Shortform vs Blinkist [Nov 2023] – What Is Value For Money?

Book summary apps have become increasingly popular as they provide time-strapped individuals with an efficient way to consume information without having to read the entire book. In essence, these summarizes books and give a short summary of what the book is about, and its key takeaways and insights.

Two major players in this market are Shortform and Blinkist. Both platforms offer insightful summaries of non-fiction books, allowing readers to gain knowledge without spending hours on each title. But which one is better suited for your needs?

In this blog post, we will compare Shortform and Blinkist based on their title collection, book summary quality, pricing, and additional features to help you make an informed decision.

Shortform vs Blinkist – Executive Summary

In my experience, the quality of summaries on both apps is very good. Blinkist book summaries have a consistent length of around 12 minutes, while Shortform summaries tend to be longer, ranging from 10 to 45 minutes. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on your preference for more in-depth analysis or a quicker read.

All things being equal, Blinkist offers a much better value for money! It continues to win my vote as the best book summary app in the market.

Book summary quality

Both apps do summarize books in an engaging way, particularly on the audio version.

Title Collection

The title collection is much larger on Blinkist, boasting over 5,500 titles compared to Shortform’s more limited selection. This wider range of titles caters to various interests and offers users more choices.

Pricing

What really sets them apart is the pricing. The monthly subscription cost of the Blinkist app is around $7/month and you can even share the subscription with another person. Shortform cost is much steeper – $20/month even when paid annually.

I did not like that Shortform free trial was only for 5 days. Blinkist book summary app gives you a slightly longer free trial period.

Final Verdict

Taking into account the quality of book summaries, title collection, and pricing, I find Blinkist to be a better value for money overall. In my opinion, Blinkist continues to be the best book summary app on the market.

However, if you prefer more in-depth analysis and are willing to pay a premium, Shortform might be the app for you. But if you are willing to pay $20-$30/month, then getAbstract may be a better option given it has over 25000+ titles.

Blinkist is also my number 1 choice, here’s my review of the top 3 book summary apps.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can help me buy a coffee or two at no extra cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. These are products I’ve personally used and stand behind.

More about Book Summary Apps

• Honest Headway app review (gets over 7K clicks/month)
• The best book summary apps
• Shortform vs Blinkist
• getAbstract vs Blinkist
• Blinkist vs Headway App
• Honest Blinkist Review
• Complete Instaread review

Shortform vs Blinkist – Title Collection

Shortform’s Content Library

Shortform boasts an extensive collection of over 1,500 book summaries, articles, and topic guides. This diverse offering aims to provide users with a comprehensive understanding of various subjects. While the platform’s articles are styled more like blog posts and don’t delve deep into any particular book, they still contribute to a well-rounded learning experience for users.

Blinkist’s Content Library

In comparison, Blinkist features a vast library of over 5,500 non-fiction book summaries, focusing on delivering key insights in a condensed format. This allows users to quickly grasp essential concepts and ideas from a wide range of titles.

Additional Offerings

Besides book summaries, Blinkist also offers shortcasts and podcasts on various topics, further enriching the overall value of the platform. These additional resources provide users with diverse learning opportunities and a chance to explore new ideas and perspectives.

Both apps offer interactive exercises in some of the titles to help you retain your learnings.

Title Collection – Verdict: Blinkist Wins

When it comes to the number of titles available and the variety of content offered, Blinkist takes the lead. With its more extensive selection of book summaries and additional resources like shortcasts and podcasts, Blinkist provides a richer learning experience for its users.

However, Shortform’s content library, which includes book summaries, articles, and topic guides, should not be overlooked, as it still offers a comprehensive understanding of various subjects for those who prefer a more in-depth approach.

Shortform vs Blinkist – Quality of book summaries

To evaluate the quality of book summaries offered by Shortform and Blinkist, we compared their summaries of two popular titles: Atomic Habits by James Clear and Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. These books are quite different in their delivery styles, with Atomic Habits being practical and action-oriented, while Thinking, Fast and Slow taking an academic approach.

Shortform: In-depth Book Guides with Actionable Insights

Shortform offers detailed book guides that go beyond typical book summaries. These guides include actionable exercises and cross-references to other sources, ensuring that readers gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and can apply the concepts in real life.

