A Readwise alternative
Reading apps, highlight libraries
and the notes you keep.
Unearthed is an alternative to Readwise for collecting Kindle and KOReader highlights, revisiting your notes and sending them to the apps where you write. Unearthed Local keeps your library on your computer and exports to Obsidian and Craft. Unearthed Online adds a web library, Notion sync and optional AI. Unearthed Mobile is a separate reader that connects to Unearthed Local. Here’s how the features compare with Readwise and Reader.
Readwise
Highlights + Reader
US$12.99
/ month, billed monthly
Reading, highlight review and cloud sync in one subscription.
Readwise pricingUnearthed
Unearthed Local
Buy once
Desktop app
Your library on your computer. Direct Obsidian and Craft export.
Explore Unearthed LocalUnearthed
Unearthed Online
$5
/ month, hosted service
Your web library, connected notes apps and optional AI tools.
Explore Unearthed OnlineUnearthed
Unearthed Mobile
Buy once
Separate purchase
Articles, RSS and quote capture. Connect to Unearthed Local for book highlights.
Explore Unearthed MobileSubscription prices shown use monthly billing. Full Readwise also offers annual billing at US$119.88 per year, paid upfront. Unearthed Local and Unearthed Mobile are sold separately. See the pricing notes for Readwise’s single app plans and requirements.
The main differences
Readwise has two apps: Highlights collects and resurfaces your highlights; Reader is where you read articles, newsletters, PDFs, EPUBs and more. Full Readwise includes both. Unearthed has three separately licensed editions, each with a different role.
- Unearthed Local: a desktop library for Windows, macOS and Linux. Import Kindle and KOReader highlights, read articles and RSS, and export directly to Obsidian or Craft. Buy it once and keep your library on your computer.
- Unearthed Online: a subscription web library with the Kindle extension, KOReader uploads, Obsidian and Notion integrations, tags, a connections graph, daily reflections and optional AI tools.
- Unearthed Mobile: read articles and RSS, capture physical book quotes with your camera, and revisit highlights on your phone. It works independently for articles; Kindle and KOReader highlights arrive through Unearthed Local.
Compare the features
The Readwise column covers the Full Readwise plan, including both Highlights and Reader. Unearthed’s columns show each edition separately. Read the notes beside a check: some features need a plugin, another edition or a paid plan in the destination app.
Show the differences
Compare Readwise with Unearthed Local, Unearthed Online and Unearthed Mobile together.
Shared features are supported by Readwise and at least one Unearthed edition. “Only” includes features not listed or verified for the other product. Check each row’s status and conditions. Coming soon features don’t count as available.
111 of 111 features
On a small screen, scroll each table sideways to compare editions.
- IncludedSupported
- With conditions
- Not includedNot included
- Not verified / listed
- Coming soon
Devices & your library
Where you can use each app, and where your reading lives.
| Feature | ReadwiseHighlights + Reader | Unearthed LocalDesktop | Unearthed OnlineCloud | Unearthed MobilePhone & tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows & macOS desktop apps | Reader desktop | Included | Web browser | Not included |
| Linux desktop app | Web browser | Included | Web browser | Not included |
| Web access to your library | Included | Not included | Included | Unearthed Mobile PWA |
| iPhone & iPad | Native apps | Not included | Web browser | Installable PWA |
| Android | Native apps | Not included | Web browser | Android app / PWA |
| Android e-ink reader support | E-ink display mode | Not included | Web browser | Android app / PWA |
| Offline reading of saved contentImports, AI, external video and network sync still need a connection. | Reader | Included | Not included | Included |
| Library stored on your own device | Offline cache + cloud | On device database | Not included | On device storage |
| Cloud sync without your desktop runningUnearthed Online’s Obsidian plugin can fetch on mobile. Obsidian must be open to write notes. | Included | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Direct Unearthed Local ↔ Unearthed Mobile library syncUnearthed Local must be running and reachable over your network or configured remote connection. | Not included | With Unearthed Mobile | Not included | With Unearthed Local |
| Light & dark themes | Included | Included | Included | Included |
Bring in your highlights
Book platforms, manual capture and files. Importing highlights is different from importing a whole ebook.
