# Hooked vs Chat Read

The clearest difference is rating: Hooked at 4.2 against Chat Read's 3.8. Hooked also leads on ratings volume (14K vs 34) and chart position (#133 vs unranked). Chat Read's advantage is iOS requirement (9.1 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hooked sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Chat Read sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Hooked holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hooked has 14K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 24% of Hooked's written reviews are positive against 31% of Chat Read's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hooked ships an update every 5 days, Chat Read weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hooked | Chat Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hooked/id1024818709/reviews)** | [3.8 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-read-scary-text-stories/id1306848698/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 23.6% of reviews | **30.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#133** | — |
| Size | 12 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **9.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Telepathic, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/997494868) | [Editr Apps Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437562435) |

## What reviewers say

### Hooked

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hooked/id1024818709)

**Currently charting:** #133 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

Dive into addictive, bite-size stories with bold manga-style art and cinematic panels. Choose to read, listen, or watch your favorite genres, from horror to romance. Discover your next obsession with personalized recommendations and trending charts.

**Highlights:** Bite-size, tap-through episodes, Manga-style art and cinematic panels, Read, listen, or watch formats, Diverse genres (horror, thriller, sci-fi, romance, fantasy), Personalized recommendations and trending charts, Unlimited access with subscription

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HOOKED Unlimited | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| HOOKED Unlimited | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| HOOKED Unlimited | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| HOOKED Unlimited | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Hooked Unlimited | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| HOOKED Unlimited | $7.99 | per month |
| Hooked Unlimited | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| HOOKED Unlimited | $14.99 | per month |
| HOOKED Unlimited | $14.99 | per month |
| HOOKED Unlimited | $19.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive stories
- 👍 Wide range of genres
- 🚀 Immersive storytelling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall to access content
- 🕰️ Long wait times between chapters
- 🔒 Restricted access without subscription
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Inability to access content without paying

**Requested features**

- Bring back free user-created stories
- Offer more free content options
- Reduce subscription costs


### Chat Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-read-scary-text-stories/id1306848698)

Immerse yourself in thrilling narratives presented in a unique chat format. Explore a diverse library of stories across multiple genres, offering a fresh and engaging reading experience.

**Highlights:** Chat format stories, Diverse story categories, Regular story updates, Horror, mystery, and fantasy genres, Engaging reading experience

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Premium - Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock Premium - Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Unlock Premium - Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hooked free?

Hooked is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chat Read free?

Chat Read is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Hooked or Chat Read?

Hooked is rated higher. Hooked averages 4.2 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Chat Read averages 3.8 from 34 ratings.

### Do Hooked or Chat Read have ads?

Neither Hooked nor Chat Read shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hooked or Chat Read?

Hooked ships an update every 5 days, and Chat Read weekly. Most recently, Hooked was updated on October 27, 2026 and Chat Read on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*