Software · head to head
Readwise Reader vs Arc Publishing
Readwise Reader
Software
The read-it-later app for power readers
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Arc Publishing
Software
The enterprise publishing platform for news organizations
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Readwise Reader there is no free tier, only a 30 day trial; Arc Publishing now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
- They diverge on capability: Readwise Reader covers Read-it-later, Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Readwise Reader and Arc Publishing actually diverge.
| Attribute | Readwise Reader | Arc Publishing |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
| Platforms | Ios, Android, Web | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2017 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Readwise Reader
- Read-it-later
- RSS aggregation
- Newsletter inbox
- PDF support
- Highlighting
- Notion
- Obsidian
- Roam Research
Only in Arc Publishing
- Modular CMS
- Content creation
- Publishing workflow
- Paywall management
- Subscription billing
- Analytics dashboard
- API framework
- Commerce integration
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Readwise Reader
- Saving and reading articles, PDFs and newsletters in one placenot Arc Publishing
- Reviewing highlights from books and articles over timenot Arc Publishing
Arc Publishing
- Content management for news and digital publishersnot Readwise Reader
- Subscription and paywall managementnot Readwise Reader
- Video publishing alongside articlesnot Readwise Reader
- Multi-site delivery for broadcast and B2B publishersnot Readwise Reader
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Arc Publishing
- Now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
- Pricing is not published
- Built for media companies, so the editorial workflow assumptions do not suit a general business site
Pricing, plan by plan
Readwise Reader
On request- Reader Lite$8.99/month
- Unlimited articles
- Highlighting
- RSS feeds
- Full$12.99/month
- Everything in Lite
- Readwise integration
- Spaced repetition
Arc Publishing
On request- Enterprise$undefined/custom
- Custom CMS
- Paywall integration
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Readwise Reader if
- You need read-it-later.
- You work on Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want rss aggregation.
Choose Arc Publishing if
- You need modular cms.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want content creation.
Questions people ask
- Is Readwise Reader or Arc Publishing better?
- Neither clearly leads. Readwise Reader starts at On request and Arc Publishing at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Readwise Reader or Arc Publishing?
- Readwise Reader starts at On request and Arc Publishing at On request.
- Does Readwise Reader or Arc Publishing run on more platforms?
- Readwise Reader runs on Ios, Android, Web. Arc Publishing runs on Web, Mobile.
- What is Readwise Reader best used for?
- Readwise Reader is most often used for saving and reading articles, pdfs and newsletters in one place, reviewing highlights from books and articles over time. Of those, saving and reading articles, pdfs and newsletters in one place and reviewing highlights from books and articles over time are not what Arc Publishing is typically brought in for.
- What can Readwise Reader do that Arc Publishing cannot?
- Readwise Reader covers Read-it-later, RSS aggregation, Newsletter inbox, PDF support. Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, Content creation, Publishing workflow, Paywall management. Both handle Web support.