Compare HabitKit and Readwise Reader: Which App is the Best?

	Readwise Reader	HabitKit
	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. Read It Later Productivity	HabitKit is a beautifully designed habit tracking app that helps you form new habits with tile-based grid charts. It's privacy-focused, easy to use, and perfect for tracking daily, weekly, or monthly habits. Habit Tracker Productivity
Key Features	Everything in One App: Seriously, everything. Web articles, email newsletters, RSS feeds, Twitter threads, PDFs, ebooks - it all just works together instead of being scattered across five different apps Highlighting That Syncs: Highlight on your phone, see it on your laptop. Highlight images, text, whatever. It actually remembers where you left off and what you marked AI Reading Assistant: Ask questions about what you're reading, get definitions, simplify complex stuff. It's like having someone smart sitting next to you while you read Text-to-Speech That Doesn't Suck: Finally, robotic voices are dead. This sounds like a real person reading to you, perfect for commutes or when your eyes are tired Sends Notes Anywhere: Your highlights automatically show up in Obsidian, Notion, wherever you take notes. No copy-pasting needed Works Offline: Download stuff and read without internet. Your highlights sync when you're back online	GitHub-Style Progress Visualization – Track your habits with beautiful tile-based grid charts that provide a clear visual representation of your progress over time Flexible Habit Goals – Set custom completion goals (daily, 3x/week, 20x/month, etc.) and track your streaks Customizable Dashboard – Personalize each habit with custom colors and icons for an intuitive, visually appealing overview Smart Reminders – Set custom notifications for each habit to help you stay on track Calendar Integration – Easily manage past completions through an intuitive calendar view Privacy-Focused Design – All your data stays on your device, with no account required and full offline functionality Data Backup & Export – Export your habit data for safekeeping or when switching devices Home Screen Widgets – Keep your habits visible and accessible with customizable widgets (Premium feature) Archive System – Temporarily archive habits you want to pause without losing their history Detailed Analytics – Track your progress with comprehensive statistics and streak information (Premium feature)
Our Rating	7.6	9.3
Total users	0	0
Total ratings	0	0
Average rating	— ⭐	— ⭐
Entry Level Price	Free	Free
Android	Downloads	Downloads
iOS
Features	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: Everything Actually Works Together: Throw in web articles, newsletters, PDFs, ebooks, even Twitter threads - it all just works in one app Highlighting That Doesn't Disappear: Highlight on your phone, it's there on your laptop. Highlight images, text, whatever. It remembers everything AI That's Actually Helpful: Ask questions about what you're reading, get definitions, simplify confusing passages. It's like having a smart friend reading with you Text-to-Speech That Doesn't Sound Like a Robot: Seriously, this is good enough that you'll actually use it during commutes Notes Go Where They Should: Your highlights automatically show up in Obsidian, Notion, wherever you keep notes. No more copy-pasting Sync That Just Works: Start reading on your phone, continue on your laptop. It knows where you left off 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.	8.5 HabitKit delivers a solid set of core habit tracking features, focusing on simplicity and effectiveness. The standout is the GitHub-style heatmap, which makes tracking your progress both motivating and visually satisfying. Key features we found especially useful include: Flexible Habit Tracking: Set habits for daily, weekly, or monthly goals (e.g., 3 times per week) Custom Reminders: Each habit can have its own notification schedule Calendar View: Easily fill in or edit past completions Customization: Assign unique colors and icons to each habit Data Backup: Export and import your data as needed Archiving: Temporarily archive habits without deleting them There are some limitations: the free version restricts you to 4 habits, which may not be enough for everyone, and there's no way to organize habits into categories or folders. Widgets are visually appealing but don't allow direct interaction. Still, the features that are present are thoughtfully implemented and work reliably. We rate features at 8.5—excellent for core functionality, but with room for more organizational tools. For users who need unlimited habits without restrictions, Habitive offers a completely free alternative, while Loop Habit Tracker provides more comprehensive organizational features at no cost.
Performance	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.	9.2 HabitKit performs exceptionally well in day-to-day use. The app is lightweight, launches quickly, and all interactions—such as marking completions, navigating between views, and customizing habits—are smooth and responsive. Animations are fluid and add to the overall polished feel of the app without causing any lag. We encountered very few bugs or crashes, and the app remained stable even when tracking a large number of habits (in the premium version). User reviews echo this experience, with most people praising the app's reliability and speed. A handful of users mentioned minor issues with widgets, such as sizing or display quirks on certain devices, but these did not affect the core functionality and were often addressed in updates. Overall, HabitKit delivers a consistently fast and stable experience, both in our hands-on testing and according to the majority of user feedback. We rate its performance at 9.2 out of 10. This performance rating places HabitKit among the top performers in the category, alongside HabitNow which also achieves a 9.0 rating, and Habitive which maintains an 8.8 rating despite being completely free.
