Instaread Review 2024: Features, Pricing & Blinkist Comparison

In today’s world it’s hard to keep up with all the books. Imagine getting the whole book in minutes – Instaread promises just that. But does it really work?

Instaread enters the book summary ring as a contender, summarizing non-fiction (and fiction) books of all sorts. It invites the curious and the academic to dive in but the question remains: can it deliver substance with brevity?

In this Instaread review we dive into and dissect its features, compare it to other book summary apps like Blinkist, and get real user feedback. Through the eyes of a user we’ll look at the library Instaread has, the price tags, and the flexibility with its monthly subscription depending on user preferences, and ultimately decide if Instaread will upgrade your reading habit or is just another book summary in the digital ocean.

What is Instaread?

Instaread is a content platform that delivers premium insights from book summaries, original content and magazine articles. For those who want to know more but have no time Instaread is for you. It caters to different reading habits by allowing users to switch between audio and text formats. And content is available to download offline – so you can stay engaged even in the middle of nowhere.

Subscription options

Instaread’s subscription is simple. A 7-day free trial period allows you to try before you buy. If you like what you see you can continue beyond the trial period, if not you can cancel subscription anytime with no hassle. Whether you want to dive into deep ideas or the latest business news Instaread makes knowledge acquisition not time consuming nor rigid. Users can choose between a yearly or monthly subscription depending on their needs, providing flexibility and convenience. Also they've got this awesome lifetime deal!

Instaread review FAQs

Instaread pros and cons

How does Instaread work?

Instaread is available on web, iOS, and Android. The app is free to download. Access the Free Daily book without login. For full content, you need a subscription or free trial. Sign up with email, Facebook, or Apple ID.

Note: The Android app can be glitchy. I didn't manage to start a free trial activation due to some strange errors. This might be because Instaread's Android version is newer and less developed than its iOS and web counterparts.

1. The Discover Tab

The Discover tab is Instaread's homepage. It features:

1. A featured book carousel at the top

2. Free Daily section with a book you can read or listen to without subscription

3. New releases section

4. Popular books

5. Curated lists and option to create your own

6. Books by category (e.g., Business & Economics, Self-Help, History)

7. Books in Cards format for quick insights

8. Fiction and Science sections

The layout is clean and visually appealing, showcasing book covers and titles. Each category has a "See All" option for more content.

Note: I found the unnamed navigation tabs confusing. New users might struggle to understand where they're navigating.

2. The Library Tab

The Library tab in Instaread organizes your content:

1. Instaread summaries: Shows books you're currently reading or have finished.

   • "Continue" section for in-progress books

   • "Get Started" for unread, but favorited books

   • "Downloaded" books you've downloaded for offline access

   • "Finished" for completed books

   • Progress bars show how much you've read

2. Lists: Create custom lists or use curated ones.

3. Liked Cards: Quick access to favorite insights from books.

The layout is pretty clean with book covers, titles, and authors clearly displayed.

Filter option at the top lets you sort by status, date, or reading progress.

You can swipe through the cards you've marked as favorites one by one:

3. The Cards Tab

The Cards tab in Instaread offers a social, interactive experience:

1. Tinder-like swiping feature for browsing quotes and insights

2. Trending filter to see popular cards

3. User-generated content alongside official Instaread summaries

4. Options to create, like, and share cards

5. Direct links to books or authors for more context

6. Community engagement through comments and discussions

7. Categorization by quote type (e.g., Quote, Highlight)

8. Extensive category filters for finding specific topics

Note: I found the Tinder-style card swiping oddly addictive. It's a fun way to discover new ideas and books. The community aspect adds depth, turning it into a social learning platform.

4. The Search Tab

The Search tab is fairly simple it has a search bar for book titles or authors. You can filter for Instareads, Full Audiobooks, Profiles, and Authors

Note: I found the search function a bit basic. It would be more useful if it could understand context or search book descriptions. This limitation might make it harder to discover relevant books that don't have obvious keywords in the title.

