Table of Contents
As someone who is always looking to learn new things and is a voracious reader, I find that Blinkist is an extremely useful resource. It satisfies our voracious curiosity by providing insights that are succinct yet profound, gleaned from more than 4,000 of the most popular nonfiction works. Whether it be through text or audio, Blinkist condenses the substance of these books into bite-sized bits that can be absorbed in only fifteen minutes. This solution is a lifesaver for folks who are constantly on the go and are looking for intellectual stimulation. Having said that, my experience with Blinkist has also brought to my attention a few places that could use some improvement.
Despite having an impressive catalogue, the platform only supports two languages, which makes it difficult for audience members from all over the world to access it. Furthermore, although the freemium edition gives customers a taste of the company’s goods, it is limited to pre-selected blinks, which leaves them wanting more. Furthermore, the premium subscription comes with a heavy price tag that begins at $12.99 per month, which may discourage readers who are concerned about their financial situation from fully acknowledging the benefits it offers.
Blinkist continues to be an invaluable resource for me in my pursuit of knowledge, despite the drawbacks described above. Despite the fact that there is space for improvement in terms of its language options and pricing structure, the ease and customised insights that it provides have unquestionably improved the quality of my reading experience.
What Is Blinkist?
As a Blinkist member, you can also listen to Shortcasts, which are recaps and key takeaways from the most popular podcasts. A group of friends started Blinkist in 2012. The company’s goal was to connect readers who didn’t have time to read everything they wanted to with the main ideas from non-fiction books through short texts or audios that were usually 10 to 15 minutes long.
You can use Blinkist to learn whenever and wherever you want, like on your way to or from work, while walking, working out, doing chores, or going about your morning or evening routine. There are a lot of great things you can learn about work, relationships, parenting, personal growth, and more.
Best Blinkist Alternatives Comparison Table
These applications, podcasts, and YouTube channels offer free book summaries. Not everyone likes to read consistently. You don’t have to miss out on books’ amazing information. From entrepreneurship and marketing to classic books and fiction, these services offer free book summaries in text, audio, video, or animation.
Feature | StoryShots | Shortform | Headway | getAbstract | Uptime |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Focus | Non-fiction & fiction book summaries | Non-fiction book summaries | Non-fiction book summaries | Business-focused non-fiction summaries | Non-fiction book summaries and audiobooks |
Content library size | 4,000+ | 8,000+ | 1,500+ | 30,000+ | 1,000+ (summaries), 85,000+ (audiobooks) |
Summary format | Text & audio | Text & audio | Text & audio | Text & audio | Text & audio |
Length of summaries | 15-20 minutes | 10-20 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 10-30 minutes | Varies |
Key features | AI-powered recommendations, personalized reading plans, quizzes | Personalized reading plans, flashcards, community discussion | Gamification elements, focus mode, daily insights | Expert-written summaries, in-depth analysis, actionable insights | Audiobooks included, access to expert speakers |
Free plan | No | One free summary per day | One free summary per day and 10 daily insights | No | One free audiobook per month |
Best Blinkist Alternatives
A lot of different websites have grown out of Blinkist. They either use AI to summaries books or real people to do it. It all ends up being the same: a short, 10–15 minute version of a well-known book, available in both print and audio. But these apps, including 12min, BookShort, Bookey, and more, cost money to use, just like Blinkist, so you need to be sure you’ll use them often for them to be worth it.
StoryShots

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Comprehensive Content | Offers summaries of a wide range of books. |
Audio Summaries | Provides audio versions of book summaries. |
Interactive Learning | Includes quizzes and discussions for engagement. |
Visit Website |
You might be interested in starting a new book, but you might not have the time to give it your full attention. That’s where cool apps like StoryShots come in handy. The StoryShots app has been very helpful for me in my personal growth because I’m always looking for ways to get more done in less time.
StoriesShots has become my favorite way to learn on the go because it summarises famous non-fiction books in a way that is both interesting and easy to read. One thing that makes it stand out is that I can get the main ideas of a book in about 20 minutes, whether I read or listen.
The Good
- Diverse book coverage.
- Audio summaries for on-the-go learning.
- Interactive elements enhance understanding.
The Bad
- Limited depth in some summaries.
- Not all books may be available.
Shortform

