Readwise launches Books app to challenge Kindle and Goodreads

Readwise announced the beta release of Readwise Books, an app that merges an e-book storefront with a reading-tracking platform. The move positions the company directly against Amazon’s Kindle ecosystem and the Goodreads community, offering users a single place to purchase, read, and analyze their books. The launch arrives as a wave of new reading tools seeks to improve on Goodreads’ feature set, and it signals Readwise’s ambition to become a broader hub for book lovers.

The new app aggregates “millions” of titles from the five major publishers and additional partners, initially serving U.S. customers with plans to expand internationally. In addition to digital editions, the store provides print copies fulfilled through Bookshop.org’s distribution network and a selection of audiobooks. Readwise Books differentiates itself by delivering granular reading statistics such as total words read, reading pace, depth of immersion, and session counts, moving beyond simple completion dates.

Kindle continues to dominate the e-book market, holding an 83 percent share when Kindle Unlimited is included. Its advantage lies in an end-to-end solution that spans dedicated hardware, a proprietary store, and integrated tracking. Readwise does not produce its own e-reader, but it seeks to build a community around its software by allowing users to import DRM-free EPUBs, capture progress from physical books via photos, and sync reading sessions from Kindle’s Cloud Reader. The company frames its analytics as a “Strava for reading,” hoping that measurable data will encourage more consistent habits.

With permission from publishers, Readwise plans to layer AI-driven capabilities onto the platform. Features under development include session summaries, on-the-fly definitions, translations, and contextual question answering. To date, only HarperCollins has opted in to provide its catalog for these AI services. Unlike Goodreads, Readwise embraces open technology, offering a public API and an MCP server that can host AI agents to generate personalized recommendations, populate a user’s personal website, or automatically log sessions from compatible e-readers.

Readwise Books is free during the beta phase, though some AI tools may later require a subscription. The company’s existing products, highlight capture and reading-companion apps, cost $7.99 per month each or $9.99 for both. Access to the new app currently requires an invitation or an active Readwise subscription. As the product matures, its success will hinge on whether richer metrics and open integrations can persuade readers to shift part of their purchasing and tracking habits away from Amazon’s entrenched platform.