My Personal Experience with Learning Apps
- My Goal: I want to learn new things, but finding time to read remains a challenge.
- Apps I Tried: I’ve used Blinkist, Headway, Shortform and 11 more apps to read book summaries.
I decided to compare these two book summary apps as they offer the same thing to readers.
| Name | Books | Features | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
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1600+ | Lifetime Deal | |
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7500 | Free Daily Pick |
With life being so busy, many people do not have the time to sit down and read an entire book like they used to.
This is where these kinds of apps come in, providing an efficient and quick solution to this problem.
The only problem that readers seem to have is deciding between these two options as they are so similar. It can’t be hard to find out which one is the better option as they provide the same kind of service to readers.
Find out whether or not Blinkist is better than Headway and what pros and cons each of these apps have. Or read our Headway app review.
Blinkist vs Headway: Which Is Better?
If you were trying to decide between Blinkist and Headway, there is no clear winner when it comes to these two apps.
Both do the same thing and have their own pros and cons, but neither seems to be better than the other.
I personally like Blinkist. I love their user-friendly platform, and as of 2025, they offer over 7500 titles, providing a broader range of content.
However, currently, there is a Headway lifetime deal, which is an unbeatable offer. In this case, I’d pick Headway over Blinkist. You have to use this special link to get the lifetime deal.
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Both Headway and Blinkist are apps that allow people to read nonfiction books even if they don’t have much time for reading.
This is not a place where you can read books, however, as only summaries are made available.
They summarize non-fiction books on their apps, allowing readers to quickly get an idea of what the book is about.
This short summary summarizes the entire book and all of the important conclusions, allowing you to basically read the book in just 15 minutes.
This is a very unique idea that has only come about in recent years as more and more people have less time to read books. Make sure you read the Blinkist review.
Let’s Compare Them
| Headway | Blinkist | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of books | Over 1600 | Over 7500 |
| Price | $59 LIFETIME | $17.59/month or $99.99/year |
| Support | Email and Chat | Email, Ticket System |
| Audio versions | Yes | Yes |
| Refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee | 14-day money-back guarantee |
| Unique Features |
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| Languages | English and Spanish | English, German and Spanish |
| Available on These Devices | Smartphones (iOS and Android) and web interface | Smartphones (iOS and Android), Desktop, Kindle |
| Possibility to Use It Offline | Yes | Yes |
Though these apps only provide non-fiction book summaries as these are the types of books that most people just don’t have the time to sit down and read.
These short summaries allow you to understand what exactly the book is putting forward without having to spend hours upon hours reading the entire book.
This is a great option for people who want the knowledge but do not have the time to sit down and read it.
Another popular app is Audible. Here is a comparison between Audible and Blinkist and a list of the best book summary websites.
Real-World Benefits for Users
In comparing Blinkist and Headway, it’s important to look into what each app uniquely offers and how these features can practically benefit users.
Exploring the Key Benefits of Each App
For instance, Blinkist isn’t just expansive with its 7500+ titles; its audio versions are meticulously crafted.
Each summary is read by professional voice actors, whose engaging delivery transforms a brief listening session into a compelling learning experience.
This makes it ideal for busy professionals looking to capitalize on spare moments.
Similarly, Headway’s gamification approach isn’t just a novel feature; it plays a crucial role in building and maintaining a consistent learning habit.
By incorporating elements like achievement badges and daily challenges, Headway turns the daunting task of learning into an enjoyable, game-like experience.
This can be especially appealing for beginners who might otherwise find the process of absorbing complex information too intimidating.
Usability
These two book summary apps are user-friendly and intuitive. They are designed with a streamlined interface featuring 3-4 navigation tabs.
While Blinkist is fully functional on both mobile and desktop, Headspace’s web version has limited capabilities.
Headway uses a more visually appealing and gamified approach to encourage daily learning, featuring elements similar to Instagram stories.
Blinkist, however, focuses on a professional and outcome-driven experience, efficiently surfacing specific knowledge resources.
The preference for either app is largely subjective and depends on individual tastes in user experience.
