Comparison

Hooked vs StoryBytes Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hooked

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
Currently charting
Read full description

HOOKED is the hottest app for anime stories on your phone—bite-size, tap-through episodes with bold manga-style art, cinematic panels, and nonstop cliffhangers–loved by 100,000,000+ people worldwide! Featured in New York Times, Fox, Forbes, CNN, CNBC, LA Times, Guardian, Publishers Weekly and more. Why you’ll love HOOKED - Access tons of episodes for FREE. Start reading instantly. - Explore the world’s largest selection of webcomics. Spanning diverse genres like horror, thriller, sci-fi, romance, fantasy, and more. - Read, listen, or watch. Choose your format and switch anytime—perfect for quick breaks or all-night binges. - Personally tailored picks. Smart recommendations and trending charts help you find your next obsession fast. - Built for your phone. Tap to advance, smooth transitions, and “just one more” pacing that keeps you turning panels. Perfect if you love: anime, manga, webtoons, or serialized fiction with big twists and bigger emotions. Join millions of fans discovering stories in a whole new way. You won’t believe how it ends… HOOKED UNLIMITED SUBSCRIPTION: - You can subscribe for unlimited access to our full story catalog and premium content - The subscription is $9.99 weekly* - You’ll be able to watch unlimited stories for the duration of your subscription - Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off for at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period at the cost of the chosen package - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period - You can read our privacy policy and terms of use at http://www.hooked.co/privacy - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication *Prices are equal to the value that “Apple’s App Store Matrix” determines is the equivalent of the subscription price in $USD. By using Hooked, you agree to our Terms of Use and Community Guidelines available at https://www.hooked.co/terms Questions? Email support@hooked.co for help!

About

StoryBytes Reader

Engage with interactive stories where your decisions shape the narrative and lead to multiple endings. Perfect for quick reading sessions, this app turns idle moments into immersive adventures.

Highlights
  • Interactive stories with branching paths
  • Bite-sized reading sessions
  • Rich, interconnected story worlds
  • Multiple endings and high replayability
  • Progress saved for easy continuation
  • Choices shape the story
Features
Read full description

Turn spare minutes into adventures with StoryBytes, the interactive reading app where your choices shape the story. StoryBytes reimagines classic “choose your own adventure” stories for modern readers. Every few minutes, you’ll reach a meaningful decision point: follow the clue, open the forbidden door, trust the stranger… or don’t. Each choice branches the story, unlocks new scenes, and leads to different endings. Whether you’re filling time between errands, relaxing in the evening, or looking for something more engaging than scrolling social media, StoryBytes turns idle moments into immersive stories. What you’ll find inside" - Interactive stories, not just text - Read like a book, play like a game. Tap choices to decide what happens next and explore multiple story paths. - Bite-sized reading sessions - Stories are structured in short “bytes,” designed so you can play for 5 minutes or 50—perfect for commutes, waiting rooms, or winding down at night. - Rich, interconnected worlds - Explore familiar and original universes that can overlap and echo each other: - Multiple endings & high replay value - One story isn’t just one path. Come back, make different choices, and see how else events could unfold. - Easy to pick up, easy to return to - Jump into a story, read a few scenes, make a choice, and step away. Your progress is saved so you can continue right where you left off. Why readers love StoryBytes: - More engaging than passive reading - More relaxing than most games - Perfect for curious minds who enjoy “What if I chose differently?” - Great for both experienced readers and those who prefer shorter sessions - StoryBytes is built for anyone who loves stories but doesn’t always have long, uninterrupted reading time. Turn quick breaks into meaningful, interactive experiences—and discover just how many different ways a story can unfold. - Download StoryBytes and start your next adventure, one choice at a time. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: StoryBytes Reader offers monthly ($2.99/month) and yearly ($29.99/year) premium subscriptions. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Terms of Use (EULA) available in app or on our website at URL: https://storybytes.io/terms Privacy Policy available in app or on our website at URL: https://storybytes.io/privacy

Screenshots

Hooked4 screens
StoryBytes Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: StoryBytes Reader at 5.0 against Hooked's 4.2. StoryBytes Reader also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). Hooked's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (14K vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hooked sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and StoryBytes Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StoryBytes Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hooked has 14K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hooked ships an update every 5 days, StoryBytes Reader every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Hooked versus StoryBytes Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHookedStoryBytes Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (14K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews23.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings14K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#135 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB29 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperTelepathic, Inc.StoryBytes, LLC

Customer experience

Hooked

All ratings14,437 ratings
Positive80.5%
Neutral1.6%
Negative17.9%
Written reviews521 reviews
Positive23.6%
Neutral6.9%
Negative69.5%

StoryBytes Reader

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Hooked

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Login issues
  • Inability to access content without paying

Requested features

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

StoryBytes Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Hooked

Subscriptions10
  • HOOKED Unlimited$2.997 Days
  • HOOKED Unlimited7 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • HOOKED Unlimited7 Days trial2 variants$4.997 Days
Show 7 more
  • HOOKED Unlimited3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Hooked Unlimited7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • HOOKED Unlimited$7.991 Month
  • Hooked Unlimited7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • HOOKED Unlimited7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • HOOKED Unlimited$14.991 Month
  • HOOKED Unlimited3 Days trial$19.991 Month
2 purchases

StoryBytes Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Hooked free?
Hooked is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is StoryBytes Reader free?
StoryBytes Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hooked or StoryBytes Reader?
StoryBytes Reader is rated higher. Hooked averages 4.2 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while StoryBytes Reader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Hooked or StoryBytes Reader have ads?
StoryBytes Reader shows ads; Hooked does not.
Which is updated more often, Hooked or StoryBytes Reader?
Hooked ships an update every 5 days, and StoryBytes Reader every 11 days. Most recently, Hooked was updated on October 25, 2026 and StoryBytes Reader on October 9, 2026.

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