SMRY vs iAsk
Plans, free access, limits and intended use side by side, taken from each vendor’s own pages. No score and no winner: the facts show where the two differ.
Change tools
AI reading agent that cleans articles, summarizes and answers questions with the source passage, and collects feeds, files and highlights in one library
Separate the free model from the Pro quota
- Free access
- SMRY: Free access
- iAsk: Free access
- Paid from
- SMRY: USD 36 per year
- iAsk: USD 9.95 per month
- Plans listed
- SMRY: 3
- iAsk: 3
- Public API
- SMRY: Not confirmed
- iAsk: Yes
Where SMRY and iAsk differ
- Pricing checkPrices confirmed for SMRY; pricing review due for iAsk.
Head to head
Each value from the tool’s profile and the vendor’s own pages
| SMRY | Fact | iAsk |
|---|---|---|
| Access and price | ||
| Free access availableFree · USD 0 forever | Free accessSame | Free access availableiAsk Free · USD 0 |
| USD 36 per yearPatron · $3 a month equivalent | Lowest listed paid plan | USD 9.95 per monthiAsk Pro |
| Free; Patron $36 a year, Pro $768 a year | Pricing model | Free plan; Pro $9.95/month |
| 3 | Plans listedSame | 3 |
| Not confirmed | Public API | Yes |
| Not confirmed | Card to start | Not required |
| Not confirmed | Open source | No |
| What it is for | ||
| Heavy readers who follow many sources and want summaries, article chat, audio and a searchable library, and who accept a daily cap on the free plan | Built for | Quick cited answers and page summaries for study questions |
| Research & sources | CategorySame | Research & sources |
| Platforms |
|
| Works with |
|
| How current | ||
| Profile sources checked | ||
| Prices confirmed · Nov 4, 2026 | Pricing checkDiffers | Pricing review due · Sep 29, 2026 |
Official source check for both tools. No hands-on testing and no score: “Differs” marks a documented difference, not a better tool.
Plans and prices
SMRY
Prices confirmed · Nov 4, 2026- FreeUSD 0 forever
- PatronUSD 36 per yearUSD 3 a month equivalent
- ProUSD 768 per yearUSD 64 a month equivalent
iAsk
Pricing review due · Sep 29, 2026- iAsk FreeUSD 0
- iAsk ProUSD 9.95 per month
- Students (limited-time offer)USD 0 for one year
Strengths and limits
SMRY
Strengths
- Free account is usable: The Free plan includes 20 AI summaries and 20 article chats a day, highlights, notes, 100 feeds and API and MCP access.
- Low yearly price: Patron is $36 a year, and the pricing page offers a 7-day trial with no card and a 30-day guarantee.
- Source-linked answers: The site says summaries show which paragraphs they came from and answers link back to passages.
Limits to plan around
- Free plan shows ads: Ad-free reading is not included on Free, and the Privacy Policy says non-premium users may see sponsor placements.
- Daily caps on Free: 20 summaries, 20 chats and 1 audio article a day, with 2 voices and no export of highlights.
- No access to hard paywalls: The Terms forbid circumventing hard paywalls and the site says publisher access controls still apply.
iAsk
Strengths
- Usable free tier: Free lists unlimited daily searches on the standard model, without a card.
- Low Pro price: Pro is $9.95 a month, with a one-year free offer for students.
- Sources shown with answers: Answers link to the pages used, which makes checking faster.
Limits to plan around
- Chats may be recorded: The privacy policy says chat inputs and transcripts may be collected, stored and shared with vendors.
- Ads on Free: The free plan shows limited ads, and the privacy policy allows targeted advertising.
- Thin legal terms: The terms do not name a country or address and do not describe billing, refunds or cancellation.
See both products
Start from your task, not from a winner.
Run both tools on the same real task, then compare the result, how much editing it needs and how fast it uses your plan’s allowance.
How we reviewChange this pair
Choose tools
Choose two tools below. You can replace either selection at any time.
Audio & voice
Automation
Coding
Data & spreadsheets
Images & design
Presentations
Research & sources
Video & editing
Website builders
Writing & content
Comparing tools from different categories is fine, and often useful — a writing assistant and a research tool solve different halves of the same job. The table will show you exactly where they diverge.
Questions about comparing tools
How does the comparison work?
Add two tools to the comparison tray from any tool card, then open this page. The table pulls each tool's verified plan details, platforms, strengths and limits from its profile, so both columns carry the same kind of evidence, with a separate source-check date for each tool.
Do you declare a winner?
No. The table sets two tools against each other on documented facts, not on a score. Which one wins depends on your task, your budget and your usage volume — three things we cannot see from here.
Why are some cells empty or marked unverified?
Because we could not confirm that detail on the vendor's own pages. Rather than filling the gap with a figure from elsewhere, we mark it and say why on the tool's profile.
Can I compare more than two tools?
Not at once. Two columns keep the differences readable and force a real decision. Remove either selected tool to replace it, or clear both to start a new pair.
Every figure in the table above comes from the linked profile, where the source and the verification date are listed. Browse all tools or read the editorial policy.