8 mins

The Ultimate Book Summary Showdown: Blinkist vs. 12Min

Unleash the Battle of Book Summaries: Blinkist vs 12Min. Get ready for an epic clash of engaging storytelling and concise insights. Which app will reign supreme? Find out who wins the showdown and upgrade your reading experience today!
by Chris Allmer | 19.07.2023

In the world of apps that summarize books, there are two popular contenders that have caught the interest of readers looking for quick and valuable knowledge: Blinkist and 12Min. These apps take big books and shorten them, so you can learn important things in less time.

In this article, we will compare Blinkist and 12Min on different things, like how many books they have, how good their summaries are, what features they offer, and how much they cost. By the end, you’ll have a better idea of which app is right for you and your reading needs.

Blinkist vs. 12MIN, What Do They Have in Common?

Blinkist and 12Min have several similarities as book summary apps. They both offer condensed summaries of books covering a wide range of topics.

You can access their summaries easily through mobile apps or websites. Both apps operate on a subscription basis and provide additional features like audio versions and personalized recommendations.

Despite their differences, Blinkist and 12Min share the common goal of providing quick and convenient access to valuable insights from books. Which of them you prefer depends on your reading and knowledge-absorbing habits. Let’s now take a closer look at what they offer:

Blinkist12MinContent Library6,500+ pieces of content Including books (fiction and non-fiction), Guides, collections and Shortcasts2,500+ non-fiction booksSubscription ModeBasic and PremiumBasic and PremiumTrialFree 7-day trialFree 3-day trialFree PlanOne free daily pick and access to selected collectionsOne free Microbook a dayPremium Subscription

  • Unlimited access to the entire library
  • Exclusive expert guides, collections, and short casts
  • Download titles for offline access
  • Send reads to Kindle
  • 2 for 1, share premium account for free
  • Microbook a day
  • Unlimited access to 2,500+ summaries
  • Listen offline
  • 12 min Originals
  • Business Plans (10+ users)

Unique Features

  • Blinkist Spaces: share, recommend and discuss titles with anyone
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Guides with activities and infographics
  • Ability to highlight and save key insights
  • Original content
  • Curated playlists and personalized recommendations
  • Online & offline access

Availability

  • IOS and Android mobile devices
  • Desktop
  • Kindle integration
  • Offline access (premium users)
  • IOS and Android mobile devices
  • Desktop
  • Kindle integration
  • Offline access

Pricing

  • The annual plan costs $99.99 per year
  • The monthly plan is $15.99
  • The annual plan costs $109.90 per year
  • No monthly option

Refund Policy14-day money-back guarantee7-day money-back guaranteeLanguage

  • English
  • German
  • Spanish
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese

Ratings

  • App Store 4.8 (111.4K reviews).
  • Google Play 4.5 (103K reviews)
  • App Store 4.8 (5.5K reviews).
  • Google Play 4.1 (58K reviews)

Content Selection: Blinkist Has the Most Extensive Library With Over 6,500 Titles

When it comes to content selection, Blinkist and 12Min have a lot to offer.

Blinkist:

With over 6,500 book summaries, Blinkist covers a wide range of genres, such as self-help, business, and psychology. They have a diverse library that caters to different interests and learning needs.

12Min:

While 12Min has a smaller library compared to Blinkist, they still provide over 2,500 book summaries. These summaries focus on topics like personal development, entrepreneurship, and productivity. They offer condensed insights on subjects that are important for personal and professional growth.

Both Blinkist and 12Min ensure that you have access to valuable information across various topics. Whether you’re interested in expanding your knowledge in business, personal growth, or other subjects, both Blinkist and 12Min have content selections that can satisfy your reading needs.

The Content Quality Is an Essential: Blinkist vs 12MIN.

 Let’s delve into their approaches:

Blinkist is known for its engaging and easy-to-digest writing style. They prioritize providing summaries that feel like friendly conversations, making it enjoyable for readers seeking a more casual storytelling experience. The content is well-crafted, focusing on capturing the key ideas and takeaways from each book. While the summaries are condensed, Blinkist maintains a high standard of quality in delivering the essence of the original work in your own little Blinks.

12Min takes a straightforward and concise approach to its content. Their summaries are tailored to deliver the most crucial insights in a direct and practical manner. The writing style is more professional and to the point, catering to readers who prefer a no-nonsense approach to knowledge acquisition. 12Min’s summaries provide actionable information, and all their summaries are tight at 12 minutes long.

Both Blinkist and 12Min prioritize content quality, albeit with different writing styles. Blinkist focuses on an engaging and easy-to-digest narrative, perfect for those seeking a casual storytelling experience. On the other hand, 12Min delivers concise insights with a more formal and direct style, emphasizing practical knowledge for real-world applications. Choosing between the two will depend on your preference for either a relaxed storytelling vibe or a straight-to-the-point approach.

App Interface and User-Friendliness: Blinkist vs. 12Min

When it comes to how easy they are to use, both Blinkist and 12Min aim to make things simple for their users.

