Compare Merlin AI and Readwise Reader: Which App is the Best?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.