What it does
Matter is a sophisticated read-it-later app that helps users not only save articles but also build a consistent reading habit. It curates content from across the web, provides a clean, customizable reading interface, and offers high-quality text-to-speech narration. The app is built around tools for active reading, allowing users to highlight text, take notes, and organize their saved content with tags for later reference.
Where it shines
Matter's strength lies in its thoughtful approach to the entire reading lifecycle, from discovery to retention. The onboarding (00:00-02:47) is a masterclass in building user investment through deep personalization before ever showing a price. Once in the app, the reading experience is pristine. A standout feature is the on-demand AI summary, triggered by a simple pull-down gesture (03:36), which allows users to quickly grasp an article's key points. The app also closes the habit loop beautifully with a confetti celebration (05:13) upon meeting a daily reading goal, providing positive reinforcement.
UX highlights
- Tangible Goal Setting: During onboarding, the app translates a daily minute goal into a concrete annual outcome, like reading "3 Books" a year (00:30).
- Contextual AI Tools: The pull-down gesture to summarize an article (03:36) is an intuitive and powerful way to add utility without cluttering the interface.
- Highly Customizable Reader: Users can change themes, fonts, sizing, and spacing to create their perfect reading environment (04:41, 08:04).
- Seamless Text-to-Speech: The app can turn any article into an audio experience, with clear playback controls available in a persistent bottom bar (03:16).
- Actionable Highlighting: Highlighting text (03:01) is not just for visual emphasis. It enables quick actions like copying, sharing, or creating a note.
- Gamified Streaks: The profile tab prominently features a weekly streak tracker (07:20), motivating users to maintain their daily reading habit.
Monetization & growth
The app uses a free trial model, presented via a soft paywall at the end of its extensive onboarding flow (02:20). The paywall itself is well-designed, featuring a clear timeline of the 7-day trial to build trust and transparency. It presents two options, yearly and monthly, with the yearly plan highlighted with a significant "56% OFF" discount to anchor the value. After subscribing, the user is seamlessly dropped into the main app experience.
Who it’s for
Matter is for lifelong learners, curious professionals, and anyone who feels overwhelmed by online content. It's designed for individuals who want to move beyond passive consumption and actively engage with what they read. Its features cater to users who value knowledge management, habit formation, and a high-quality, focused reading environment. It's ideal for people who want to turn their saved articles into a structured library of insights.
Notes & opportunities
While the core experience is polished, the app could benefit from making its powerful organization tools more discoverable. For example, after a user's first highlight, a small tooltip could suggest creating a note or adding a tag. The transition from reading an article back to the main feed is also a bit abrupt. A subtle animation or a summary card could make that context switch feel smoother. Finally, the long onboarding, while effective for investment, might risk dropping off impatient users before they see the app's full value.