Design	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: Clean Reading Interface: Minimal distractions with focus on content consumption Consistent Visual Language: Cohesive design across different content types (articles, PDFs, ebooks) Customizable Reading Experience: Good control over fonts, spacing, and display preferences Intuitive Navigation: Logical information architecture for managing large content libraries 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.	9.5 HabitKit's design is one of its greatest strengths. The minimalist aesthetic strikes a perfect balance between beauty and usability. The GitHub-inspired tile grid is not only visually appealing but also serves as a powerful motivational tool—watching your chosen colors fill the grid is genuinely satisfying. We especially liked: Clean Dashboard: A clutter-free grid layout that's both attractive and functional Color Customization: Assigning colors to habits makes it easy to distinguish between them at a glance Intuitive Icons: A comprehensive icon selection helps create visual associations with your goals Consistent Theme: The design language is cohesive across all screens Beautiful Widgets: Home screen widgets match the app's aesthetic and provide useful information Animations are smooth and purposeful, and the typography is clear and readable. While the minimalist approach may feel sparse to some, especially when managing many habits, we found it refreshing and effective. We rate design at 9.5. This design excellence sets HabitKit apart from competitors like Habitica, which focuses on gamification, and HabitNow, which prioritizes comprehensive scheduling features over visual polish.
Value for Money	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.	9.5 HabitKit offers a strong value proposition, especially when compared to other habit trackers. The free version is genuinely useful for those with minimal needs, providing all core tracking features and a beautiful, ad-free experience. However, it does limit you to tracking just 4 habits, which several users found restrictive if you want to monitor more aspects of your life. Upgrading to premium unlocks unlimited habits, widgets, advanced analytics, and data backup/export. Pricing is fair and transparent, with options for a monthly, yearly, or one-time lifetime purchase. Many users appreciate the availability of a lifetime license, which is rare among productivity apps and offers excellent long-term value. The premium features are genuinely useful and not just cosmetic add-ons. We also liked that there are no hidden costs, no ads, and no data collection, which adds to the sense of getting good value for your money. While some users wished the free version allowed tracking a few more habits, most agreed that the premium upgrade is worth it if the app fits your workflow. Overall, HabitKit delivers a high-quality experience at a reasonable price, and we rate its value for money at 9.5 out of 10. However, for users seeking maximum value without any cost, Habitive offers a perfect 10.0 rating by providing unlimited habits completely free, while Loop Habit Tracker achieves the same perfect score by offering premium-quality features at no cost.
Ease of Use	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: Intuitive Reading Controls: Highlighting, bookmarking, and annotation tools are discoverable and easy to use Smooth Content Import: Adding articles, PDFs, and connecting RSS feeds works reliably Logical Organization: Content management and library organization follow expected patterns Responsive Interface: Most interactions feel immediate and predictable 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.	9.5 HabitKit is remarkably intuitive and user-friendly. The "less is more" philosophy makes it easy to get started and maintain your habits without confusion or clutter. Highlights include: Quick Habit Creation: Setting up a new habit takes just seconds—name it, pick an icon and color, and you're ready to go One-Tap Tracking: Marking habits as complete is as simple as tapping a tile Clear Visual Feedback: The color-coded grid instantly shows your progress Intuitive Calendar: Retroactively adding or removing completions is straightforward Simple Navigation: All core functions are accessible within a tap or two The only minor quirk is that reordering habits requires a long-press, which isn't immediately obvious to new users. Once learned, it's easy to use. We rate ease of use an 9.5. While HabitKit excels in simplicity, Habitive offers an even more streamlined experience with its 3-click setup, and Loop Habit Tracker provides more advanced features while maintaining excellent usability.
Security & Privacy	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: Transparent Data Usage: Clear about what data is collected and how it's used for the reading experience Secure Sync Infrastructure: Reliable cross-device synchronization without apparent data loss or corruption Professional Service: Established company with clear business model (subscription-based, not ad-supported) Data Portability: Users can export their highlights and annotations Areas of privacy consideration: Required Account: Mandatory sign-up means your reading habits and content are associated with your identity Cloud Storage: All content and annotations are stored on Readwise servers rather than locally Content Analysis: AI features like GhostReader require processing your reading content Email Marketing: Some users mentioned receiving marketing emails, though unsubscribe options are available 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.	9.8 HabitKit stands out for its privacy-first approach. All data is stored locally on your device, with no account required and no remote servers involved. The app works fully offline, so there's no risk of data interception, and you can export your data manually whenever you wish. We found no evidence of third-party analytics or tracking tools. The app only requests essential permissions, such as notifications for reminders. This commitment to privacy is rare and highly appreciated. The only small drawback is that backups are manual, so you'll need to remember to export your data regularly. We rate security and privacy at 9.8. This privacy focus puts HabitKit in excellent company with Loop Habit Tracker, which also achieves a 9.8 rating for its open-source, offline-first approach, and Habitive, which maintains a 9.0 rating by keeping all data local without requiring accounts.
Conclusion	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.	HabitKit has proven itself to be a standout habit tracking app that truly delivers on its promises. Its greatest strength lies in its simplicity and focus—it does one thing exceptionally well, rather than trying to be everything for everyone. The app's beautiful design, intuitive interface, and strong privacy focus make it a compelling choice for anyone serious about building better habits. While the free version's 4-habit limit may be restrictive for some, the premium upgrade offers excellent value for those who need more comprehensive tracking. We especially appreciate the developer's commitment to privacy and the option for a lifetime purchase, rather than forcing users into a subscription. Regular updates and responsive support suggest this is an app that will continue to improve over time. If you're looking for a clean, efficient, and privacy-focused way to track your habits, HabitKit is an excellent choice that we can confidently recommend. However, if you need unlimited free habits, Habitive offers the best free experience, while Loop Habit Tracker provides exceptional privacy features at no cost. For users who value design excellence and are willing to pay for premium features, HabitKit represents the perfect balance of form and function.
	Install Readwise Reader	Install HabitKit
Our Recommendation