# United Through Reading > Military families connect through video storytime recordings. (iPhone/iPad app by United Through Reading.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/united-through-reading/id1448061855 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [United Through Reading](https://appshunter.io/developer/1448061854) - Category: Lifestyle, Social Networking - Price: Free - Rating: 3.89/5 from 19 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 13.0 · 42 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2019-03-28 - Data updated: 2026-07-05 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/united-through-reading/id1448061855/reviews.md ## What is United Through Reading? The United Through Reading App keeps military families reading together, no matter the distance. Stay connected at storytime by video recording yourself reading a storybook aloud to the special kids in your life even when military duty, deployment, training, drill weekends, or long work days keep you away. The UTR App is free, secure, and available to active duty service members, veterans, and their families who register through Troop ID from ID.me. Since 1989, United Through Reading has provided service members with the opportunity to share the gift of reading together even when separated by military duty at more than 200 recording locations around the world. With the United Through Reading App, you can: ● Includes built in viewer, festive frames, and enhanced user tools. ● NOW WITH EBOOKS! Choose from our library of ebooks and record video storytime right now! ● Record, save, and upload your video recordings by registering with Troop ID from ID.me. ● Record your video offline and upload when on wifi. The NEW United Through Reading APP allows YOUR FAMILY: - To watch the video on demand online or download for offline viewing. - To request a FREE copy of the book read by the service member after recording via the email notification or on our website (https://bit.ly/UTRbooks) thanks to Dollar General Literacy Foundation. ## Key features - Video recording of storybooks - Festive frames and user tools - Ebook library access - Offline recording and Wi-Fi upload - On-demand video viewing - Free book request after recording ## Recent user reviews (6 of 6) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/united-through-reading/id1448061855/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2025-09-27* In the process of exploring helpful interventions for assisting service members through bouts of deployment and separation from family and this had the potential to help, but is not working….what happened? ### 1/5 — Spinning Wheel of Death *2024-11-17* It would be great if it worked. All I see is the spinning wheel of death telling me it’s “loading”. ### 1/5 — App crashes *2023-07-29* The app crashes every time when trying to record for my child. Really good concept, but unfortunately is crashing every time. ### 3/5 — Great Potential! But…. *2022-11-17* It feels like this app was a great idea but then the developers forgot about it. There is only a very small selection of ebooks and I’m currently not in a location where i can buy physical children’s books. Creating a story video is very easy and uploading it is straightforward! however, as the video plays out, the pages don’t turn on their own. They should be turning as the reader turns the pages! I love the idea of the app and would love for it to be another tool my family can use during deployments! But the limited selection, small editing capability, and very simple story playback makes this app kind of disappointing. One could accomplish 80% of what this app does by screen recording oneself reading a kids book and sending it direct. ### 5/5 — Stories to go! *2019-06-12* Great app! It is easy to download and easy to use. It’s great because you can record any time you want and it’s free! Don’t forget to request your free book when you’re done recording. UTR is truly one of the best military non-profits around. Thank you, UTR, for a great product! ### 5/5 — Great app *2019-05-18* My kids and spouse love this app ## Frequently asked questions about United Through Reading ### What is United Through Reading? United Through Reading is an app designed to help military families stay connected by allowing service members to record themselves reading storybooks to their children, even when physically apart. It offers features like video recording, an ebook library, and the ability to request a free copy of the book read. ### Who can use the United Through Reading app? The app is available to active duty service members, veterans, and their families who register through Troop ID from ID.me. It aims to bridge the distance created by military duty, deployments, or long work hours. ### Does United Through Reading have ads? No, the United Through Reading app is free and does not contain advertisements. It focuses on providing a secure and uninterrupted experience for military families to connect through reading. ### Can I record videos offline with United Through Reading? Yes, you can record your video storytime offline with the United Through Reading app. Once your recording is complete, you can upload it when you have a Wi-Fi connection. ### How can my family watch the videos? Family members can watch the video recordings on demand online or download them for offline viewing. This allows children to enjoy storytime with their service member whenever they wish. ### Can I get a free book after recording? Yes, families can request a free copy of the book read by the service member after the recording is complete. This is made possible through a partnership with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. ### What devices is United Through Reading available on? The United Through Reading app is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed to be accessible on common Apple mobile platforms. ### How often is United Through Reading updated? The latest version of the United Through Reading app is 1.8, which was last updated on November 18, 2025. Updates typically bring enhancements and new features to improve the user experience. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.9 — 2026-04-14 - Favourites tag for videos - Filters in book ordering - User profile updates - Bug fixes & improvements ### 1.8 — 2025-11-18 - Added “Request Book” option - Minor bug fixes ### 1.7 — 2025-09-03 1) Push Notifications for new stories and views 2) Alert Screen for Notifications 3) Bug Fixes ### 1.6 — 2025-06-10 - UI enhancements - Bug Fixes and Improvements ### 1.5.1 — 2024-12-12 Bug Fixes and Improvements ## Apps similar to United Through Reading | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Centinel Communities App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/centinel-communities-app/id1641932630) | 4.3 (616) | Free | Lifestyle | | [My Military OneSource](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-military-onesource/id1532124387) | 4.4 (52) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Navy SEAL Foundation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navy-seal-foundation/id6469462173) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Period of PURPLE Crying](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/period-of-purple-crying/id1375828075) | 2.8 (25) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Defenders Gateway](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defenders-gateway/id1342821896) | 4.7 (13) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Hunt Resident App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hunt-resident-app/id1488732669) | 4.4 (4,129) | Free | Lifestyle | --- *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 2026-07-05.*