Readwise takes on Amazon’s Kindle and Goodreads with its new app for book lovers

Described by its bootstrapped startup creators as a hybrid between the Kindle and Goodreads applications, Readwise Books aims to establish a single, unified destination where users can seamlessly buy, read, and track their literary journeys. However, rather than simply replicating existing features, Readwise Books attempts to distinguish itself by offering vastly more detailed reading analytics than traditional platforms. While legacy apps typically record only binary milestones—such as whether a finished book was completed and the dates it was read—Readwise is betting that readers will embrace rich data visualizations that track precise metrics like words read, reading pace, depth, immersion, and individual reading sessions.

Alongside its robust tracking and reading interface, the new application features an integrated e-book store boasting millions of titles sourced from major publishers, including the traditional "big five," as well as independent presses. Initially rolling out in the United States with plans for international expansion, the store also facilitates the purchase of physical books fulfilled through Bookshop.org’s distributor network, alongside a selection of audiobooks.

This strategic rollout arrives during a broader industry renaissance marked by an explosion of alternative reading apps and book trackers. Across the digital landscape, numerous developers are attempting to challenge Goodreads by introducing modern features such as embedded book clubs, home screen widgets, enhanced discovery tools, ambitious goal-setting interfaces, cleaner organizational lists, and habit-tracking mechanisms. Despite this vibrant ecosystem of indie startups, very few developers have dared to challenge the heavyweight champion of digital reading: Amazon’s Kindle e-book store. Industry estimates place Amazon’s market share at an imposing 83 percent when factoring in subscription services like Kindle Unlimited, cementing its status as the dominant force in the space.

A primary pillar of Amazon’s enduring dominance is its comprehensive, end-to-end ecosystem, which links proprietary hardware devices directly to a centralized reading log and storefront. While Readwise has chosen not to manufacture physical e-reader hardware, it is actively cultivating a vibrant community centered around digital and physical reading alike. The application provides versatile tools for reading both newly purchased and personally uploaded e-books, tracking progress akin to Goodreads, and sharing reading milestones with friends.

To ease friction for readers accustomed to external platforms, Readwise has engineered multiple pathways for tracking books outside its native walled garden. Users can log reading sessions effortlessly by utilizing Amazon’s browser-based Kindle Cloud Reader. Additionally, the application features an innovative tool that allows readers to snap a photograph of a physical book to automatically log their current page and reading progress. For tech-savvy readers, the app also supports the upload of any DRM-free EPUB files—the ubiquitous, copy-protection-free e-book format—and incorporates text-to-speech capabilities to read books aloud.

According to the startup, these granular metrics represent a major selling point, positioning the app as a "Strava for reading," drawing an explicit comparison to the metrics-obsessed fitness tracking application.

In a co-authored blog post, Readwise founders Daniel Doyon and Tristan Homsi elaborated on the psychological dimensions of the platform, noting that the desire to read books is frequently burdened by guilt, much like exercising or maintaining a healthy diet. Many individuals feel a persistent pressure to read more, yet feeling guilty rarely yields positive behavioral changes. By contrast, session-based tracking activates an entirely different psychological mechanism by rendering reading habits tangible and measurable. As the old adage dictates, that which is measured is systematically improved.

Early feedback from users indicates that this metric-driven approach naturally encourages people to read more consistently, entirely bypassing the need for traditional willpower tricks, rigid goal-setting, streaks, or strict scheduling.

In step with modern technological advancements, the platform will also support AI-powered features granted with explicit permission from participating publishers. These capabilities include intelligent session recaps, instant definitions and term lookups, comprehensive phrase translations, and a location-aware assistant that allows readers to ask contextual questions about the exact passage they are currently reviewing. Thus far, major publisher HarperCollins has officially opted in to support these AI-driven integrations.

Unlike the historically locked-down and proprietary ecosystem championed by Goodreads, Readwise has deliberately built its new application around open technology standards. The platform includes a robust public API and an innovative Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. This open architecture empowers AI agents to perform complex tasks, such as researching personalized book recommendations, automatically generating a dynamic reading page on a personal user website, or even wiring up custom, hackable e-readers to log reading sessions seamlessly without manual intervention.

The new Readwise Books application is structured as a free download, though certain advanced AI features are slated to transition behind a paid subscription wall in the future. The company’s existing applications—which specialize in digital reading and highlight management—currently cost $7.99 per month individually or $9.99 per month for a combined subscription package.

At present, the Readwise Books app is operating in an invite-only beta phase for new users, though current Readwise subscribers are granted immediate access. As the startup positions itself to chip away at Amazon’s monumental footprint in the digital reading market, the success of its data-centric approach will ultimately depend on whether modern readers are ready to swap traditional convenience for deep, quantifiable insights into their reading habits.