getAbstract vs. Blinkist: Which Book Summary App is Worth It in 2025–2026?

Not sure what to choose: getAbstract vs. Blinkist? These book summary apps, both available for iOS and Android users, will certainly save you time, but they differ in pricing and are intended for different target audiences. Let's take a closer look at which app adds value.

Quick verdict: Which app should you choose, Blinkist or getAbstract?

Here's the bottom line: 

• If you're a corporate worker and need to dive deeper into business books and integrate this with your company's LMS, getAbstract is built for you.

• If you're more interested in casual "snackable" content across personal development, self-help, and general nonfiction books, Blinkist is better.

But, if you're looking for the best overall balance of quality summaries, personalized learning tools, and habit-building features at a lower price point. In that case, Headway is possibly your best overall value. 

📘 Download the Headway app and see for yourself!

getAbstract review: What you need to know

getAbstract is a book summary service that has been around since 1999, making it one of the original brands in this space. Unlike most consumer-focused applications, getAbstract is designed for companies, teams, and professionals who want in-depth summaries of business books, leadership titles, and professional development content.

Who it's for: Fortune 500 companies, MBA students, or executives who want to stay updated on business topics but don't want to read an entire book. getAbstract connects directly with corporate learning management systems (LMS). Individual customers can also use it, but please note that you may encounter enterprise-scale pricing.

What you get: getAbstract's library includes over 27,000 summaries of business books, personal development titles, and more. Summaries are primarily text-based, typically around 10–15 minutes in length, with a focus on key takeaways. Many titles also have audio versions available. You also gain access to video talks, articles, and podcasts in some plans.

Main features/advantages:

• Vast business-oriented library: When you need business content that will deeply expand your corporate knowledge, you can find it here.

• Enterprise features: Integrate with your corporate LMS, use team licenses, and customize learning paths.

• Quality professional writing: getAbstract summaries are written by business writers and editors to a professional standard — many are published in a variety of leading business publications.

• Multiple languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese.

• Offline mode: You can easily download summaries and read them without an internet connection.

The downside: Costly individual plans — $299/year, unless you're a student, in which case it's $99/year. The user experience design and layout are not as sophisticated as those in some newer apps. If you're an individual learner seeking content beyond corporate-related topics, such as psychology, self-help, or personal growth, the library might feel limited. 

Blinkist review: What you need to know

Founded in 2012, Blinkist is a well-established name in the book summary apps industry. While getAbstract has maintained a focus on its corporate clientele, Blinkist is designed for individuals who want to quickly absorb key ideas from popular books without spending hours reading the entire book.

Who it's for: Blinkist appeals to the casual learner, self-improvement enthusiast, or professional seeking a concise amount of learning material covering a wide array of topics. Personal development, productivity, psychology, and self-help — Blinkist has it all.

What you get: Blinkist provides an impressive collection of over 9,000 summaries of nonfiction books — 15-minute reading or listening sections called "Blinks." Each summary includes text and audio versions narrated by professional narrators. You also receive access to Shortcasts, which are summaries of popular podcasts that you can even add to your playlist.

Main features/advantages:

• Extensive library of content: Everything from business, psychology, health, relationships, and creativity.

• Audio and text for each summary: You can read or listen, depending on your preference at that moment.

• Ease of use: The app is neatly designed and easy to navigate. It works on any device.

• Shortcasts: Short, podcast-style summaries of your favorites when you want something more than book summaries.

• 2-for-1 sharing: The Blinkist premium subscription can be shared with one additional user at no additional cost.

• Integration options: Sync highlights to Evernote or send summaries directly to your Kindle.

The downside: Blinkist starts at $139.99/yr (intro price), and then it switches to $174.99/yr for the next year, which is lower than getAbstract. However, the app doesn't offer depth or tools to help you retain what you learned. There's no spaced repetition, no tracking of what materials you've read, and no personalized learning path.

A serious learner might just need a bit more than a pleasant reading experience.

📘 In the Headway app, you can track your progress, goals, complete streaks, and even review what you've learned with the flashcards feature. All of this, along with high-quality summaries.

getAbstract vs. Blinkist: A side-by-side feature comparison

Let's now examine the details. Before deciding, explore the options between getAbstract and Blinkist to determine which one offers the key features you need. Here is how these book summary apps actually compare once you plunge into either experience.

Quick feature comparison table:

Content library: Size, depth, and focus

getAbstract wins on volume, with over 27,000 summaries, but most of them are heavily weighted toward business books, leadership, and corporate learning. Blinkist has approximately 9,000 summaries, covering a wide range of topics, including personal development, relationships, creativity, and, yes, business too.

But the key takeaways listed in the Blinkist summaries are much less intimidating to general readers, while the getAbstract summaries read like they were written for MBA students.