| Feature | ReadwiseHighlights + Reader | Unearthed LocalDesktop | Unearthed OnlineCloud | Unearthed MobilePhone & tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindle highlights & personal notesKindle Notebook imports only cover annotations Amazon makes available there. Unearthed’s Kindle extension is free to download; syncing to the hosted Unearthed Online service requires an Unearthed Online subscription. | Included | Built in Amazon login | Free browser extension | Through Unearthed Local |
| KOReader highlights & notesThe KOReader plugin is free to download. Use it with a purchased Unearthed Local app or an Unearthed Online subscription for the hosted service. | KOReader exporter | Free Unearthed plugin | Free Unearthed plugin | Through Unearthed Local |
| Apple Books highlights | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Kobo highlightsUnearthed’s Kobo route requires KOReader on a supported device; it is not a stock Kobo account connector. | Included | Via KOReader | Via KOReader | Through Unearthed Local |
| Google Play Books highlights | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Library / borrowed book highlights | Supported integrations | Kindle / KOReader | Kindle / KOReader | Through Unearthed Local |
| BookFusion, Everand & Moon+ Reader | Import integrations | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Feedly, Inoreader & Instapaper highlights | Import integrations | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Hypothes.is, Raindrop & Refind highlights | Import integrations | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| O’Reilly Learning & Command Browser | Import integrations | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Snipd & Voicenotes | Import integrations | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Goodreads supplemental highlights | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Type or paste a quote manually | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Add your own books & other media sourcesIn Unearthed, a source can represent a book, film, podcast or anything else you want to keep short notes about. This does not import the media itself. | Manual highlights | Included | Included | Included |
| Scan physical book quotes with OCR | Readwise mobile | Through Unearthed Mobile | Not included | Camera / photo |
| CSV highlight import | Included | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Kindle My Clippings.txt import | Included | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Import annotations from other PDF appsReadwise’s PDF highlight importer is separate from Reader’s PDF reader and supports selected PDF apps. Unearthed imports KOReader’s own annotations, not embedded annotations from other PDF apps. | PDF import, beta | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Email highlights or files into the service | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
Read, watch & listen
Reader’s reading tools alongside the article and RSS readers in Unearthed Local and Unearthed Mobile.
| Feature | ReadwiseHighlights + Reader | Unearthed LocalDesktop | Unearthed OnlineCloud | Unearthed MobilePhone & tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Save web articles & read extracted text | Reader | Included | Not included | Included |
| Read it later bookmarks | Later / Shortlist | Included | Not included | Included |
| RSS feeds & full text articles | Included | Included | Not included | Included |
| OPML feed import & export | Included | Not listed | Not included | Not listed |
| Email newsletters in your reading inbox | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Read & annotate PDFsUnearthed can receive highlights from PDFs read in KOReader; it does not contain a PDF reader. | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Read & annotate EPUB ebooks | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Import Markdown as a reading document | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| YouTube videos & transcriptsYou need an internet connection to watch videos. Transcripts may not be available for every video in Unearthed Mobile. | Included | Included | Not included | Transcript availability varies |
| Podcast episode transcriptsReader transcribes episodes for reading and highlighting; it is not a full podcast player. | Reader | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Twitter / X threads | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Browser extension to save & highlight web pagesUnearthed Online’s browser extension imports Kindle highlights; it is not a general web clipper. | Chrome / Firefox / Safari | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Save articles by pasting a URL | Included | Included | Not included | Included |
| Phone share sheet article capture | Included | Not included | Not included | Android share target |
| Text to speech & audio playback | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Adjustable reading typeface & line spacing | Included | Not listed | Not included | Not listed |
| Send reading documents to Kindle | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
Notes & organisation
The tools for finding a passage again and building a useful library around it.
| Feature | ReadwiseHighlights + Reader | Unearthed LocalDesktop | Unearthed OnlineCloud | Unearthed MobilePhone & tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlight text & attach personal notes | Included | Included | Imported / manual quotes | Included |
| Find books, highlights & notes | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Search full saved article text | Included | Included | Not included | Included |
| Tags on sources & individual highlights | Included | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Inline action tags from your reading notes | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Join separate highlights automatically | Concatenation tags | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Graph of sources, quotes & tags | Not listed | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Custom source types | Not listed | Included | Included | Included |
| Edit source titles, authors & metadata | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Custom highlight colours | Highlight formatting | Included | Quote colours | Included |
| Exclude chosen sources from export | Included | Included | Included | Through Unearthed Local |
| Saved queries & advanced filtered views | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Bulk reading inbox actions | Included | Article actions | Not included | Article actions |
| PDF image / table snapshots | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Public annotated document sharing | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Keyboard shortcuts & quick capture | Included | Global Quick Import | Standard web controls | Touch / share target |
Revisit what you read
Unearthed’s daily reflection resurfaces a quote. Readwise adds a dedicated review and recall system.
