Pricing Overview
Readzip is a fully free Chrome extension that estimates reading time and tracks reading speed on any web page. There are no premium tiers, in-app purchases, or paid upgrades — every feature is available at $0. The extension targets content-heavy professionals (researchers, editors, content marketers, students) who want to gauge how long an article, report, or documentation page will take to read before committing time to it. Because it runs entirely in the browser with no server-side component, there are no data processing or storage fees.
Plan Comparison
| Feature | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reading time estimate on any page | Included at $0 | Displays estimated minutes at the top of the page based on word count and your personal reading speed |
| Personal reading speed tracking | Included at $0 | Calibrates over time as you read — adjusts estimates based on your actual pace rather than a fixed 200 WPM average |
| Works on articles, PDFs, docs | Included at $0 | Activates on any text-heavy page in Chrome, including Google Docs, Medium, Substack, and news sites |
| Per-page speed breakdown | Included at $0 | Shows your reading speed (WPM) for each session so you can see how complexity affects your pace |
| Cross-device sync | Not available | Each Chrome installation tracks independently; no account system or cloud sync |
| Data export | Not available | Reading history stays in local browser storage; no CSV or API export |
Since every feature is free, the comparison is less about pricing tiers and more about understanding what the extension does and does not cover.
Hidden Costs and Considerations
Readzip itself has zero cost, but there are practical considerations for teams evaluating it:
- No team or enterprise features: Readzip is a personal productivity tool with no shared dashboards, team analytics, or admin controls. Organizations cannot centrally deploy or configure it — each team member installs it individually from the Chrome Web Store.
- Browser limitation: Chrome only. Team members using Firefox, Safari, or Edge would need a different solution. No mobile support since Chrome extensions do not run on mobile browsers.
- Local-only data: Reading speed history is stored in Chrome's local storage. Clearing browser data, switching machines, or reinstalling Chrome loses all tracked history. There is no backup or export mechanism.
- Privacy tradeoff: The extension needs permission to read page content to calculate word counts. Teams with strict browser extension policies should review the permissions before installation.
Cost Estimates by Team Size
- Individual user: $0 per month, $0 per year. No cost at any scale of personal usage.
- Team of 5 to 20: $0 total. Each member installs independently. The only "cost" is the 2 minutes per person to install and configure the extension.
- Enterprise (100+ users): $0 for the extension itself. However, organizations with managed Chrome profiles may need IT to whitelist the extension ID, which is a one-time 15-minute configuration task in Google Workspace admin.
How Readzip Pricing Compares
- Readwise Reader: A read-later app with reading time estimates, highlights, and spaced repetition. Free tier is limited; the full plan costs $8 per month ($96 per year). Readwise is a far more comprehensive tool (highlights, notes, RSS, newsletter inbox), but Readzip covers the reading-time-estimate use case at $0.
- SwiftRead (formerly Spreed): A free Chrome extension for speed reading via RSVP (rapid serial visual presentation). Approaches the same problem from a different angle — SwiftRead helps you read faster, while Readzip helps you estimate how long reading will take. Both are free.
- Instapaper: Free tier for saving and reading articles offline. Premium at $3 per month adds speed reading, full-text search, and unlimited highlights. Instapaper's reading time estimates are a small feature within a larger read-later platform, whereas Readzip is a focused, zero-cost tool for exactly that purpose.