# Instaread vs Masobe

The clearest difference is monetization model: Masobe at free with in-app purchases against Instaread's subscription. Masobe also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (71% vs 40%). Instaread's advantage is ratings volume (9.3K vs 16) and rating (4.6 vs 4.4). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Instaread sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Masobe sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Instaread holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instaread has 9.3K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of Instaread's written reviews are positive against 71% of Masobe's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Instaread ships an update every 2 months, Masobe every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instaread | Masobe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (9.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instaread-learn-something-new/id1046172976/reviews)** | [4.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masobe/id6746683434/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.3K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 40.1% of reviews | **71.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 104 MB | 161 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Instaread, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1046172975) | [Safespace](https://appshunter.io/developer/1812874192) |

## What reviewers say

### Instaread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instaread-learn-something-new/id1046172976)

Access condensed insights from thousands of bestselling nonfiction books in both audio and text formats. Learn key takeaways in 15 minutes or less, with curated content and original series on various topics. Download content for offline access and improve yourself with profound ideas.

**Highlights:** Key insights from bestselling books, Available in audio and text, Learn in 15 minutes or less, Professionally written titles, Instaread Originals series, Download for offline access

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instaread Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Instaread Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Instaread | $4.99 | per month |
| Instaread | $7.99 | per month |
| Instaread | $8.99 | per month |
| Instaread | $14.99 | per month |
| Instaread | $49.99 | per year |
| Instaread | $79.99 | per year |
| Instaread | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for learning on the go
- 👍 Excellent customer service
- 💡 Variety of content (books, articles, etc.)
- 🚀 Efficient way to get key insights
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🐛 Unreliable login and access issues
- 🔍 Limited book selection

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing and crashing
- Login and access issues
- Subscription billing problems
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Offline audio download option
- Progress tracking and reading history
- Highlight and note-taking features
- Ability to access content on multiple devices
- More affordable pricing options


### Masobe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masobe/id6746683434)

Discover and enjoy African stories through a vast digital library of eBooks. Read instantly, rent titles, or order physical copies to build your personal collection. Experience the rich storytelling heritage of the continent.

**Highlights:** Vast digital library of African eBooks, Discover fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, Curated collections by interest, Instant eBook access, Book rental options, Order physical book copies

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reader | $4.00 | per month |
| Bookworm | $8.00 | per month |
| Scholar | $12.00 | per month |
| Reader Plan Yearly | $44.00 | per year |
| Bookworm Yearly Plan | $89.99 | per year |
| Scholar Yearly Plan | $133.99 | per year |
| 11-day | $5.59 | one-time |
| Gift Scholar Plan Monthly | $12.00 | one-time |
| Gift Reader Plan Yearly | $44.00 | one-time |
| Gift Bookworm Plan Yearly | $89.99 | one-time |
| Gift Scholar Plan Monthly | $133.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instaread free?

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

### Is Masobe free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Instaread or Masobe?

Instaread is rated higher. Instaread averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9.3K ratings, while Masobe averages 4.4 from 16 ratings.

### Do Instaread or Masobe have ads?

Instaread shows ads; Masobe does not.

### Which is updated more often, Instaread or Masobe?

Instaread ships an update every 2 months, and Masobe every 4 days. Most recently, Instaread was updated on October 25, 2026 and Masobe on October 24, 2026.

---

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