# Hooked vs TapRead

The clearest difference is ads: Hooked at none against TapRead's shown. Hooked also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (14K vs 1.3K). TapRead's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (44% vs 24%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hooked sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and TapRead sells 28 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TapRead holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hooked has 14K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Hooked's written reviews are positive against 44% of TapRead's.

Hooked ships an update every 5 days, TapRead fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hooked | TapRead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hooked/id1024818709/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tapread-read-good-story/id1458083055/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | 23.6% of reviews | **43.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #132 | **#55** |
| Size | 12 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Telepathic, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/997494868) | [SevenCat Interactive Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/6814040192) |

## What reviewers say

### Hooked

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

**Currently charting:** #132 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


### TapRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tapread-read-good-story/id1458083055)

**Currently charting:** #55 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

Access a vast library of web novels across multiple genres, including romance and fantasy. Enjoy a personalized reading experience with customizable settings and offline downloads. Join a community of book lovers and discover new worlds.

**Highlights:** Vast web novel library, Multiple genres available, Personalized recommendations, Customizable reading experience, Offline reading support, Regular content updates

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

**In-app purchases (28)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP.premium.monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| plan.weekly.coin_1000 | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Plan.Weekly.Coin_9.99 | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Plan.Weekly_Coin_14.99 | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium+ Weekly | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| plan.weekly.coin_2000 | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Plan.Weekly.Coin_19.99 | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Plan.Weekly_Coin_29.99 | $29.99 | per 7 days |
| VIP.ultimate.monthly | $49.99 | per month |
| 50 TapCoins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_100 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 165 TapCoins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_400 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_500 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 460 TapCoins | $5.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_600 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 600 TapCoins | $6.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_1000 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_1300 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_1700 | $16.99 | one-time |
| 1250 TapCoins | $17.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_2000 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_2500 | $24.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_3000 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 3250 TapCoins | $39.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_5000 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_49.99 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Tapcoin_99.99 | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good stories
- ✨ Enjoyable reading experience
- 📚 Great selection of books
- 🎨 Awesome stories
- 🤩 Loving the books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive to read
- 🤑 Coins are hard to earn
- 🤯 Too many chapters locked behind paywall
- 🤔 Inconsistent chapter pricing
- 🙄 Stolen stories from other platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Chapters not loading properly
- Login issues
- Ads not working as intended
- Bookmarking not functioning correctly

**Requested features**

- Offer subscription model for unlimited reading
- Improve coin earning system
- Add search functionality
- Optimize for tablet devices
- Enhance text-to-speech feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hooked free?

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

### Is TapRead free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hooked or TapRead?

TapRead is rated higher. Hooked averages 4.2 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while TapRead averages 4.5 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Hooked or TapRead have ads?

TapRead shows ads; Hooked does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hooked or TapRead?

Hooked ships an update every 5 days, and TapRead fortnightly. Most recently, Hooked was updated on November 1, 2026 and TapRead on October 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Hooked or TapRead?

Hooked currently peaks at #132 in the App Store charts, and TapRead at #55. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*