The honest Summarize.tech alternative
Minimal, cheap, YouTube-only. No library, no chat, no exports. Here's how Readlis compares — feature by feature, price by price.
5 free summaries a month. No card. Cancel anytime.
Picking between Readlis and Summarize.tech usually comes down to three things: what you're summarizing, how much you're paying, and whether you want to plug into Claude. This page lays out every difference so you can decide in under two minutes.
Where Readlis wins
- Free forever: 5 full summaries/month, no card required
- Pro is $6.99/mo for 500 summaries (transparent quotas, no throttling)
- One library for YouTube, podcasts, articles, and PDFs
- 17 languages with native output, not translated English
- Native Claude MCP server for AI-agent workflows
- Timestamped quotes that jump to the exact second
- Export to Notion, Markdown, and Readwise
Where Summarize.tech still leads
- Summarize.tech has been on the market longer
- Deeper niche integrations in its focus area
Readlis vs Summarize.tech, feature by feature
| Feature | Readlis | Summarize.tech |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price (Pro) | $6.99 | $10/mo |
| Free plan | 5/mo, full length | Unlimited short vids |
| YouTube | ||
| Podcasts (Spotify/Apple) | ||
| Articles & blogs | ||
| PDFs | ||
| Languages | 17 native | English-first |
| Chrome extension | ||
| Claude MCP server | ||
| Notion / Readwise export | ||
| Clickable timestamps | ||
| Public API |
The short version
If you already live inside Summarize.tech and only use it for its focus area, sticking is fine. If you want a single library across YouTube, podcasts, articles, and PDFs — at half the price, with Claude MCP built in — switch to Readlis today.
FAQ
Is Readlis cheaper than Summarize.tech?+
Yes. Readlis Pro is $6.99/mo for 500 summaries. Most competitors including Summarize.tech charge $9.99–$20/mo for comparable or fewer features.
Does Readlis support more sources than Summarize.tech?+
Readlis handles YouTube, podcasts (Spotify + Apple), articles, Substack, and PDFs from one library. Most single-purpose competitors focus on YouTube only.
Can I use Readlis inside Claude Desktop?+
Yes. Readlis ships a native MCP server so Claude can summarize URLs and search your Readlis library directly. Most competitors do not.
Is there a free plan?+
Yes. Every account gets 5 full-length summaries per month, forever, no credit card.
How many languages does Readlis support?+
17 languages with genuine native output — not machine translations of English summaries.