| Feature | ReadwiseHighlights + Reader | Unearthed LocalDesktop | Unearthed OnlineCloud | Unearthed MobilePhone & tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily highlight review / reflection | Daily Review | Daily reflection | Daily reflection | Daily reflection |
| Daily highlight email | Included | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Native review reminders & iOS widgets | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Append a reflection to Obsidian daily notes | Not listed | Included | Free Unearthed plugin | Through Unearthed Local |
| Spaced repetition & Mastery flashcards | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Themed Reviews & frequency tuning | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Audio highlight reviews | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Supplemental books & popular highlights | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Email digest of newly saved reading | Reader Daily Digest | Not included | Not included | Not included |
Optional AI tools
Readwise uses Ghostreader. Unearthed’s built in AI tools are in Unearthed Online; Unearthed Local and Unearthed Mobile do not currently include them.
| Feature | ReadwiseHighlights + Reader | Unearthed LocalDesktop | Unearthed OnlineCloud | Unearthed MobilePhone & tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summaries & key themes | Included | Not included | Book analysis | Not included |
| Chat about a book or document | Included | Not included | Book chat | Not included |
| Library wide AI chat with cited sources | Global Ghostreader | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Automatic document summaries & tags | Included | Not included | On demand idea extraction | Not included |
| Extract ideas from your highlights | Ghostreader prompts | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Questions to test your understanding | Prompts / Quiz skill | Not included | Reflection questions | Not included |
| AI feedback on your answers | Quiz skill / prompts | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Book & reading recommendations | Bonus highlights / AI | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Suggestions with opposing viewpoints | Custom AI prompts | Not included | Contrasting books | Not included |
| Identify gaps in your reading | Custom AI prompts | Not included | Blind Spots | Not included |
| Define, explain & translate text | Included | Not included | Ask in book chat | Not included |
| Bring your own AI API keyIn Unearthed Online, enter an API key, base URL and model name for a provider that supports the OpenAI Chat Completions request and response format. Custom provider support varies by tool. Provider charges and usage limits apply. | OpenAI | Not included | OpenAI compatible Chat Completions API | Not included |
Exports & connected notes
A check means there is a supported route, not that every destination syncs in the same way.
| Feature | ReadwiseHighlights + Reader | Unearthed LocalDesktop | Unearthed OnlineCloud | Unearthed MobilePhone & tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian highlights & notesUnearthed’s Obsidian plugin is free to download; the hosted Unearthed Online service requires a subscription. Unearthed Local exports directly to your vault without a plugin. | Readwise plugin | Direct vault export | Free Unearthed plugin | Through Unearthed Local |
| Obsidian sync on a phoneUnearthed Mobile and Obsidian Mobile are separate apps. Unearthed Online’s free Obsidian plugin can run on mobile without Unearthed Local; the hosted Unearthed Online subscription is still required. | Readwise plugin | Your vault sync setup | Free Unearthed plugin | Export through Unearthed Local |
| Craft highlights & notes | Craft integration | Direct Craft export | Not included | Through Unearthed Local |
| Craft source & author collections | Not listed | Included | Not included | Through Unearthed Local |
| Notion highlights & notes | Included | Not included | Included | Not included |
| CapacitiesCapacities is coming soon. | Capacities Pro | Not included | Coming soon | Not included |
| Supernotes daily reflection | Not listed | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Apple Notes | Mac export tool | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Evernote | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Logseq & Roam Research | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| OneNote & RemNote | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Tana & Workflowy | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| NotebookLM via Google Docs | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Markdown highlight files | Included | Obsidian export | Free Unearthed plugin | Through Unearthed Local |
| CSV highlight export | Included | Included | Not listed | Not included |
| Custom export templates | Included | Included | Free Unearthed plugin | Through Unearthed Local |
| Include full saved articles in exports | Reader Markdown | Obsidian / Craft | Not included | Through Unearthed Local |
| Download annotated PDFs | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
Automation & ownership
What can run automatically, and which parts you can control yourself.