Blinkist boasts a user-friendly interface that is visually appealing and easy to navigate. The app is designed with simplicity in mind, making it effortless for users to find and explore book summaries. The intuitive layout and clear categorization allow for seamless browsing and discovery of new summaries on various topics. With Blinkist, accessing and enjoying summaries is a hassle-free experience.

12Min also prioritizes a user-friendly interface that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. While it may not have the same visually appealing aesthetic as Blinkist, users can also easily find the summaries they are looking for and access the information they need without any unnecessary complexities or complications.

Both Blinkist and 12Min prioritize user-friendliness in their app interfaces. Blinkist offers a visually appealing and feature-rich interface, while 12Min focuses on providing a simple and straightforward experience.

Ultimately, when it comes to the app interface and ease of use in the Blinkist vs. 12Min battle, the best option for you will depend on your personal taste. If you like a visually appealing and feature-rich interface, Blinkist might be a better choice. But if you prefer a straightforward, no-frills experience, 12Min could be more suited to your needs.

Key Differences Between Blinkist and 12MIN

Blinkist’s Unique Features

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVpCm6EnwRQ

Blinkist Spaces

Blinkist Premium users can create groupspaces within the app to add, share, and recommend titles from the library. Imagine having a virtual book club where you can invite friends, family, or colleagues, and members can exchange recommendations. 

Blinkist Guides

Blinkist has recently introduced a new content format,Guides, designed to provide practical insights and actionable tips on specific topics. Led by experts and thought leaders in their respective fields, each Guide contains a combination of original audio content, Blinks, and Shortcasts, as well as additional resources such as exercises, infographics, or quizzes to help users apply and retain what they’ve learned.

Users can choose to listen to a Guide from the beginning or scroll through the chapters to start where they prefer. At the end of each chapter, a quick recap of the key idea is provided, along with a summary of the entire Guide at the end. Guides offer a comprehensive and engaging way to learn about various topics, focusing on practical application and knowledge retention.

12Min’s Unique Features

Bite-Sized Format

As the name suggests, 12Min specializes in providing summaries that can be consumed in around 12 minutes. This bite-sized format allows users to quickly grasp the main ideas and key takeaways from a book without investing a significant amount of time.

7-day Challenges

Another special feature of 12Min is their “7-day Challenges.” These challenges are designed to make learning fun and engaging. Each challenge focuses on a specific topic and includes a collection of book summaries related to that topic. Users are encouraged to read or listen to one summary each day for seven days in a row.

Blinkist vs. 12Min: Which App Gives You More Bang for Your Buck?

Both apps have similar pricing structures, with free and paid versions available. The free plan gives you access to one book per day, and both apps offer a 7-day free trial for unlimited content access. 

Blinkist‘s annual plan costs $99.99 per year, while the monthly plan is $15.99. The yearly plan offers significant savings over the monthly plan.

Blinkist Premium grants unlimited access to the entire library, exclusive guides, collections, and short casts. Premium users can also download titles for offline access and send reads to Kindle. 

Moreover, Blinkist lets subscribers invite one person toshare their Premium plan at no extra cost. Sharing is caring! With Blinkist’s 2-for-1 offer and its vast collection of titles, it’s clear that Blinkist offers a very affordable way to access high-quality book summaries.

On the other hand, 12Min offers a single subscription plan priced at $109.90 per year, giving you unlimited access to their library of book summaries ad all their audiobook summaries. To decide which app is worth your money, think about what you value most. What are your reading habits, and what’s your favorite style? Both apps, Blinkist and 12Min, offer free trials.

Blinkist vs. 12Min: The Final Recommendation

Ultimately, if you’re craving a broader range of topics and extra features, Blinkist is your perfect match. Blinkist’s more extensive content library, diverse range of topics, exclusive features like shortcasts and guides, and the option to share a Premium plan with another person make it a strong contender for many users. If you’re looking for a comprehensive and versatile book summary experience, Blinkist is the one for you.

In the end, the best app for you depends on your individual reading preferences, your budget, and the features that resonate with you the most. Consider your desired content selection, app interface, and pricing plans to make a well-informed decision.

If you’re interested in giving Blinkist a try, we encourage you to head over to our website and subscribe today. And the best part? You will enjoy a 7-day free trial, so you can experience the benefits of Blinkist for yourself before committing to a subscription. So, why wait?Sign up today and start your Blinkist journey.

Start Your Blinkist Free Trial Now

Chris Allmer
About the writer
Chris Allmer

Meet Chris, an accomplished bilingual copywriter who excels at simplifying complex topics and making them a feast for your brain. When he’s not crafting copy in German or English, you’ll find him chasing his dream of a barefoot life on the beach with stacks of exciting books.

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Phone with Blinkist app

What is Blinkist?

Blinkist is an app that transforms key insights from great nonfiction books into quick, easy-to-understand highlights. The reality is – everyone loves reading, but no one has the time. Blinkist fills this learning gap and makes acquiring new knowledge effortless.

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