Wondering vs Headway
Headway offers more than 1,700 summaries of nonfiction books, written by its team, that you read or listen to in 12 to 20 minutes. Wondering has a curated library of courses on popular self-improvement books, such as Atomic Habits and The Psychology of Money, and builds a course on any other book you name. It also builds a course on anything else you want to learn, from a skill for your job to a hobby, or from your own links and notes, in 3-minute lessons with practice questions, a podcast for each lesson, and an AI tutor. Pick Headway only if self-help book summaries are all you want. For self-improvement, your work, your hobbies, and everything else, pick Wondering.
At a glance
| Wondering | Headway | |
|---|---|---|
| What you can learn | Any topic you choose, or your own material | 1,700+ nonfiction book summaries on self-growth, career, relationships, psychology, business, and health |
| Books | A curated library of self-improvement book courses, plus a course on any book you name | 1,700+ summaries chosen by the Headway team. To get a missing book, you suggest it to its support team. |
| Where courses come from | Built for you from a topic, a link, or your own notes, or picked from a public library | Written and narrated by the Headway team |
| Lesson formats | Visual lessons with diagrams, narrated lesson videos, podcast episodes, practice questions, and an AI tutor you can chat or talk with | Text and audio book summaries of 12 to 20 minutes, plus short quizzes, facts, and visuals |
| Personalization | Examples, depth, and pacing follow your background and goals | A learning plan and daily picks based on an onboarding quiz |
| Staying on track | Streaks and spaced review | Streaks, challenges, and spaced-repetition flashcards |
| Price (US) | No ads on any plan. Free: 3 of your own courses a month and 5 lessons a day. Pro: $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year on the web ($107.99 on iPhone). | Free: one pre-selected book summary a day. Paid: $12.99 a month or $89.99 a year at its US rates. |
| Platforms | Web and iPhone | Web, iOS, Android, Apple Watch, CarPlay, and Android Auto |
Choose Wondering if
- You want to learn about self-improvement, your work, your hobbies, or anything else, not only books.
- You want a course on a specific book, even one a summary library does not have.
- You want a course built from your own links or notes.
- You want practice questions, spaced review, and an AI tutor that answers your follow-up questions.
Choose Headway if
- You only want summaries of self-help books.
- You want to listen in the car with CarPlay or Android Auto.
- You need an Android app.
Questions
Is Wondering a good Headway alternative?
Yes. Wondering has its own curated library of self-improvement book courses and builds a course on any book you name, so you keep the books. It also goes further, with a course on any topic, from your job to your hobbies, in short lessons with practice questions, spaced review, and an AI tutor.
How much does Headway cost?
Headway's free plan gives you one pre-selected book summary a day. Its US rates are $12.99 a month, $29.99 every 3 months, or $89.99 a year.
Can I turn a book into a course on Wondering?
Yes. Name any book and Wondering builds a course on it. Its curated library already has courses on popular self-improvement books such as Atomic Habits, Feel-Good Productivity, and The Psychology of Money, and lesson 1 of each is free to read without an account.
How much does Wondering cost?
Wondering is free to start, with 3 of your own courses a month and 5 lessons a day. Pro costs $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year on the web and $107.99 on iPhone, and raises the limits to 15 courses a month and 150 lessons a day. There are no ads on any plan.
Can I try a Wondering lesson before signing up?
Yes. Most courses in the public Wondering library open their first lesson to read without an account.
See a Wondering lesson
Read lesson 1 of Atomic Habits free, no account needed
Sources
Prices are in US dollars and can change. Facts about Headway come from its own website and app store listings, checked on the date above.