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Concise Summaries | Delivers brief and to-the-point summaries. |
Key Insights | Highlights the most important concepts. |
Customization Options | Allows users to choose the level of detail. |
Shortform has been another game-changer for me in my quest to keep learning. Its short summaries of books, articles, and videos, along with its in-depth analyses and expert insights, have helped me learn about a lot of different subjects in 15 minutes or less.
The most appealing thing about the platform for me is that it is interactive. The discussion boards make me want to interact with other people and learn more about the topics that interest me.
The Good
- Quick access to essential information.
- Customizable learning experience.
- Ideal for time-crunched individuals.
The Bad
- May lack depth for some readers.
- Limited coverage of niche topics.
Headway

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Interactive Courses | Offers structured courses for continuous learning. |
Skill Development | Focuses on practical skills and applications. |
Progress Tracking | Monitors user progress and suggests improvements |
Headway has been my best friend when I want to improve certain skills or form new habits. I’ve been able to easily learn new things every day thanks to its short lessons on things like happiness, creativity, and productivity.
Since lessons are only about 10 minutes long, I can easily fit them in during my coffee breaks or drive. Headway’s personalised learning plans and tasks serve as an extra push for me to stay on track with my resolutions.
The Good
- Practical skill-building opportunities.
- Structured learning paths.
- Clear progress monitoring.
The Bad
- Limited content diversity.
- Advanced users may find some courses basic.
getAbstract

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Business Focus | Specializes in summarizing business-related content. |
Expert Curated Summaries | Provides summaries curated by industry experts. |
Personalized Recommendations | Tailors recommendations based on user preferences. |
getAbstract has been helpful for me because it gives me useful information that I can use in my personal and work life. Its summaries of business books, papers, and videos give me useful information that I can use right away. And through in-depth analyses and discussion groups, I can learn more and connect with people who share my interests and problems.
The Good
- Industry-specific summaries.
- Expertly curated content.
- Personalized recommendations enhance relevance.
The Bad
- Limited coverage outside business topics.
- Some may prefer a broader range of subjects.
Uptime

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Microlearning Sessions | Offers short, focused learning sessions. |
Offline Access | Allows users to download content for offline use. |
Daily Challenges | Encourages daily learning through challenges. |
Uptime has changed the way I listen to podcasts. It lets me listen to audio versions of famous non-fiction books, so I can make the most of my free time by learning something new at my own pace.
Uptime’s freedom lets me easily learn new things whether I’m doing multiple things at once or just relaxing after a long day. And the addition of quizzes, discussions, and flashcards makes learning even better and helps me remember what I’ve learned long after I’m done hearing.
The Good
- Quick and accessible microlearning.
- Offline access for learning on the go.
- Daily challenges for consistent engagement.
The Bad
- Limited in-depth content.
- May not suit those seeking extensive courses.
Why Look for Blinkist Alternatives?
There could be several reasons why someone might look for alternatives to Blinkist, a popular app that offers summaries of non-fiction books. Here are a few possible reasons:
- Cost: While Blinkist offers a free trial, it requires a subscription for full access to its library of book summaries. Some users may find the subscription cost to be too high or prefer not to commit to a recurring payment.
- Content Selection: While Blinkist offers a wide range of book summaries, its selection may not cover all the topics or titles that users are interested in. Some users may find that the content available on Blinkist doesn’t align with their reading preferences or needs.
- Depth of Coverage: Blinkist provides condensed summaries of books, typically around 15 minutes in length. While this format may be convenient for getting a quick overview of a book’s key points, some users may prefer more in-depth analysis or coverage that goes beyond just the main ideas.
- Learning Style: Different people have different learning styles, and some may prefer to engage with full-length books rather than condensed summaries. While Blinkist can be a time-saving tool, it may not be suitable for those who prefer to delve deeply into a subject or read at their own pace.
- Availability of Alternatives: With the growing popularity of book summary apps and services, there are now several alternatives to Blinkist available in the market. Users may explore these alternatives to find a service that better meets their needs in terms of content selection, pricing, depth of coverage, and other factors.
Questions and Answers
When looking for options to Blinkist, it’s also important to think about how easy they are to use and how reliable they are. Some of the options that reviewers chose as the best overall alternatives and competitors to Blinkist are Kahoot!, Tovuti LMS, Quizizz, and EdApp.
One of the most formidable rivals of Blinkist is Sane, followed by LitCharts and Uptime. The internet services market is the primary emphasis of Sane, a company that specialises in the provision of digital solutions. A platform is provided by the corporation for people to explore new ideas, construct digital solutions, and…