# Shakespeare Pro — user reviews

> 324 indexed App Store user reviews of Shakespeare Pro by PlayShakespeare.com, rated 4.80/5 from 1,644 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-pro/id341392367/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-pro/id341392367.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,486 · 4★ 95 · 3★ 24 · 2★ 11 · 1★ 28

## What do users think of Shakespeare Pro?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Comprehensive Shakespeare collection
- 📚 Helpful features like glossary, character summaries, and search
- 💻 Convenient to have all works in one app
- 🎨 Well-designed and easy to use
- 🤓 Invaluable resource for students and Shakespeare enthusiasts

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficulty searching Folio texts
- 📝 Lack of note-taking functionality
- 🔔 Persistent requests for reviews can be annoying
- 🔤 Some inaccuracies in modern language translations

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch after recent update
- Glossary feature not working as expected
- Quote of the day widget not functioning properly
- Formatting issues when reading in certain orientations

**Most requested features**

- Add ability to take notes and highlight text
- Improve search functionality, especially for Folio texts
- Provide more detailed character and plot summaries
- Include links to video/audio performances of the plays
- Offer more language options (e.g., original spelling, modern translations)

## Newest reviews (16 of 324)

### 4/5 — iOS quote widget

*2026-04-16, version 7.4.4*

The widget claims my internet is offline now for days. What’s going on? Is it done-for?

### 5/5 — Excellent app for exploring Shakespeare's texts

*2025-03-16, version 7.4.2*

My first port of call for questions about Shakespeare's texts (as someone who owns at least 16 editons of every play in the First Folio).
The Folio and Quarto texts keep the original spelling (including long S and ligatures), but are much easier to read than facsimile editions.
There are useful options to control the amount of information shown in order to adapt to different screen sizes.
The cross work search functionality, has many ways to refine the search. It would be even nicer if they added a filter option for “Current Work”.
I find character highlighting very useful, when considering a single (or small set) of characters.
The Compare View is also useful, although an option to split vertically rather than horizontally would be a welcome addition.

### 5/5 — Please please make it free in purchases

*2025-03-15, version 7.4.2*

In purchases a lot there !!!!

### 5/5 — Love this app

*2025-02-24, version 7.3.1*

It’s indispensable for anyone seriously interested in Shakespeare.. Excellent way of quickly checking your memory of plots, characters and speeches.

### 3/5 — Search results are set to tiny fonts, and not changeable?

*2025-01-29, version 7.3.1*

In the search results screen, you can’t zoom in, and the words are in a font smaller than a used-car contract.

### 5/5 — Problem

*2024-12-14, version 7.3*

This app is not opening on my device ? Crashing now ? Please help me?????

### 5/5 — Amazing App

*2024-11-11, version 7.2.6*

The detail and work that was done on this app is nothing short of exemplary. The option settings allow you to see line number, line types, tap for word definitions and glossary, and a ton more. You even get the option to see character summaries with each character line if you forget who is who. And not only can you turn on plan English translations for each line, you can control their opacity so as to not distract your eye from the original lines. I can’t say enough about this app, especially for those just getting into Shakespeare. A bit on the pricey side but definitely well worth it. Great job, people!

### 5/5 — Great App, Responsive Developers

*2024-10-20, version 7.2.5*

I’ve used this app for years and it’s just so good. Great search capability, excellent fidelity to the texts. If I close it inadvertently, it opens at the last screen. Twice I raised issues with the developers and they were friendly, responsive and implemented changes/fixes quickly. Well worth the cost.

### 5/5 — Brilliant!

*2024-09-11, version 7.2.1*

Brilliant!

### 5/5 — Excellent app for exploring Shakespeare's texts

*2024-09-10, version 7.2.1*

My first port of call for questions about Shakespeare's texts (as someone who owns at least 16 editons of every play in the First Folio).
The Folio and Quarto texts keep the original spelling (including long S and ligatures), but are much easier to read than facsimile editions.
There are useful options to control the amount of information shown in order to adapt to different screen sizes.
The cross work search functionality, has many ways to refine the search.
I find character highlighting very useful, when considering a single (or small set) of characters.