The first time I used Headway’s spaced repetition feature, I was pleasantly surprised by how effectively it reinforced my learning, making it a standout feature in my daily study routine.
Book Selection
Now that you know some of the details about these apps, you probably want to know which one has a better book selection.
This may be one of the most important details that set one of these apps apart from the other.
Blinkist boasts an extensive library with over 7500 book summaries, covering a wide range of non-fiction topics.
This includes many of the latest and most popular titles, making it an excellent choice for readers who value variety.
Headway offers a more limited selection with approximately 1,600 titles across 16 categories such as productivity, happiness, and self-growth. I found that it still includes recent and popular non-fiction titles.
The ‘s daily learning tracker has been a motivational tool for me, encouraging consistency in my reading habits, which was something I struggled with before.
If you need more details, here is my Headway App review.
User Interaction
On Blinkist, users can read or listen to content, making it suitable for multitasking activities like commuting or exercising.
The website is structured to allow users to easily explore popular titles, categories, and topics through its shortcuts and editorial sections.
Subscription plans are clearly outlined, providing options like monthly, quarterly, and yearly payments, each targetting different user budgets.
For Headway, the platform focuses on enjoyable and easy personal growth, with an emphasis on gamified learning to encourage user engagement.
- Instructions on the website guide users through various features of the app.
- These include its compatibility and user testimonials, designed to showcase the app’s unique qualities.
- Headway offers varied pricing plans, including a free version that allows access to one book summary per day.
They are adjusted based on location or promotional offerings, highlighting its approach to accessibility and personalization.
Is Headway Easier to Use Than Blinkist?
Another important factor that will impact what app you choose between Headway and Blinkist is going to be how easy they are to use. This is because some apps are much easier to use than others depending on their design.
Why I Like Headway
- Fun Learning: Headway makes learning fun with quizzes and games.
- Daily Challenges: These challenges are exciting and keep me wanting to learn more.
- Great Deal: Headway has a special lifetime deal. This means I can read all I want without paying more each year. Blinkist costs $99.99 per year.
- Books Offered: Headway has over 1,600 summaries. Blinkist has more books, but I like the special topics Headway lets me choose from.
- Listening to Summaries: I can listen to summaries on Headway which is perfect when I’m traveling or exercising.
In my years of using book summary apps, I’ve noticed that Headway’s unique gamification approach adds a playful dimension to learning, which I find particularly engaging during my morning commutes.
I remember when I first stumbled upon Headway; its visually appealing interface immediately caught my eye, making the learning process not just informative but also aesthetically pleasing.
I like this about Blinkist
As someone who values crisp and concise summaries, my experience with Blinkist has been particularly satisfying, especially with their well-crafted audio versions that make multitasking a breeze.
Ease of Use and Navigation
It is not uncommon for people to download an app only to find that it is ridiculously complicated to manage and navigate.
This is a real issue and will often make up the difference between someone choosing one app or a different one.
The good thing is that both are considered to be very easy apps to use, even if you are technically challenged.
They are both very simple and straightforward, allowing readers to navigate the app with just a few simple steps:
- Log into your account
- Browse available titles
- Pick a title and add it to your library
Once you have an account set up, all you need to do is log into your account and go to where you can browse through the available book titles.
Personal Library
If you see something that you like, all you need to do is pick that title and add it to your personal library.
Then you can go to your library to look through all the books that you have available and remove or add as you like.
Both Blinkist and Headway are set up like this, making them both very easy to use.
Detailed Summaries
Detailed Summaries are a hallmark of Blinkist, providing users with concise yet comprehensive insights from thousands of non-fiction books.
Each summary, known as a “Blink,” distills key ideas into roughly 250 words, allowing readers to grasp essential concepts in about 15 minutes.
This format not only saves time but also ensures that users can quickly apply valuable knowledge to their personal and professional lives. With expert-curated content, Blinkist’s Detailed Summaries cater to busy individuals seeking to maximize their learning without sacrificing depth or quality.
These sentences emphasize the value of detailed summaries offered by Blinkist while improving the article’s SEO by using relevant keywords.