5. My Account Tab

The Account tab displays your profile, reading stats, and current books. It includes settings for account management, notifications, appearance, and account linking. A feedback button is available for user input.

Note: The profile stats are interesting, but social features seem underused. More community engagement could enhance the reading experience and make stats more meaningful.

Instaread Features

Let's explore Instaread's reading/listening experience.

Instaread's book summary page shows the cover, title, and author. You can Read, Listen, view Cards, or access the Full Book.

Icons allow sharing, downloading, bookmarking, and text adjustments. I found it a bit challenging to understand what each icon represents. Clearer labels or tooltips could improve user navigation.

The layout is clean and user-friendly, but there are no standout features that set it apart from competitors.

As you scroll down, a brief preview introduces the book's content.

Then you will find the contents of the book summary. It includes several sections:

1. Overview: Introduces the book's main ideas. Key Insights: Lists main points you can tap to read more.

2. Key Insights (or Key Takeaways): Lists main points you can tap to read more.

3. Important People: Info about key contributors (in some books).

4. Author's Style: Describes the writing style (in some books).

5. Author's Perspective: Explains the writer's viewpoint, helping you form your own opinions (in some books).

6. References: Sources used in the summary.

The Author's Perspective offers a fresh angle on the book's content. This feature helps readers grasp the author's intent more clearly. It's a smart addition that sets Instaread apart from other summary apps.

Reading experience

Switching between text and audio is simple. Just one tap changes formats.

The app offers three reading modes: dark, light, and sepia (yellowish). These options cater to different preferences and lighting conditions.

At the bottom, there are two sliders. One controls screen brightness, the other adjusts font size. This allows users to fine-tune their reading experience.

The table of contents icon is at the bottom. Tap it to see all sections. Choose a section to jump there instantly.

Listening experience

Instaread's audio player is fairy simple and straightforward. Rewind and fast-forward options are available. Users can adjust audio speed from 0.5x to 2x.

❌ Errors and imperfections ❌

found Instaread's app buggy on both iOS and Android. I couldn't add books to playlists even when I knew they weren't there already. This happened several times.

On Android, I couldn't start the free trial no matter how many times I tried. After multiple attempts, the app just started crashing with no possibility to enter it 🤷

These issues made using the app really frustrating. Basic features didn't work properly. It felt unstable and unreliable.

The most popular books on Instaread

Although Instaread has a smaller library compared to some of its competitors, it’s growing every month. You can access all these books with 7-days free trial.

1. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. How to build good habits and break bad ones.

2. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. A principle centered approach to solving personal and professional problems.

3. "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman. The two systems that drive our thinking: fast, intuitive and slower, more deliberate.

4. "The 4-Hour Work Week" by Timothy Ferriss. How to get out of the 9-5 grind, live the "new rich" lifestyle and increase productivity.

5. "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari. From the Stone Age to the 21st century.

6. "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg. How habits work and how to change them to transform our businesses, communities and lives.

7. "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain. The extrovert ideal and the power of introversion.

8. "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth. Passion and persistence for long term goals.

9. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries. A new way of building companies and launching products that’s being adopted around the world.

10. "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck. The power of our mindset and how it determines our success in school, work, sports, the arts and almost every area of human endeavour.

The list of Instaread Originals listed so far:

• Kamala Harris

• Empathy

• Monopolies

• Jack Dorsey

• Global Recessions

• Andrew Carnegie

• Pandemics

• Venture Capital

• Arianna Huffington

• Time Management

• Richard Branson

• Oprah Winfrey

• Growth Mindset

• Mindfulness

• Michael Bloomberg

• Gwyneth Paltrow

• Charisma

• Elon Musk

• The Data Trade

• Kylie Jenner

• Public Speaking

• Stephen Hawking

• Dark Money

• Rachel Hollis

• Tariffs

• Jeff Bezos

• Cryptocurrency

• The Gluten-Free Diet

• Sheryl Sandberg

• Habit Formation

• The Ketogenic Diet

• Howard Schultz

• Phil Knight

• Tim Ferriss

• Michael Lewis

Instaread vs Blinkist

Instaread competes with Blinkist and offers both annual or monthly subscription for its book summary service. When it comes to pricing, Instaread has a more affordable monthly option at $8.99 vs Blinkist’s $15.99. The account will be charged for renewal at the price of the chosen subscription (monthly or yearly) depending on the user’s selection. Instaread’s annual subscription is slightly less at $7.49 /month vs Blinkist’s $8.34 .

