Direct Download vs Mac App Store
Resage is distributed through two channels: directly from our website and via the Mac App Store. Both versions deliver identical core reading capabilities, text discussions, and private learner models. Here is how they compare in delivery and billing.
Updated August 2026
We believe software distribution should fit your workflow. Whether you prefer software directly from developers or the convenience of Apple's App Store, feature parity is a strict policy — no core feature is exclusive to one track.
Differences are strictly limited to payment processing, update mechanisms, and platform sign-in integration required by App Store policies.
The short version
Two distribution tracks, identical core reading
| Feature | Direct Edition | App Store Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Full-page PDF & EPUB reader | Yes | Yes |
| On-device AI companion & memory | Yes | Yes |
| Private local storage & iCloud sync | Yes | Yes |
| Update cadence | In-app Sparkle updates, shipped the day they are ready | Mac App Store updates, roughly monthly (can lag a few versions) |
| Payment & Subscriptions | Secure Web Checkout | Apple In-App Purchases |
| Sign in options | Email One-Time Code | Email OTP + Sign in with Apple |
| Ratings & reviews | Direct feedback | Native App Store rating |
| Price | Free to start | Free to start |
Feature Parity Guaranteed
Your reading experience, annotations, text discussions, and compounding memory profile are 100% identical on both tracks. Your files remain stored locally on your Mac and sync across devices using your private iCloud container.
How Updates Work
The Direct Edition uses Sparkle for transparent in-app updates, so we ship improvements the day they are ready.
The Mac App Store Edition ships on a release train of roughly one submission per month, because every update has to clear App Store review. This means the App Store edition is often a few versions behind the direct edition. The features are the same when both have shipped a given version, but the direct edition gets them first. If you want fixes and improvements as soon as they exist, download directly.
Payment and Accounts
The Direct Edition processes subscriptions via secure web payment (Paddle). The App Store Edition integrates natively with Apple In-App Purchase and supports Sign in with Apple alongside standard email authentication.
Choose Direct Edition if…
- You want access to new updates and features immediately.
- You prefer managing subscriptions via web checkout.
- You download your Mac utilities directly from developer sites.
Choose App Store Edition if…
- You prefer centralizing all subscriptions under your Apple ID.
- You prefer macOS App Store managing background updates.
- You like using Sign in with Apple for one-click authentication.
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Free to start — macOS 14.0+, Apple Silicon