# BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) vs Hoshi Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hoshi Reader at 100% against BOOK WALKER (Chinese version)'s 17%. Hoshi Reader also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). BOOK WALKER (Chinese version)'s advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, ads 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.

Hoshi Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of BOOK WALKER (Chinese version)'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Hoshi Reader's.

BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) ships an update every 4 months, Hoshi Reader weekly. Both last shipped on October 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) | Hoshi Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-walker-chinese-version/id1069284333/reviews) | **[5.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoshi-reader/id6758244332/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 98 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BOOKWALKER TAIWAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1069284332) | [Manh-Hao Steffen Pham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871502447) |

## What reviewers say

### BOOK WALKER (Chinese version)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-walker-chinese-version/id1069284333)

Access a vast library of manga and light novels on your iPhone and iPad. Enjoy a premium reading experience with customizable features and offline access. Discover exclusive content and manage your library across multiple devices.

**Highlights:** Vast selection of manga and light novels, Exclusive gifts and content, EPUB 3 format with vertical layout, Customizable reading environment, Offline reading and cloud bookmark sync, Manage up to 7 devices

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hoshi Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoshi-reader/id6758244332)

This app is a lightweight Japanese EPUB reader designed for immersion learning. It features a pop-up dictionary with deinflection and supports Anki integration for vocabulary mining. Organize your library with bookshelves and track your reading progress.

**Highlights:** Vertical and horizontal reading modes, Yomitan-like pop-up dictionary, Anki mining support, Customizable Anki card format, Reading statistics, Bookshelves for library organization, Customizable themes and fonts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) free?

BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hoshi Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) or Hoshi Reader?

Hoshi Reader is rated higher. BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) averages 3.9 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Hoshi Reader averages 5.0 from 20 ratings.

### Do BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) or Hoshi Reader have ads?

Neither BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) nor Hoshi Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) or Hoshi Reader?

BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) ships an update every 4 months, and Hoshi Reader weekly. Most recently, BOOK WALKER (Chinese version) was updated on October 5, 2026 and Hoshi Reader on October 5, 2026.

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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.*