-day trial is long enough to really test it out. Just don't expect perfection, expect a really good tool that keeps getting better. |
| Our Recommendation | ||