Both services offer a 7-day free trial so users can try out each platform before committing. Instaread stands out by summarizing both non-fiction and fiction books and includes author information so readers have more context. Their summaries are over 20 minutes while Blinkist’s are 10-15 minutes.

Instaread's user experience is consistent across web and mobile. It offers features like adjustable audio speed on both platforms. Blinkist lacks this on web.

Blinkist shines with audio quality. They use human narrators and sometimes add music for their audio summaires. This makes for an engaging listening experience.

I found Instaread's app UI a bit confusing. Finding things takes time. The search function is weak. Some icons lack explanations, making navigation tricky.

Blinkist's UI is user-friendly. Everything is easy to find. The search works perfectly. It's a more intuitive experience overall.

Books count	2,000	7,500
Works offline	✅	✅
Non fiction books	✅	❌
Free trial	7-days	7-days
Free version	✅	✅
Apps	Android, iOS, web	Android, iOS, web
Annual plan	$89.99	$99.99
Monthly plan	$8.99	$15.99
Annual plan	$89.99	$99.99
Annual with discount	No discount	$64.99
Lifetime plan	✅	❌
Refund	30-day refund policy	14-day refund policy
Content format	Instaread Originals, Articles, Books	Only books
Podcasts	❌	Shortcasts
Summaries	With more details (~20-min)	Short, concise (15-min blinks)
Interactive Cards	✅	❌
App Usability	Good, but UI is not perfect	High, with smooth performance
Engagement	Medium	High
Audio quality	Good	Superior
App Store rating	4.4	4.8
Google Play rating	3.6	4.4

How Much Does Instaread Cost? Pricing and Plans

Instaread offers three plans:

1. Monthly subscription: $8.99/month

2. Yearly subscription: $89.99/year

3. Lifetime subscription: $299.99 for life

All plans include:

• 7-day free trial (one week free)

• Audio and text formats

• Auto-renewal

• Cancel anytime

• 30-day refund policy

Instaread's pricing is similar to Blinkist. Occasional discounts available.

Tip: Manage auto-renewal before your term ends. No refunds for unused time.

Instaread alternatives

Looking for a book summary app like Instaread alternatives? Here are some top picks:

• Blinkist: Huge library. User-friendly app. Bite-sized insights from non-fiction books.

• getAbstract: Aimed at professionals. Business and career-focused summaries.

• Shortform: In-depth guides with exercises. Perfect for deep dives and practical application.

• Headway: Very interactive. Bite-sized learning in various formats. Makes daily learning a breeze.

Each app offers unique features and pricing. Choose based on your reading style and goals.

Is Instaread Worth It?

Instaread offers condensed knowledge in a handy app. It's perfect for time-strapped readers.

Key features:

• 7-day free trial

• $8.99/month or $7.49/month yearly subscription (better value)

• Lifetime subscription: $299.99 one-time fee for unlimited access

• Varied content: nonfiction, fiction, biographies, articles

• Chapter-by-chapter insights for deep dives

• Mobile-friendly

Instaread stands out with:

• In-depth, insight-based summaries

• Author perspectives

• Fiction summaries

• Instaread Originals and Articles

• Daily Insights

• Quote cards (like Tinder for your brain!)

• Minimalist design and nice illustrations

• Pretty solid book selection ~2,000

It's great if you want more than just nonfiction summaries. The app keeps improving and releasing quality content.

Choose Instaread or Blinkist based on your needs. Or use both for maximum variety in your learning journey.