### 5/5 — Crash! (Fixed)

*2024-07-22, version 7.1.1*

Update appeared again. Install bug? No longer crashes when it opens on iPad or iPhone.

### 5/5 — The perfect Shakespeare companion

*2024-06-29, version 7.0.6*

When I studied Shakespeare in college, my textbook was the 1900-page Riverside Shakespeare. Now, I can carry Shakespeare in my pocket. 

This app contains all the plays (and other works), along with scene summaries, character bios, statistics, an integrated glossary, and even inline translations into modern English. (Some features are in-app purchases.)

In my opinion, the only thing missing is a library of videos from the Royal Shakespeare Company or Shakespeare’s Globe. 😉

### 5/5 — Incredible App and Amazing Service

*2024-05-25, version 7.0.6*

This is one of the best apps of all time! It does everything well! Additionally, when I had a glitch when going from my iPad to my iPhone, they responded and helped me fix it within a couple of hours…on a Saturday…during a long weekend!! This is truly an outstanding app with tremendous customer support!

### 5/5 — Have never purchased an app so quick

*2024-04-01, version 7.0.5*

Literally in tears that this exists.

Read all the reviews (the unhinged responses from the developer comes from how they probably know how valuable this app is going to be to some people) 

Not a student or a teacher but a Shakespeare enthusiast and have not been able to read any plays this year (usually depend on reading No Fear Shakespeare books when I WFH but since starting my new job, found it hard to take them in public).

Work that has gone into this is crazy - would have paid whatever.

Thank you thank you thank you.

### 3/5 — OK.. not good value for money.

*2024-02-24, version 7.0.5*

3 stars because yes it works… but. The pro version is struggling to justify a fairly hefty price for work that is in the public domain. There are a lot of bells and whistles, falling into 3 domains: (i) the ‘app’ simply as a repository for other people’s work e.g. Lamb’s summaries of Shakespeare for children (ii)  tech that could easily be replicated on any word processor or E - reader e.g. bookmarking or word counts. (Some of this seems fairly pointless or just for the sake of it: I can for instance, find out the most commonly used word in any scene. Spoiler alert - it’s usually ‘the’). So the utility of these frills without any kind of critical human input seems limited. (Iii) in-app purchases. - hang on, I’ve just spent £12.99 and they want me to spend more on Lexicons or modern-day ‘translations’? (This extra cost is not well-advertised before purchase, even on other reviews). The most useful thing the app could do is give some kind of guide to Shakespeare’s English but it does not do this - there is a glossary but it is basic to the point of glib, giving one word definitions, often missing the point of some of the word play. There is no attempt to explain the metaphors or allusions with which Shakespeare is so richly endowed. I think if you want to study Shakespeare in depth, just go to a bookshop and get an old-fashioned study guide.

### 5/5 — ‘Art thou attentive of mine musings?’

*2024-01-01, version 7.0.4*

For there are many be-different and look-likey appy-lee-cations whom wouldst crave thy wanton musings… in-digitalis we trust, holdst to thy craven bosom, thou scandalous fakir — thee!

I am one of those fortunate poetry lovers who is completely immersed in both of the ‘Bards’ - Mr R.Burns & Mr Wm.Shakespeare. 
Yes, there are MANY other fantastic poets, granted, but.. well; it’s very much ‘Horses for Courses’ when talking about ones absolute favourite artistes.. yes? 

Don’t get me wrong, nay, guid viewer, for I’m partial to a look into ‘Tang Dynasty Favourite’ - ‘Du Fu’, his ‘homey’ ‘Li Po’ - there be true, and simplistic word-artistry by them boys!

Achtung! Och, Aye, and so to the main fare; Burns is Braw, and Wully Shakespeare is, quite simply the cerebral, deeply interesting, outstanding storyteller, and master of mainstay speak-say!