However, this in-depth approach can sometimes be a drawback. With summaries that can be 40+ minutes long, some readers may struggle to maintain focus throughout the entire summary and might need to restart to grasp the key points.

Blinkist: Concise Summaries with Critical Points

On the other hand, Blinkist provides concise summaries of books, condensing the most critical points into 15-minute “blinks.” These summaries are informative and well-structured, but may lack the depth and actionable insights provided by Shortform.

Quality of Book Summaries – Verdict: Tie

Ultimately, the choice between Shortform and Blinkist comes down to personal preference. If you prefer more in-depth, 45-minute summaries with actionable insights, then Shortform is your ideal option. However, if you’d rather have a quick, 15-minute overview of a book’s key points, then Blinkist is the better choice.

While I personally prefer Blinkist for its concise summaries, I acknowledge that the quality of book summaries offered by both platforms is excellent. As a result, I would consider this aspect of the comparison to be a tie.

Pricing – Shortform vs Blinkist

Pricing is an essential factor to consider when choosing between book summary apps like Shortform and Blinkist. To make an informed decision, we’ll compare the pricing plans and the value offered by each platform.

Shortform: Pricing and Features

Shortform offers a 5-day free trial, allowing users to explore the platform’s content before committing to a subscription. Once the trial period ends, users can choose between a monthly plan for $30 or an annual plan for $16-20 per month (billed annually). Both plans grant access to all book guides, articles, audio narrations, and other features.

The pricing definitely varies depending on the location/currency (you can see the pricing when paying in DKK is almost $20 vs $16.42 mentioned on the home page).

Blinkist: Pricing and Features

Blinkist, on the other hand, provides a 7-day free trial and two subscription options: a monthly plan for $15 per month or a yearly plan for $7 per month (billed annually). Subscribers gain access to all book summaries, audio versions, shortcasts, and podcasts, offering a comprehensive content library.

Pricing – Verdict: Blinkist, by a country mile!

At $7 a month (paid annually), Blinkist is one of the cheapest options in the market! At $20/month, Shortform doesn’t even compare.

Final Verdict- Blinkist Offers Better Value for Money

When comparing the pricing of Shortform and Blinkist, Blinkist emerges as the winner. With more affordable subscription plans, it provides better value for its users. In addition to the lower cost, Blinkist also boasts a more extensive content library and a longer free trial period, further enhancing its appeal as the better book summary app.

Winner – Blinkist it is!

Here’s my full review of the top 3 book summary apps!

Here’s a full review of Blinkist & Headway App!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best app for reading book summaries and offers an excellent reading experience?

Blinkist and Shortform are both highly-rated book summary apps that provide a great reading experience. Blinkist offers a more extensive library with over 5500+ book summaries, while Shortform offers in-depth guides with actionable insights. Your choice depends on personal preferences, such as the desired summary length and level of detail.

Can I pay annually for a book summary app and access key concepts from popular books in an audio format?

Yes, both Blinkist and Shortform offer annual subscription plans, giving you access to their entire collection of book summaries. Both platforms also provide audio versions of their summaries, allowing you to grasp key concepts from popular books in a convenient audio format.

Can I highlight text and save key insights from book summaries on these apps, and do they cover other books apart from bestsellers?

Blinkist allows you to highlight text and save key insights from all the summaries, making it easier to review important concepts later. Shortform, on the other hand, focuses on providing in-depth guides and exercises. Both apps cover a wide range of books, including bestsellers and other lesser-known but valuable titles.

How do book summary apps like Blinkist and Shortform compare to other book summaries apps in terms of content and audio versions?

Blinkist and Shortform are considered among the best book summary apps available, offering high-quality summaries and audio versions of their content. They both cater to different preferences in terms of summary length and depth. While there are other book summary apps in the market, Blinkist and Shortform are often preferred due to their extensive libraries, user-friendly interfaces, and overall value for money.

You might also be interested in some of my other posts below

• Blinkist vs Headway comparison
• Blogging ideas for beginners
• Quillbot review
• More about books

I also write at Medium.