In today’s fast-paced world, time is of the essence, and people have less and less of it to spare. As a result, traditional reading habits have taken a backseat to more efficient and time-saving alternatives. Quick-read apps have emerged as the go-to solution for people who want to stay updated with the latest news, trends, and ideas, but don’t have the time to read entire books or articles.

Two of the most popular quick-read apps on the market today are Blinkist and StoryShots. In this article, we’ll compare these two apps in terms of content offering and selection, user interface and reading experience, pricing and subscription options, availability on multiple platforms, customer support and reviews, and finally, provide a final verdict on which app is the best for you.

Content Offering and Selection

Blinkist and StoryShots both offer summaries of non-fiction books and other content, such as articles, podcasts, and TED talks. However, the scope and variety of content differ between the two apps.

Blinkist offers more than 4,500 titles across various categories, including business, self-help, health, and history. Users can search for content by title, author, or category. The app provides short summaries of each book, usually around 15 minutes in length, that distil the main ideas and key takeaways.

StoryShots, on the other hand, focuses primarily on business and personal development books. The app offers over 1000 titles, and users can search for content by author, title, or category. Each summary is around 5-15 minutes in length and covers the main ideas of the book.

User Interface and Reading Experience

Both Blinkist and StoryShots offer user-friendly interfaces that are easy to navigate. The apps provide a clean and minimalist design that makes it easy to find the content you want to read. However, there are some notable differences in the reading experience between the two apps.

Blinkist offers several reading modes, including a standard mode and a night mode. Users can adjust the font size and background color, which is ideal for those who prefer to read in low-light conditions. Additionally, the app includes a highlighter feature that lets users highlight key passages and save them for later.

StoryShots, on the other hand, has a more basic reading experience. The app only offers a standard reading mode, and users cannot adjust the font size or background color. However, the app does include a feature that lets users save their favorite summaries for later.

Pricing and Subscription Options

Pricing is an important factor to consider when choosing a quick-read app, and both Blinkist and StoryShots offer similar subscription models.

Blinkist offers a monthly subscription for $19.99 per month or an annual subscription for $111.99 per year. The annual subscription is the more cost-effective option and provides users with access to all of the app’s content. The app also offers a free trial that lets users access the entire library for 7 days.

StoryShots also offers an annual subscription for $19.99 which is paid annually. You can try 3 days free. There is also the Lifetime Access (with refund) for $59.99 and the Gift Lifetime for $99.99. With the Gift lifetime you effectively receive 2 subscriptions for the price of one.

Availability on Multiple Platforms

Both Blinkist and StoryShots are available on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and the web. This makes it easy for users to access their content from any device.

Blinkist also offers a desktop app for Windows and Mac users. The app is ideal for those who prefer to read on their computer rather than their phone or tablet. Additionally, Blinkist has integrations with popular services such as Evernote and Pocket, which makes it easy to save and organize summaries.

Customer Support and Reviews

Customer support is an important consideration when choosing a quick-read app. Both Blinkist and StoryShots offer comprehensive customer support through their websites and apps.

Blinkist provides a dedicated support center that includes FAQs, articles, and troubleshooting guides. The app also has a contact form that users can fill out to receive personalized assistance from customer support representatives. Additionally, Blinkist has received positive reviews from users, with many praising the app’s content selection and user interface.

StoryShots also provides a support center that includes FAQs and a contact form. The app has received mixed reviews from users, with some praising the quality of the summaries and others criticizing the app’s limited content selection.

Pros and Cons of Blinkist

Blinkist is a popular quick-read app that offers comprehensive summaries of non-fiction books across various categories. While the app offers many benefits, it also has a few drawbacks that are worth considering before deciding to subscribe.

Pros:

• Wide selection of content across various categories

One of the biggest advantages of Blinkist is its extensive selection of content. The app offers summaries of over 4,500 non-fiction books across various categories, including business, personal development, science, and technology. This makes it easy for users to find summaries that match their interests and goals, and stay up to date with the latest ideas and trends in their fields of interest.