Go ahead, immerse thy self in this, an exceptional ‘thingy’ to enlarge your intellect and educate your muse.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Not enough

*2026-01-26, version 7.4.4*

Not enough Caesar plays frowny face >:(

### 1/5 — Stop

*2025-02-01, version 7.3.1*

Stop asking for review
It’s annoying

### 1/5 — Immer mehr Werke gesperrt

*2025-01-07*

Als ich die App kaufte, war sie als Pro-Version deklariert. Seit der Umstellung auf die Abo-Variante werden mit jedem Update immer neue Features und Werke eingepflegt, auf die KEIN Zugriff besteht. Ich täte mich nicht schwer damit, noch einmal einen festen Betrag zu zahlen, der meinen vorigen Kauf berücksichtigt. Diese Möglichkeit gibt es jedoch nicht. Es ist sehr ärgerlich, daß immer mehr und mehr Werke nicht mehr zugänglich sind, was jetzt dazu führt, daß ich die App lösche. Bevor ich mir nur noch die Icons der Erke ansehen kann.

**Developer response:** Da liegst du falsch. In der App gibt es kein Abonnement. Wenn du etwas kaufst, gehört es dir und wird nicht aus der App entfernt. Wende dich bei Problemen an den Support.

### 1/5 — Great before not now

*2024-07-21, version 7.1*

Does not open on iPhone after latest update - July 2024

### 1/5 — App reverted to non-Pro version!

*2023-04-26, version 6.7.3*

I purchased Shakespeare Pro several years ago, and upon a recent upgrade it has been replaced by the free version of the app and asks me to pay £12.99 to upgrade to Shakespeare Pro, an app I fully paid for in the past! 
Why are you attempting to scam your users?

### 1/5 — Bad app

*2022-01-25, version 6.5.2*

I can’t understand it

### 1/5 — App stürzt wieder nur ab seit Update

*2018-05-02*

Ich kann sie nicht einmal mehr starten. Jedenfalls auf meinem iPhone 7. Sie kann nur eines: Mich nerven, empfiehlt mir regelmäßig per Benachrichtigung den Kauf von Pro, aber das IST die Pro-Version! Wie wäre es einmal mit Testen?

**Developer response:** Bitte kontaktieren Sie unser Support-Team unter support@playshakespeare.com oder support.playshakespeare.com

### 1/5 — Update

*2018-04-27, version 5.0*

The new update is ugly.
There was nothing wrong with it.
It looks ugly and chintzy now.
Stop tinkering with it.

### 1/5 — Not worth the money

*2017-03-14, version 4.0*

I bought the pro version because I was led to believe the texts were annotated. Not such thing. The Notes they mention in the description of the app are the Notes that you, the Reader, may decide to write for your own enlightenment. The Commentaries on the playtexts are very basic (you get better ones in Wikipedia). Very disappointing.

### 1/5 — Apps ok but....

*2014-09-20, version 2.0.1*

Apps ok but it chronically begs for reviews. Beyond annoyance. Telling it not to send them won't stop them either.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Useful

*2026-09-06, version 7.4.4*

I use it every day: for entertainment, for school, for inspiration. 

It’s very well set up.

### 5/5 — Brilliant

*2026-08-16, version 7.4.4*

Very functional and helpful way to read Shakespeare. Absolutely wonderful

### 5/5 — Great app!

*2026-07-15, version 7.4.4*

I love having such easy access to scripts

### 5/5 — Worthy of the Bard

*2026-06-24, version 7.4.4*

A love letter app to William Bartholomew Shakespeare, the king of the bards.

### 5/5 — s

*2026-06-18, version 7.4.4*

great app. asks for rating too ofter

### 5/5 — Fantastic

*2026-06-05, version 7.4.4*

I finally understand my kids in their Shakespeare plays.

### 5/5 — Excellent Resource

*2026-01-21, version 7.4.4*

If you like reading and studying Shakespeare, you need this app.

### 5/5 — Love It

*2026-01-09, version 7.4.4*

Just what I wanted the Pro version !

### 5/5 — I purchased all today! 49.99$

*2025-05-28, version 7.4.4*

I am in love with app….. so along time ago.

### 5/5 — Good stuff

*2025-04-30, version 7.4.3*

Good stuff

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-13.*