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Head-to-head · Reading Comprehension Software

Read 180 vs CommonLit

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Read 180 #1 in Reading Comprehension Software 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit HMH
CommonLit #3 in Reading Comprehension Software 7.7/10 Free plan · paid from $4,000/yr Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit CommonLit

Read 180 leads on 3 checks, CommonLit on 1, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreRead 180 · 9.0/10
  • Free planonly CommonLit
  • Most featuresRead 180 · 3 of 3

Read 180 scores higher on our rubric for reading comprehension software: 9.0 against 7.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

CommonLit offers free plan; Read 180 doesn't. Read 180 offers adaptive difficulty; CommonLit doesn't publish it. Read 180 offers standards alignment; CommonLit doesn't publish it. Read 180 offers class reporting; CommonLit doesn't publish it.

Read 180 is the better fit for comprehensive secondary reading intervention. CommonLit is the better fit for schools wanting broad, affordable ELA resources.

  • Read 180 fits best

    Comprehensive secondary reading intervention

  • CommonLit fits best

    Schools wanting broad, affordable ELA resources

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Read 180 9.0/10 Visit ↗ CommonLit 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 7.7
Ranking #1 in Reading Comprehension Software #3 in Reading Comprehension Software
Best for Comprehensive secondary reading intervention Schools wanting broad, affordable ELA resources
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Integrations 1 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Read 180 3/3 · CommonLit 0/3
Adaptive difficulty ✓ (best) Not published
Standards alignment ✓ (best) Not published
Class reporting ✓ (best) Not published
Specs
Assessment type Diagnostic Not published
Passage formats Not published Not published
Grade range Grades 3–12 Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Adaptive paths span phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing
  • Teacher-led lessons, independent texts, and digital practice work together
  • Diagnostic data, progress monitoring, and class reporting support placement
  • Thousands of literary and informational texts with grade-level listings
  • Guided checks, read-aloud audio, annotations, and translation tools
  • Paid dashboards, benchmarks, and Clever/ClassLink rostering
Cons
  • Pricing requires contacting HMH rather than selecting a listed plan
  • Web and cloud deployment may not fit offline implementation needs
  • Its focus on Grades 3–12 excludes students outside that range
  • Web-only delivery offers no offline access
  • Foundational phonics is outside the stated curriculum focus
  • Assessment dashboards and implementation support require paid school plans
Our verdict

Read 180 is a reading intervention curriculum and student software program from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for students in Grades 3–12 who are reading below grade level. It is designed for dedicated intervention or core classrooms, pairing…

Read the review →

CommonLit is a browser-based literacy platform for educators and students. Its Text Library contains literary and informational works with grade-level listings for grades 3–12, while CommonLit 360 provides a full-year ELA curriculum for…

Read the review →
  1. Read 180Reading Comprehension Software 9.0Pricing on request
  2. CommonLitReading Comprehension Software 7.7Free plan · paid from $4,000/yr

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Read 180 — where it wins

    • Adaptive paths span phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing
    • Teacher-led lessons, independent texts, and digital practice work together
    • Diagnostic data, progress monitoring, and class reporting support placement

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contacting HMH rather than selecting a listed plan
    • Web and cloud deployment may not fit offline implementation needs
    • Its focus on Grades 3–12 excludes students outside that range

  • CommonLit — where it wins

    • Thousands of literary and informational texts with grade-level listings
    • Guided checks, read-aloud audio, annotations, and translation tools
    • Paid dashboards, benchmarks, and Clever/ClassLink rostering

    Where it doesn't

    • Web-only delivery offers no offline access
    • Foundational phonics is outside the stated curriculum focus
    • Assessment dashboards and implementation support require paid school plans
  • Read 1809.0/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad, adaptive intervention program that connects instruction, practice, assessment, and reporting.

    Visit HMHFull verdict →
  • CommonLit7.7/10 · Free plan · paid from $4,000/yr

    A broad web-based ELA library and curriculum with free access and paid school analytics.

    Visit CommonLitFull verdict →

More comparisons

All reading comprehension software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update