Real reader feedback
Beta reading software that shows you where readers stopped
Share chapters with up to 20 beta readers through a private link. Ask your own questions, collect every reaction in one place, and see the exact point where anyone stopped reading. Your draft is never sent as a file.
- Free plan, no card
- Your manuscript never trains AI
- Web and Android
At a glance
A private link, no attachments
Readers open your excerpts in the browser. You never email a manuscript file around.
Your questions
Short answer, yes or no, multiple choice, or an A/B question that asks which version a reader preferred.
Drop-off hotspots
See where readers stopped before the end, not just whether they liked it.
AI personas first
Test a chapter on simulated readers before you spend real readers' time, then compare the two.
Why beta reading breaks down
It is not that beta readers are bad. It is that the usual process gives them nothing to hold onto.
- Files go out by email and come back as scattered comments, or not at all.
- Feedback is vague. 'The middle dragged' is true and hard to act on.
- Readers disagree, and you have no way to break the tie.
- Nobody tells you where they actually stopped reading.
How a reader session works
- Choose the excerpts readers will see: one scene, a chapter or several.
- Add your questions. Three to five get the highest completion.
- Set the limits: 3 to 20 responses, an optional expiry date, anonymous answers on or off, or an email required before reading.
- Share the private link with your readers.
- Watch answers, comments and highlighted passages arrive in one place.
See where readers stopped
Every session tracks how far each reader got. A reader who leaves without finishing shows up as a drop-off at the place they stopped.
When several readers stop at the same point, that is the most useful thing beta reading can tell you: they nearly put the book down here.
Test two versions
Not sure which opening works? Add both versions to a session and ask an A/B preference question. Readers tell you which one they preferred, and why.
AI personas first, people second
Before you ask real people for their time, run the chapter past three to five AI reader personas. They catch many of the structural problems a beta reader would otherwise spend goodwill pointing out.
Then send the stronger draft to real readers, and compare what people said with what the personas predicted.
How the AI beta reader worksWhere your readers come from
StoryWith AI runs the session. It does not supply the readers. Most authors invite critique partners, writing group members, newsletter subscribers or readers from genre communities.
Where to find beta readersWhat it costs
Every tool is on the free plan, with no card needed. Real reader feedback sessions come with the paid plans: Author includes a set number each month, and Pro includes unlimited sessions.
Send your next draft to readers the organized way
Create a session, share one private link and get every answer, comment and drop-off in one place.
More ways StoryWith AI helps
- AI beta readerTest a chapter on three to five simulated readers and see where each one would stop.
- AI book editorAnalysis of the whole manuscript, ranked by severity. Text changes only when you accept.
- AI developmental editingA structural first pass on the whole book, so a human editor works on a stronger draft.
- Non-fiction toolsMap the argument, flag unsupported claims, manage citations and draft a book proposal.
- Memoir editorArc, timeline and reader feedback for memoir, before you pay a human memoir editor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is beta reading software?
A tool for sharing an unpublished manuscript with beta readers and collecting their feedback in one place, instead of emailing files and chasing replies.
How many readers can I invite?
Each session collects 3 to 20 responses. You set the cap, and collection stops when it is reached.
Do my readers need an account?
Not if you allow anonymous responses. You can also ask for an email address before someone reads.
Do readers get a copy of my manuscript?
No file is sent. Readers read the excerpts you choose in the browser through a private link, and you can set the link to expire.
What questions should I ask beta readers?
Specific ones: where did you stop reading, what confused you, what did you expect to happen next. Three to five questions get the best completion, and our beta reader questionnaire has examples to start from.
How is this different from an AI beta reader?
An AI beta reader simulates readers. A reader session collects reactions from real people. StoryWith AI does both, so you can test a chapter on personas first and then compare with what real readers said.
Is my manuscript private?
Yes. Only you, your collaborators and the readers you share a session link with can see it, and it is not used to train AI models.