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OmniFocus vs Readwise Reader

OmniFocus logo

OmniFocus

Calendars

Professional-grade task management for power users

From
$99.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Readwise Reader logo

Readwise Reader

News

The read-it-later app for power readers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Readwise Reader has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OmniFocus exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support; Readwise Reader there is no free tier, only a 30 day trial
  • They diverge on capability: OmniFocus covers Custom perspectives, Readwise Reader covers Read-it-later.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OmniFocus and Readwise Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where OmniFocus and Readwise Reader differ
AttributeOmniFocusReadwise Reader
Starting price$99.99/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, WebIos, Android, Web
CategoryCalendarsNews
Founded19892017

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in OmniFocus

  • Custom perspectives
  • Review mode
  • Forecast view
  • Tags
  • Automation
  • Apple Calendar
  • Siri
  • Shortcuts

Only in Readwise Reader

  • Read-it-later
  • RSS aggregation
  • Newsletter inbox
  • PDF support
  • Highlighting
  • Notion
  • Obsidian
  • Roam Research

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

OmniFocus

  • Schedulingnot Readwise Reader
  • Appointment bookingnot Readwise Reader
  • Time trackingnot Readwise Reader
  • Resource managementnot Readwise Reader
  • Team coordinationnot Readwise Reader

Readwise Reader

  • Reading and note-takingnot OmniFocus
  • Highlight managementnot OmniFocus
  • Learning and studynot OmniFocus
  • Content curationnot OmniFocus

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

OmniFocus

  • Exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support
  • No collaboration features make it unsuitable for team task management or delegation
  • Setting up repeating tasks is cumbersome with multiple configuration options
  • Lacks AI-powered features for advanced project management, load balancing, or contextual awareness

Readwise Reader

  • There is no free tier, only a 30 day trial
  • Reader is bundled into the full plan rather than sold separately, so it cannot be had at the cheaper Lite price
  • The Lite plan at $5.59 a month billed annually is daily email review only, without the web app or tagging
  • Paying monthly rather than annually raises the full plan from $9.99 to $12.99

Pricing, plan by plan

OmniFocus

$99.99/year
  • Subscription$99.99/year
    • All Pro features
    • Web access
    • Cloud sync
  • Standard (Perpetual)$74.99/one-time
    • Basic task management
    • Projects and contexts
    • Perspectives
  • Pro (Perpetual)$149.99/one-time
    • Custom perspectives
    • Advanced automation
    • Plugins support

Readwise Reader

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • 30 days free
    • No credit card required
  • Readwise Annual$9.99/month
    • Full Readwise and Reader access
    • Billed annually
    • Includes unified reading platform
  • Readwise Monthly$12.99/month
    • Full Readwise and Reader access
    • Billed monthly
    • Includes unified reading platform

Which should you pick?

Choose OmniFocus if

  • You need custom perspectives.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web.
  • You also want review mode.
OmniFocus review

Choose Readwise Reader if

  • You need read-it-later.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want rss aggregation.
Readwise Reader review

Questions people ask

Is OmniFocus or Readwise Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. OmniFocus starts at $99.99/year and Readwise Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OmniFocus or Readwise Reader?
Readwise Reader has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99.99/year for OmniFocus and Free for Readwise Reader.
Does OmniFocus or Readwise Reader run on more platforms?
OmniFocus runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web. Readwise Reader runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Readwise Reader for free?
Yes. Readwise Reader has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus starts at $99.99/year.
What is OmniFocus best used for?
OmniFocus is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Readwise Reader is typically brought in for.
What can OmniFocus do that Readwise Reader cannot?
OmniFocus covers Custom perspectives, Review mode, Forecast view, Tags. Readwise Reader covers Read-it-later, RSS aggregation, Newsletter inbox, PDF support. Both handle Ios support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus offer a free tier?

No, OmniFocus does not offer a free tier. It requires purchase or subscription: $99.99/year subscription or one-time perpetual licenses at $74.99 (Standard) or $149.99 (Pro).

Source
Readwise Reader: How much does Readwise Reader cost?

Readwise (including Reader) costs $9.99 per month when billed annually or $12.99 per month when billed monthly USD. Readers can access articles, PDFs, newsletters, RSS feeds, and YouTube videos across web and mobile.

Source
OmniFocus: What is the free trial period for OmniFocus?

OmniFocus offers a 14-day free trial allowing full access to all features before requiring payment.

Source
Readwise Reader: Is there a free trial for Readwise Reader?

Yes, Readwise offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. Some users who let their trials expire may qualify for an additional extended trial.

Source
OmniFocus: What platforms does OmniFocus support?

OmniFocus is exclusive to Apple ecosystem: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and web access. Not available on Windows or Android.

Source
Readwise Reader: How much can students save on Readwise?

Readwise offers 50% discounts to verified students, educators, non-profits, military, first responders, and individuals in countries where US pricing is unaffordable. Interested users should contact [email protected] to request eligibility.

Source
OmniFocus: Can teams collaborate in OmniFocus?

No, OmniFocus lacks collaboration features and is designed as a solo task management tool. Users cannot delegate tasks, share projects, or assign work to team members.

Source
OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus support Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology?

Yes, OmniFocus is built specifically to support GTD with projects, contexts (tags), folders, perspectives, and a focus view for prioritization. It includes weekly review support and automation features.

Source
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