Bound vs Glance
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bound
Listen to your DRM-free audiobooks with a modern interface. Import files from cloud services or your computer, manage your library, and enjoy features like automatic playback saving, adjustable speed, and chapter support. Includes CarPlay integration and a sleep timer.
- Import from cloud services (Dropbox, OneDrive)
- Web uploader via WiFi
- Automatic playback position saving
- Adjustable playback speed (0.5x-3.0x)
- Chapter support
- Sleep timer
- CarPlay support
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Listen to your favorite DRM-free audiobooks with Bound. Bound allows you to import audio files from various cloud services and play them back in a beautiful modern interface. Bound will automatically save your listening position so that you never lose your place. Supported Audio File Types (DRM-free only): .mp3, .m4a, .m4b, .aac Download - Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive. - Apple Files. - Web Uploader for importing from your computer via WiFi. Manage - Move audio files between books. - Change cover art. - Sort based on author, title, recently added, and recently played. - Rename title and author. - Choose between a number of fun themes. - Dark mode support. Play - Automatically saves playback location as you progress through the book. - Independently configure seek forward and seek backward times. - Chapter support for audio files with embedded chapters (.m4a / .m4b / OverDrive .mp3). - Change playback speed from 0.5X to 3.0X. - Smart Rewind when returning to your book after a while. - Sleep Timer with configurable time or at the end of a chapter. - Manually bookmark locations that you want to return to. - CarPlay support. If you enjoy using Bound, please consider writing a review.
Glance
This app offers a minimalist reading experience using RSVP technology to display text word by word. It helps users focus by eliminating distractions and entering a state of flow. Import your own books and customize the reading experience with various fonts and color schemes.
- RSVP speed reading technology
- Import EPUB, MOBI, and save Texts/URLs
- Two reading modes (overview and speed)
- Customizable fonts and color schemes
- Ad-free and tracking-free experience
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Read your books one word at a time — calm, focused, and as fast as you like. Glance shows text word by word at a single point, so your eyes stay still and your attention stays on the story. Import your own EPUB and MOBI books or save articles from the web, then read at the speed that feels right — from a gentle 100 to 1,000 words per minute. Your library, your way • Import DRM-free EPUB and MOBI books, or save any web article or pasted text to read offline • Two ways to read: scroll the full text, or switch to word-by-word speed reading — turn your phone sideways for a distraction-free view • Glance remembers where you stopped and carries you straight into the next chapter Made for reading, not for scrolling • Tap to pause, double-tap to go back a sentence, swipe to change speed • Many fonts and colour schemes, including high-contrast and colour-blind-friendly options • Reading stats and goals to build a daily habit • Translate any sentence with one long press • Works on iPhone and iPad, in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian Respectful by design Pay once, keep it forever. No ads. No tracking. No subscriptions. No account. Your books never leave your device. Just you, the words, and the moment. Note: books bought from Kindle or Apple Books are copy-protected (DRM) and can't be opened by any third-party reader.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Glance at 100% against Bound's 73%. Glance also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Bound's advantage is ratings volume (2K vs 8) and chart position (#1 vs #94). On ads, in-app purchases 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
Bound costs $4.99 and Glance $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Glance holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bound has 2K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Bound's written reviews are positive against 100% of Glance's.
Bound ships an update every 2 months, Glance every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bound | Glance |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $3.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (2K ratings) | 4.9 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2K — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #1 — better | #94 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Deadpan, LLC | PETER ZDANKIN |
Customer experience
Bound
Glance
Bugs and requests
Bound
Reported bugs
5 issues- Audiobooks disappearing from library after device restart
- Inability to delete audiobooks from library
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Playback issues with multi-part audiobooks
- Problems with web uploader functionality
Requested features
6 requests- Add support for Apple Watch
- Implement search and filtering options
- Allow bookmarks with notes/labels
- Add Chromecast support
- Introduce dark mode
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- Improve cloud storage management
Glance
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Bound
No in-app purchases
Glance
No in-app purchases