My Recommendation
- Best Value: Headway is my favorite because of the price and fun features.
- Suggestion: If you want to learn a lot without spending too much, try Headway’s special deal.
Does Headway Have Better Summaries Than Blinkist?
If you’re relying on an app to read a book summary rather than the full text, the quality of that summary becomes crucial. Of course, there is no way to create a summary that perfectly sums up the actual book.
Unfortunately, this is impossible to do as there is so much information in a book that cannot be boiled down to a 15-minute summary. However, both of these apps do a very good job at summarizing books nonetheless so that you get the gist of what they are about.
There is no clear winner when it comes to summaries as both Headway and Blinkist do an exceptional job at creating the summaries.
- Both apps provide summaries that are detailed as well as brief
- You will get an idea of what the book is about without spending too much time on the summary.
One thing you should know, however, is that there is an option to have summaries read out loud to you on Headway.
This works much like how you listen to an audiobook, except it is simply a 15-minute length summary.
This allows you to enjoy the summaries still even if you do not necessarily feel like reading yourself.
Read or listen to quality summaries – both apps offer this. The differences between Headway and Blinkist are minor.
Is Blinkist or Headway Cheaper?
Another important factor to consider is how much Blinkist and Headway both cost.
Blinkist has two options that you can choose from, one is a monthly payment plan where you pay $17.59 a month to use the app.
This Blinkist offer might change depending on several factors.
Blinkist also offers an annual plan at $99.99 per year, providing significant savings over the monthly plan.
Headway Is Cheaper
From a personal standpoint, the cost-effectiveness of Headway’s annual plan was a major draw for me, especially when I was starting out and looking for value in educational apps.
Headway also has a monthly payment plan of $17.59 for readers to give them access to all features on the app. You can also choose an annual payment plan which comes to $89.99.
There is a lifetime deal for a limited time, though.
This makes Headway the winner as it is a little bit cheaper than Blinkist on both accounts.
Free Trials
Headway and Blinkist also have free trials that readers can use before committing to one of these payment plans.
Both apps have a seven-day free trial that allows you to test out the summaries of these books for free. Though it is important to remember that this is limited access, you do not have full access to the app on a free trial.
Once your free trial is over, you will not be able to use either one of these apps until you start a payment plan. The good thing is that you can always cancel these plans if you choose to later on.
Starting with a Blinkist subscription is quite simple, you just have to pick from a monthly and yearly plan.
The premium subscriptions on Headway are also similar.
Is Blinkist or Headway Better?
Headway is definitely the better app. Blinkist has over 7500 book titles, making it a better option for variety than Headway.
Headway has the option to have summaries read out loud to you. You do not have to read them yourself.
Blinkist also offers audio versions for most of their summaries.
Headway offers a lifetime deal and the unique feature of having summaries read aloud. Blinkist also provides audio versions for most of their summaries.
While Blinkist has a larger selection with over 7500 titles, Headway’s summaries incorporate visual elements that enhance understanding and retention.
Honestly, Both Are Good
Both apps provide summaries that can be consumed in about 15 minutes, ideal for those with limited time. Blinkist has been consistently improving the quality of its summaries, making them more engaging.
Blinkist has been consistently improving the quality of its summaries, making them more engaging. On the other hand, Headway’s lower price point might make it the more economical choice.
Ultimately, whether you prefer Blinkist or Headway depends on what features matter most to you, such as library size, cost, or the ability to listen to summaries. Both apps are effective for quickly grasping the main ideas of non-fiction books without reading them in full.
FAQ
Is using book summary apps a less effective way of taking in knowledge?
The effectiveness of using a book summary app for acquiring knowledge depends on how it is used. It has limitations like reduced context and potential bias from the summary author. However, combining the app with reading full books can offer a balanced approach, providing an overview before deep reading or reinforcing understanding afterward.
Why would I read a full book when I can read a book summary?
Reading a full book often involves wading through extra content to get to the core ideas, whereas services like Blinkist distill the key points, allowing for quicker comprehension and retention. While full books offer depth and nuance, summaries provide a streamlined way to absorb the essential messages without spending much time.