| Feature | ReadwiseHighlights + Reader | Unearthed LocalDesktop | Unearthed OnlineCloud | Unearthed MobilePhone & tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic updates to connected notes apps | Included | While Unearthed Local runs | Connector dependent | Through Unearthed Local |
| Hourly Kindle refresh & export | Readwise sync schedule | While Unearthed Local runs | Kindle extension | Through Unearthed Local |
| System tray & launch at startup | Not listed | Included | Not included | Not included |
| API access for integrations | Included | Unearthed Local sync API | Unearthed API | Syncs with Unearthed Local |
| Official MCP server & ChatGPT connection | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Official command line tool & agent skills | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Highlight webhooks | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Open source applicationUnearthed Online’s source code is free under GPL-3.0. Running your own copy requires your own hosting, database and connected services, which may cost money. Its Kindle extension, Obsidian plugin and KOReader plugin are also free downloads with public source. Unearthed Local and Unearthed Mobile are separate paid products. | Not included | Not included | Free source · GPL-3.0 | Not included |
| One time purchase option | Not included | Included | Not included | Separate purchase |
When Unearthed is a good fit
Choose Unearthed Local if your main aim is to keep a reading library on your computer and send highlights to Obsidian or Craft without another subscription. Articles, RSS and quotes you add yourself sit alongside your Kindle and KOReader notes. You can keep short notes about a film, podcast or physical book too; the source doesn’t have to be something you read inside Unearthed.
- For Craft, Unearthed Local creates source and author collections with your quotes and notes. Any extra planning board you add around those collections is optional and your own to design.
- For Obsidian on mobile, Unearthed Online’s plugin can fetch your highlights without Unearthed Local running. Obsidian itself must be open for the plugin to write into the vault.
- For cloud tools, Unearthed Online connects to Notion and sends daily reflections to Supernotes. Capacities is coming soon.
When Readwise is a better fit
Readwise has a broader set of reading formats and import integrations. Reader is the stronger fit if PDFs, EPUBs, email newsletters, podcast transcripts or text to speech are central to how you read. Its cloud service keeps your library in sync across devices without a desktop companion.
- For structured recall, Readwise has Mastery flashcards, spaced repetition, Themed Reviews and review frequency controls. Unearthed’s daily reflection is a simpler way to revisit a quote.
- For AI across your reading, Global Ghostreader searches your Reader library and answers with citations on web and desktop. Readwise also offers an official MCP server, command line tool and ChatGPT connection.
- For other reading platforms or notes apps, check Readwise’s integration directory. It covers more sources and destinations than Unearthed, including Apple Books, stock Kobo, Apple Notes, Evernote and Logseq.
Pricing and what your purchase includes
With monthly billing, Full Readwise is US$12.99 per month. Reader only and Highlights only are each US$8.99 per month, billed monthly. The single app plans leave out the other app, so they aren’t the same package shown in our comparison. Full Readwise is also available for US$119.88 per year, paid upfront. The main comparison uses monthly billed prices. Readwise offers a 30-day trial.
- Unearthed Local is a one time purchase, with free updates within the major version you buy. For example, a version 1.x purchase includes updates through 1.9.9. Unearthed Mobile is a separate one time purchase; neither is included with Unearthed Online. Current purchase prices are on their product pages.
- Unearthed’s Kindle browser extension, Obsidian plugin and KOReader plugin are free to download, with no separate plugin purchase. Using them with the hosted Unearthed Online service requires an Unearthed Online subscription; the KOReader plugin also works with a purchased Unearthed Local app.
- Unearthed Online costs $5 per month. Its source code is free under GPL-3.0. If you run your own copy, you provide the hosting, database and connected services, which may have their own costs.
- An integration does not include a subscription to its destination. For example, Readwise’s Capacities connection requires Capacities Pro. AI providers may charge separately when you use your own key.
Moving from Readwise
Unearthed doesn’t have a one click Readwise migration. Connecting Kindle or KOReader brings in highlights from those sources; it won’t transfer your Readwise tags, review history or Reader queue. Unearthed Online has a CSV highlight importer, but a Readwise export may need its columns adapted to Unearthed’s template. Unearthed Local does not currently have that CSV importer.