• User-friendly interface with multiple reading modes

Blinkist has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and use. The app offers multiple reading modes, including text, audio, and highlights, that allow users to customize their reading experience according to their preferences. Users can also adjust the reading speed and font size to suit their needs.

• Integrations with popular services such as Evernote and Pocket

Blinkist integrates with popular services such as Evernote and Pocket, making it easy to save and organize summaries. Users can also access Blinkist through various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and web browsers, which makes it easy to read summaries on the go.

• Comprehensive customer support

Blinkist provides comprehensive customer support through its support center, which includes FAQs, articles, and troubleshooting guides. The app also has a contact form that users can fill out to receive personalized assistance from customer support representatives. Additionally, Blinkist has received positive reviews from users, with many praising the app’s content selection and user interface.

Cons:

• Higher pricing compared to other quick-read apps

One of the biggest drawbacks of Blinkist is its higher pricing compared to other quick-read apps. The app offers a monthly subscription for $19.99, which is higher than the monthly subscription fees of other quick-read apps such as StoryShots and Sumizeit. However, Blinkist also offers an annual subscription that costs $119.99, which can be more affordable in the long run.

• Limited customization options for the reading experience

While Blinkist offers multiple reading modes, it has limited customization options for the reading experience. Users cannot change the background color or font style, which may be a deal-breaker for some users who prefer more customization options.

Pros and Cons of StoryShots

Pros:

StoryShots is a quick-read app that provides summaries of non-fiction books primarily focused on business and personal development. While the app offers several benefits, it also has a few drawbacks that are worth considering before subscribing.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing compared to other quick-read apps

One of the most significant advantages of StoryShots is its affordable pricing. The app a once-off fee which is lower than the monthly subscription fees of other quick-read apps such as Blinkist and Sumizeit. This makes it an excellent option for users who are on a tight budget but still want to stay up to date with the latest ideas and trends in business and personal development.

• Easy-to-use interface with a basic reading experience

StoryShots has a simple and easy-to-use interface that makes it easy to navigate and use. The app offers a basic reading experience that allows users to read summaries in text format, highlight key points, and take notes. This straightforward approach is perfect for users who want to quickly digest information without any distractions.

• Offers a free trial to try the app before purchasing

StoryShots offers a free trial that allows users to try the app before subscribing. The free trial includes access for 3 days to all the summaries, which gives users a taste of what the app has to offer before committing to a subscription.

Cons:

• Limited content selection compared to Blinkist

One of the biggest drawbacks of StoryShots is its limited content selection compared to Blinkist. The app only offers summaries of non-fiction books related to business and personal development, which may be limiting for users who are interested in other topics.

• No customization options for the reading experience

While StoryShots offers a basic reading experience, it has no customization options for users to tailor the reading experience to their preferences. Users cannot adjust the reading speed, font size, or background color, which may be a deal-breaker for users who prefer more control over their reading experience.

Here’s a quick review of the StoryShots app:

Final Verdict: Which is better for you?

Choosing the best quick-read app for you ultimately depends on your preferences and needs. If you’re looking for a wide selection of content across various categories and don’t mind paying a higher price, then Blinkist is the better option for you. On the other hand, if you’re primarily interested in business and personal development books and want an affordable option, then StoryShots is the way to go.

Recommendations and Conclusion

Overall, both Blinkist and StoryShots offer valuable summaries of non-fiction content that can help you stay updated with the latest ideas and trends. While Blinkist offers a wider selection of content and a more customizable reading experience, StoryShots provides an affordable option for those primarily interested in business and personal development books.

We recommend trying out both apps’ free trials to see which one suits your preferences and needs the best. Regardless of which app you choose, quick-read apps like Blinkist and StoryShots can help you make the most of your limited time and stay informed in today’s fast-paced world.