Readwise Reader
Productivity
reading app
SHOW HN2022
326points
156comments
#119of 2,570 in 2022
Top 5%of 2022 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
25 positive, 45 neutral or asking, 7 mixed, 38 critical, out of 115 comments about the project. Thread score -0.09.
Privacy: 0 for, 12 againstExecution: 4 for, 7 againstIdea: 4 for, 4 againstPricing: 0 for, 8 againstDesign: 2 for, 3 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Fast, clean UX that beats Pocket
From 3 comments
Been using Reader as my primary reading + save for later app for a few months. It's truly a joy — it's fast, simple, and works really well. There's obviously a cold-start problem…
atto on HNLooks amazing! I played with Reader for the last hour or so and it looks so much better than Pocket. The import from Pocket - delightful! I had originally started using Readwise…
rupi on HNI think the original "read it later" app was "Pocket" 15 years ago. At the core it is still bookmarking with a "reader" mode. I still use it on my e-reader (kobo native…
CrypticShift on HN
Obsidian highlight export
From 2 comments
I have been using Reader for months and it has been great. I love that it can handle adhoc content like PDFs and also subscriptions like RSS and mailing lists. The killer feature…
philips on HNLove to attention to detail with the web app (especially the Obsidian export!). Killer feature, definitely a pocket replacement for me.
eiiot on HN
Handles PDFs, RSS, newsletters and epubs in one app
From 2 comments
I have been using Reader for months and it has been great. I love that it can handle adhoc content like PDFs and also subscriptions like RSS and mailing lists. The killer feature…
philips on HNI am a fan. Been using it for several months now and it’s my default reading location and I read a lot. Reading is essential to my life and work and I have been looking for a…
rajekas on HN
Objections
Browser extension requests broad site access
From 2 comments
I'm super intrigued by this, and feel like I'm 99% overlap in a Venn diagram with the target user, BUT… when the browser plugin immediately requested the ability to see…
thomasqbrady on HNWith all the hype by authors, it is very poorly designed website, app frontend and documentation. I still cannot figure out how to use this thing. I installed the app and app has…
sytelus on HN
Poor onboarding and docs; unclear how to save content
From 2 comments
With all the hype by authors, it is very poorly designed website, app frontend and documentation. I still cannot figure out how to use this thing. I installed the app and app has…
sytelus on HNSeems unfinished, or maybe it has a really obscure UI. I have an ipad with a couple dozen papers I've downloaded. I signed up, installed the app, and there's nothing there. The…
pushcx on HN
Price with no free tier
From 2 comments
I'm sorry that there isn't a free/cheap tier. I don't mind paying US$8/m when I'm actively using it, but I wouldn't want to continue that if I have a period when I'm just using…
tomComb on HNJust curious - is it fully “offline” / disconnected from your services? If so - why 8/month and not a single payment “unlock/pro version”? Why are more and more apps trying to…
flandish on HN
Ad trackers found on the site
From 1 comment
Looks like a great product but you're using Facebook Remarketing and Google Ads. That makes me not want to use an app with potentially very personal information. Let's say I save…
lancesells on HN
Poor PDF handling on iPad and no tag search
From 2 comments
I am a fan. Been using it for several months now and it’s my default reading location and I read a lot. Reading is essential to my life and work and I have been looking for a…
rajekas on HNAlso don’t see a way to search via the tags I created ?? Only the content is allowed ?? So if I create 100 tags and want to see all content on tag1 I can’t ?? I thought this is a…
pratikch1253 on HN
Requests
Bookmark or Pocket import
From 2 comments
A few questions: - Can you import from Pocket? - Can you import from various bookmarks? - How much do I own my data? If you go under, what's my backup plan? Open source, data…
scrollaway on HNReally interesting solution and I was very happy using it today! Some quick thoughts: - It would be great if you add a feature to import an OPML - Definitely needs a way manage…
beshrkayali on HN
Dedicated Mac app
From 1 comment
Been using it for a few days now, and my biggest hope is that it gets a dedicated Mac app. I've been a bit disappointed with it so far in Unite. Maybe if I picked up Coherence it…
mrehler on HN
Custom fonts and better PDF dark mode
From 1 comment
Congrats! This is truly a game-changer. Personally, I have two suggestions for a future release: 1). Invert-color PDF dark mode harms readability. Simply invert the color will…
bx376 on HN
Full data export in JSON or CSV, and automatic markdown sync
From 2 comments
Really interesting solution and I was very happy using it today! Some quick thoughts: - It would be great if you add a feature to import an OPML - Definitely needs a way manage…
beshrkayali on HNThank you for making this tool! I'm interested in avoiding lock-in, and would love to be able to export every note as an individual markdown file ("export all your highlights to…
disqard on HN
Podcast transcript tagging
From 1 comment
Still waiting for a solution like what you have done with YouTube videos but for podcasts on the literal run. Easy way to tag a moment in a podcast from an Apple Watch for later…
bberenberg on HN
Questions
How does it compare to Matter and other reading apps
From 2 comments
How does it compare to Matter?
asselinpaul on HNI'm super intrigued by this, and feel like I'm 99% overlap in a Venn diagram with the target user, BUT… when the browser plugin immediately requested the ability to see…
thomasqbrady on HN
Can data be exported and kept under user control
From 2 comments
A few questions: - Can you import from Pocket? - Can you import from various bookmarks? - How much do I own my data? If you go under, what's my backup plan? Open source, data…
scrollaway on HNI'm sorry that there isn't a free/cheap tier. I don't mind paying US$8/m when I'm actively using it, but I wouldn't want to continue that if I have a period when I'm just using…
tomComb on HN
Alternatives named
Pocket
From 2 comments
Looks amazing! I played with Reader for the last hour or so and it looks so much better than Pocket. The import from Pocket - delightful! I had originally started using Readwise…
rupi on HNUsed Pocket for ~10 years, and I know Readwise is superior. Here's the issue I had with Pocket, and one I'm sure you will run into as well. Around 2018 or so, I noticed Pocket…
rchaud on HN
Instapaper
From 1 comment
Just tried Readwise out - very nice! Pocket seems to have stagnated, so very refreshing to see innovation in the Instapaper/Pocket space. I know you all are working on a ton of…
gbourne on HN
Matter
From 1 comment
How does it compare to Matter?
asselinpaul on HN
Wallabag and FreshRSS
From 1 comment
I use a self-hosted Wallabag and FreshRSS very heavily. Am I the intended audience?
xz18r on HN
Reeder
From 1 comment
I'm super intrigued by this, and feel like I'm 99% overlap in a Venn diagram with the target user, BUT… when the browser plugin immediately requested the ability to see…
thomasqbrady on HN