Readz vs Shorthand.com
Readz
No-code digital publishing platform for creating interactive magazines, reports, and mobile-first content experiences.
Publishers using it: 1
Shorthand.com
A premium no-code visual storytelling platform for creating immersive, high-impact scrollytelling experiences.
Publishers using it: 9 · incl. Stuff, Tripadvisor, ADWEEK
Last verified Nov 11, 2026
At a glance
- Readz scores 3.1/5 and Shorthand.com scores 3.9/5 in Benchmark Grid's independent digital publishing platforms benchmark, both assessed on the same 10 criteria.
- The widest gaps are security & drm (Readz 2.0, Shorthand.com 4.7) and reader experience (Readz 3.0, Shorthand.com 4.5); they are within 0.3 on 3 of 10 criteria.
- Readz is built for small and mid-market publishers; Shorthand.com for mid-market and enterprise.
- On total cost of ownership Readz scores 3.3 and Shorthand.com 2.6 (higher means better value, not a lower price).
- In our tracking 1 publishers use Readz and 9 use Shorthand.com.
- Scores last verified 11 Nov 2026. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Where they differ
Readz is stronger on monetisation (2.5 vs 1.0).
Shorthand.com is stronger on security & DRM (4.7 vs 2.0), reader experience (4.5 vs 3.0) and integrations & API (4.0 vs 2.8).
Which one fits
Choose Readz if…
- You publish at small and mid-market scale.
- You weight monetisation and multi-channel distribution heavily — Readz leads on those in this benchmark.
Choose Shorthand.com if…
- You publish at mid-market and enterprise scale.
- You weight security & DRM, reader experience and integrations & API heavily — Shorthand.com leads on those in this benchmark.
Also weighing these
The nearest-scored tools to Readz and Shorthand.com in this benchmark, listed A to Z.
- 3.4IssuuTransform static documents into interactive digital flipbooks with a global discovery networkRead review
- 3.8PressPadProfessional digital publishing platform for turning PDFs and RSS feeds into branded iOS and Android mobile apps.Read review
- 3.5YUDU PublisherProfessional digital publishing platform for creating interactive magazines, catalogs, and mobile-responsive editions.Read review
- 3.7YumpuConvert static PDFs into interactive, SEO-optimized digital magazines, catalogs, and flipbooks for online distribution.Read review
All 16 scored tools are in Best Digital Publishing Platforms.
Who uses them
Publishers we have detected running each tool, from ads.txt, site code and published case studies. Agencies, brands and vendors are excluded.
Head to head
| Criterion | Readz | Shorthand.com |
|---|---|---|
| Print-to-digital conversion & layout14% of capability | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Monetisation12% of capability | 2.5 | 1.0 |
| Multi-channel distribution12% of capability | 3.2 | 2.5 |
| Reader experience12% of capability | 3.0 | 4.5 |
| Analytics & reporting10% of capability | 3.2 | 3.5 |
| Integrations & API10% of capability | 2.8 | 4.0 |
| Engagement tools8% of capability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Implementation & support8% of capability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Scalability & performance8% of capability | 2.8 | 3.5 |
| Security & DRM6% of capability | 2.0 | 4.7 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.1 | 3.5 |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 3.0 | 4.9 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 3.3 | 2.6 |
Cost of ownership
| Sub-score | Readz | Shorthand.com |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 4.5 | 1.5 |
| Entry cost | 2.5 | 1.0 |
| Implementation cost | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Hidden-fee risk | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Ongoing cost | 2.5 | 2.0 |
Readz pricing
Pro plan starts at $150/mo; Studio plan for teams is $300/mo; Enterprise is custom. Optional add-ons include InDesign import ($30/mo), paywall ($250/mo), SSO ($150/mo) and marketing automation ($50/mo).
Shorthand.com pricing
Free to create; a paid plan is needed to publish. Plans are Core (12 stories a year), Unlimited, Enterprise and On Demand (one-off projects); prices are not published, so contact the vendor for a quote. Discounts for charities and NGOs; free plans for universities.
What users say
Readz
2 positive · 7 neutral · 1 negative
Shorthand.com
6 positive · 2 neutral · 1 negative
Mentions we could not tie to a real user, and those flagged as promotional, are excluded. Sentiment is opinion, and is independent of the verified publisher adoptions above.
Readz scores 3.1 and Shorthand.com scores 3.9 in Benchmark Grid's independent Best Digital Publishing Platforms benchmark (benchmarkgrid.com/vs/readz/shorthand-com, verified Nov 11, 2026)
Common questions
How do Readz and Shorthand.com differ?
Readz is stronger on monetisation (2.5 vs 1.0). Shorthand.com is stronger on security & DRM (4.7 vs 2.0), reader experience (4.5 vs 3.0) and integrations & API (4.0 vs 2.8). Neither is better in the abstract — which one suits you depends on which of those dimensions carries the most weight in your operation.
Which is cheaper, Readz or Shorthand.com?
On total cost of ownership — pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — Readz scores 3.3/5 and Shorthand.com scores 2.6/5. A higher score means better value, not a lower sticker price.
How are these scores calculated?
Each tool is assessed against its category's published criteria (10 in this benchmark), which make up Capability (45% of the composite), Publisher fit (40%) and Total cost of ownership (15%). Assessment is carried out by SODP's editorial team against a published methodology. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, scores or positions.
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Both tools are scored in Best Digital Publishing Platforms. See alternatives to Readz or alternatives to Shorthand.com.
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Where to next
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