Audio and text formats

Both apps provide text summaries, but only Blinkist offers professional audio versions of every title, voiced by talented narrators. getAbstract provides audio versions of many summaries, although not all, which is ideal for audio learners. Both apps feature offline modes, allowing you to read summaries or listen without requiring additional data space.

Platform and user experience

Here, Blinkist is far superior. The Blinkist app works seamlessly on both iOS and Android, featuring a clean interface that makes browsing, saving, and organizing content extremely easy. You can create customized playlists, sync highlights to Evernote, or send summaries to your Kindle. The getAbstract app is fine — it just feels more corporate and clunky (it gets the job done, though).

Learning tools and features

Here's where both apps come up short. Neither getAbstract nor Blinkist provides retention tools — no spaced-repetition method, no quizzes, nothing — to help you actually recall what you read a week later. getAbstract has the ability to integrate with corporate LMS systems for tracking. Blinkist offers Shortcasts, and you can share your annual subscription plan with someone else.

However, if you're looking for features to help with retention, such as flashcards, progress tracking, and a personalized learning path, Headway offers these features, along with others. The app focuses on retention and personal growth rather than just consumption.

Which service provides better value for your money?

When comparing getAbstract vs. Blinkist, cost will play a significant role, with a notable difference between the two.

getAbstract costs:

• Individual plan: $299/year

• Student plan: $99/year (with verification)

• Enterprise (team) plans: Custom pricing (group sizes may vary)

That's definitely a steep price for individuals — $299 for getAbstract. You pay for an enterprise-level of content and features when you simply want to improve your career. The student discount is great, but only if you're a student.

Blinkist costs:

• Premium plan: $139.99/year (intro rate), then $174.99/year at renewal

• Monthly: $15.99/month (not widely available)

• Free version: One pre-selected summary per day

Bleunkist is significantly less expensive than getAbstract for individuals. The premium price does jump quite a bit going into year two, which is pretty annoying. The dual-sharing feature essentially reduces the price to $70–$87 per year.

Cost benefit: getAbstract prices their content at a premium, covering a vast library, but most people won't use even 10% of their 27,000 summaries. For the general learner, Blinkist offers a better overall value — a wider topic selection, a more intuitive user interface, and a lower cost.

But guess what? Headway offers reasonable pricing while adding features that both getAbstract and Blinkist lack, including personalized recommendations, progress tracking, flashcards to ensure retention, and habit-building tools.

When you factor in the cost per feature that promotes authentic learning, Headway provides better value than either of the competitors.

getAbstract vs. Blinkist: Which app fits your needs best?

Not all learners have the same needs, so here's how to assess whether getAbstract or Blinkist works best for you.

For corporate professionals and enterprise teams

If you're part of a company learning program or looking for organizational learning content that may be available via your company's LMS, getAbstract is for you. getAbstract offers a strong library of business books, professional development resources, and management theories that deliver substantial, in-depth insights.

Example: A 40-year-old business manager who wants to remain current on leadership strategies and industry analysis will feel that getAbstract's summaries are written for them as a corporate executive looking to develop a performance agenda — and looking to connect content with their LMS at work. 

For personal development enthusiasts

If you're interested in self-help, psychology, productivity, or personal growth, Blinkist offers a uniquely personal approach to learning, separating itself from the corporate tone. The reading experience provides a smooth read and excellent professional-quality audio summaries.

Example: A 28-year-old entrepreneur eager to access content on productivity books, mindset content (focused on founders), and startup content will find Blinkist more valuable due to the diversity of content offered. Additionally, having the app available on both iOS and Android is even more beneficial.

For students on a budget

If you are a student, you can access getAbstract for $99/year — a great deal if you're an MBA or business student. Blinkist doesn't extend a student discount to its users, meaning that you will pay the yearly price in full.

For casual readers

You can try Blinkist (one summary a day) for free! getAbstract offers a three-day trial with the full charge afterward. This free plan makes Blinkist a more accessible way to try out book summary apps.

For audio-learners

If you prefer to listen, then Blinkist is the better option, as each summary features audio narrated by a professional for each title. getAbstract does provide audiobook-like versions of many summaries, but not necessarily all.

getAbstract vs. Blinkist: Which one to choose? Plot twist — Try Headway instead!

getAbstract is the ideal fit if you're seeking business books that offer LMS integration for corporate learning. Blinkist will cater to the learning needs of individuals seeking variety in personal development and self-help books. Both fulfill a role, but they also share a common gap — they're designed to be consumed, not to transform you.

But, is there a clear winner? 

If you see yourself as someone who desires a comprehensive learning experience, Headway brings it all together. We have a library of high-quality summaries in every category — with professional audio versions available for each title — accompanied by the retention tools that getAbstract and Blinkist don't offer.

Headway features a flashcard tool to promote spaced repetition, progress tracking, and personalized recommendations, along with habit-building tools that turn casual reading into a framework for continued growth.

📘 Still not sure? Download Headway today for unlimited access that will truly help you grow!