Recl vs Readwise
Readwise and Recl both help you remember what you read, but they start in different places. Readwise syncs the highlights you make — from Kindle, articles and PDFs — and resurfaces them on a spaced schedule. Recl starts from the link: it writes a structured AI summary, generates quiz questions from it, and nudges you until you can recall it.
Compiled from Readwise’s public site on 2026-10-22. Features and prices change — confirm current details at readwise.io.
Recl vs Readwise, feature by feature
| Feature | Recl | Readwise |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Save a link → AI summary → auto quiz → spaced recall | Sync the highlights you make → review them on a schedule |
| AI summary of a saved item | Automatic on every save | Ghostreader in Reader answers questions, defines terms and simplifies text |
| Quiz questions written from the source | Yes — generated from what you saved | Resurfaces highlights you chose |
| Spaced-repetition reminders | Yes — mobile push + web dashboard | Yes — Daily Review by email and app |
| Kindle & e-book highlight import | Not today | Yes — Kindle, Apple Books, Instapaper and more |
| Save video & podcasts | YouTube, playlists, podcasts, more | Reader plays YouTube and lets you highlight the transcript |
| Knowledge graph of your saves | Yes — links items by shared topics (web) | Not a stated feature |
| Ask your library a question | Yes — answers cite your saves | Ghostreader answers questions while you read |
| Free tier | No free plan; every plan has every feature | 30-day free trial, then paid (Lite or Full) |
| Platforms | Web app, Android, iOS, Chrome extension | Web, iOS, Android, Mac and Windows; Chrome, Firefox and Safari extensions |
Where Recl fits better
- You want the summary and the quiz written for you, not to highlight first.
- Most of what you save is video, podcasts, articles and PDFs from around the web.
- You want recall nudges on your phone and a knowledge graph that links topics.
- You would rather ask your own library a question than scroll a highlight feed.
Where Readwise fits better
- Your reading life centres on Kindle and e-book highlights you want synced automatically.
- You already live inside the Readwise + Reader ecosystem and its integrations.
- You want a mature read-later reading experience as the main surface.
- You want to export your highlights to Notion, Obsidian or Evernote.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Recl a Readwise alternative?
- It overlaps with Readwise on one thing: helping you remember what you read. The difference is the starting point. Readwise is built around highlights you make and syncs them from apps like Kindle. Recl starts from the link itself — it writes the summary and the quiz for you, so you do not have to highlight first.
- Does Recl import my Kindle highlights?
- Not today. If your workflow centres on Kindle and e-book highlights, Readwise is the more mature choice for that specific job. Recl is built around videos, articles, PDFs, posts and notes you save from the web and your phone.
- Do both use spaced repetition?
- Yes. Both space your reviews out over time so ideas move into long-term memory. Recl additionally writes quiz questions from each source and delivers them through mobile push and the web dashboard.
- How much does Recl cost?
- Recl is sold as a monthly or a yearly plan, and both include AI summaries, quizzes, Ask your library, search by meaning for your videos in the Chrome extension, the knowledge graph and recall nudges. There is no free plan — every plan unlocks every feature. See the pricing page for the current price in your currency.
- Does Recl have a free plan?
- Not right now. Recl is a paid app — monthly and yearly plans both unlock every feature, and you can cancel anytime.
Related comparisons
Try Recl
Save one video today and see if you still remember it next month. Every plan unlocks every feature.
New to spaced repetition? Read how the review intervals work.