- Download a backup of your Readwise highlights and any Reader documents you want to keep.
- Import a Kindle or KOReader book into the Unearthed edition you plan to use. Check quotes, personal notes and locations.
- Export that book to your notes app. Add another highlight and repeat the export to check the update behaviour.
- Try your usual article, mobile and review workflows before cancelling Readwise. Keep your exported backup.
Sources and comparison notes
We publish Unearthed, so this is our product comparison. We checked Readwise’s public product pages and documentation on 23 October 2026 and compared them with Unearthed’s current features. “Not listed” means we couldn’t verify a dedicated feature in those sources; it doesn’t rule out a community tool or a custom workflow. Availability can depend on platform, plan and setup.
- Readwise plans and pricing
- Reader features and supported devices
- Readwise highlight imports
- Readwise integration directory
- Saving articles, files, podcasts and threads
- Reader imports and migration formats
- Reader highlights, tags and notes
- Readwise action tags and joined highlights
- Reader type, spacing and appearance
- Readwise mobile apps, reminders and widgets
- Reader filtered views
- Readwise review, recommendations and Mastery
- Themed Reviews
- Ghostreader, prompts and custom API keys
- Global Ghostreader and library wide AI
- Reader PDFs and annotated PDF downloads
- Readwise PDF highlight import and limitations
- Reader text to speech
- Reader sharing
- Reader Daily Digest
- Readwise highlight exports
- Reader exports and Send to Kindle
- Readwise to Craft
- Readwise to Capacities and its Pro requirement
- Readwise to NotebookLM via Google Docs
- Readwise MCP and ChatGPT connection
- Readwise CLI and agent skills
- Readwise API
- KOReader’s built in Readwise exporter
- Unearthed Local features
- Unearthed Online features
- Unearthed Mobile and desktop sync
Questions about switching from Readwise
Can I sync Kindle highlights to Obsidian without Readwise?
Yes. Unearthed Local imports highlights and personal notes from Amazon Kindle Notebook and writes Markdown files directly into your Obsidian vault. It is a one time purchase and does not need an Obsidian plugin. Unearthed Online offers a separate hosted route using its free Kindle browser extension and free Obsidian plugin, with an Unearthed Online subscription. Both routes depend on which annotations Amazon makes available in Kindle Notebook.
Is there a Readwise alternative without a subscription?
Unearthed Local is a one time purchase desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. It imports Kindle and KOReader highlights, reads saved articles and RSS, and exports to Obsidian or Craft. You keep the purchased version, with free updates within that major version. Automatic imports and exports require the desktop app to be running. Unearthed Mobile is a separate purchase; Unearthed Online is a separate subscription.
Can Unearthed sync KOReader highlights to Obsidian or Craft?
Yes. The free Unearthed KOReader plugin sends highlights and notes to Unearthed Local or Unearthed Online. Unearthed Local exports directly to Obsidian and Craft. Unearthed Online exports to Obsidian through its free plugin and also connects to Notion. On a Kobo device, this workflow requires KOReader on supported hardware; it is not a connector for the stock Kobo reader.
Is Unearthed an alternative to Readwise Reader for articles and RSS?
Unearthed Local and Unearthed Mobile let you save web articles, read RSS and keep highlights and notes. They can suit a read it later workflow alongside your book highlights. They do not replace every Reader feature: Unearthed does not currently include a PDF or EPUB reader, newsletter inbox, podcast transcription or text to speech. Unearthed Online is a highlight library rather than an article reader.
Is Unearthed free or open source?
Unearthed’s Obsidian plugin, Kindle browser extension and KOReader plugin are free downloads. Unearthed Online’s source code is available free under GPL-3.0, but the hosted service has a subscription. Running your own copy requires your own hosting, database and connected services. Unearthed Local and Unearthed Mobile are separate paid apps, so the free plugins do not make the complete hosted workflow free.
Can I move my whole Readwise library into Unearthed?
There is no one click Readwise migration. Reconnecting Kindle or KOReader imports highlights available from those sources, but does not transfer Readwise tags, review history or your Reader queue. Unearthed Online has a CSV highlight importer; a Readwise export may need its columns adapted to Unearthed’s template. Unearthed Local does not currently have that CSV importer. Keep a backup and test a small sample before switching.