# Reader+ vs Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts

The clearest difference is ads: Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts at none against Reader+'s shown. Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts also leads on ratings volume (62K vs 1.1K) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Reader+'s advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Reader+ against 4.8 for Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts has 62K ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 23% of Reader+'s written reviews are positive against 30% of Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts's.

Reader+ ships an update every 2 months, Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reader+ | Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader-plus/id1052643016/reviews) | [4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearson-plus-study-prep-and-etexts/id1571362338/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K | **62K** |
| Positive reviews | 22.7% of reviews | **30.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#140** |
| Size | 525 MB | 552 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Pearson Education, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/386384450) | [Pearson Education, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/329060244) |

## What reviewers say

### Reader+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader-plus/id1052643016)

This application allows users to read books, take notes, and save bookmarks with seamless online and offline functionality. It features an updated bookshelf, a new interface for easy navigation, and interactive multimedia to enhance the learning experience.

**Highlights:** Book navigation, Note-taking, Bookmark saving, Offline reading, Integrated multimedia, Interactive activities, Updated bookshelf

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful app for accessing textbooks
- 🚀 Easy to download and access books
- 💡 Helpful for studies and reading

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Issues with login and account management
- 🔋 Books need to be redownloaded frequently
- 👎 Buggy and unreliable performance

**Reported bugs**

- Books not showing up in the app
- Inability to sign in or create an account
- Frequent crashes when opening or using the app

**Requested features**

- Add annotation and note-taking capabilities
- Improve offline access and caching of books
- Enhance user interface and navigation


### Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearson-plus-study-prep-and-etexts/id1571362338)

**Currently charting:** #140 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Access your Pearson eTextbooks and supplementary learning materials in one app. Watch short video explanations of complex topics and utilize study tools like notes, highlights, and flashcards. The app also offers an audiobook feature for most eTextbooks and powerful search functionality.

**Highlights:** eTextbook access, Video explanations, Notes and highlights, Audiobook feature, Searchable content, Flashcard creation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient access to textbooks
- 🎧 Useful audio feature
- 📚 Helpful study tools (flashcards, quizzes)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy highlighting and page navigation
- 📱 Poor usability on mobile devices
- 🔍 Lack of search and page number features
- 💰 Expensive for limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Textbooks failing to load or display properly
- Audio playback issues and lack of syncing
- Inconsistent behavior when switching apps or rotating devices

**Requested features**

- Improved highlighting and annotation tools
- Better syncing between devices and web version
- Page number support
- Split-screen and landscape mode on tablets


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reader+ free?

Reader+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts free?

Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Reader+ or Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts?

Reader+ and Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.1K and 62K ratings respectively.

### Do Reader+ or Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts have ads?

Reader+ shows ads; Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts does not.

### Which is updated more often, Reader+ or Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts?

Reader+ ships an update every 2 months, and Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts every 2 weeks. Most recently, Reader+ was updated on September 22, 2026 and Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts on September 26, 2026.

---

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