# LN vs Light Novel

The clearest difference is rating: Light Novel at 4.5 against LN's 2.7. Light Novel also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 50%) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). LN's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Light Novel sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. LN asks for nothing beyond the download.

Light Novel holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Light Novel has 316 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of LN's written reviews are positive against 80% of Light Novel's.

LN ships an update monthly, Light Novel weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LN | Light Novel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ln-reader/id1112989044/reviews) | **[4.5 (316 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-novel-offline-reader/id1524146384/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 34 | **316** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Stephan Deumier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1112989043) | [Thien Le](https://appshunter.io/developer/1617088747) |

## What reviewers say

### LN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ln-reader/id1112989044)

Read novels directly from baka-tsuki on your iPhone and iPad. Add titles to your favorites and receive updates. This alpha version is actively developed with ongoing improvements.

**Highlights:** Read baka-tsuki novels, Add novels to favorites, Refresh for latest data, Push notifications (future chapter updates), Alpha version with active development

**In-app purchases:** none


### Light Novel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-novel-offline-reader/id1524146384)

Access thousands of free romance and fantasy novels offline. Download chapters to read anytime, anywhere, with features like AI narration and instant translation. Enjoy daily updates and a customizable reading experience.

**Highlights:** Free unlimited novels, Offline reading, AI audio narration, Instant translation, Daily story updates, Customizable reader settings

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| VIP Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| 1 Month VIP Membership | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime VIP Membership | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great novel selection
- 💰 Affordable VIP/lifetime membership
- 🎧 Good text-to-speech (TTS) quality
- ✨ Generous login gifts and points system
- 📥 Downloadable chapters for offline reading

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Overbearing ads
- 📉 Limited library selection
- ⚠️ Ads can be intrusive/laggy
- 🚫 Offline viewing issues
- 💸 VIP upgrade feels excessive

**Reported bugs**

- Chapter download failed, points not returned
- Downloaded chapters removed over time
- Ads sometimes unskippable, requiring app restart
- Offline viewing doesn't work
- App counts down ad-free time when not in use

**Requested features**

- More content in read aloud features
- Pronunciation correction in read aloud
- Skipping certain words/phrases in read aloud
- Skipping/highlighting sentences instead of paragraphs
- Fast forward/rewind option for audio


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LN free?

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

### Is Light Novel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LN or Light Novel?

Light Novel is rated higher. LN averages 2.7 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Light Novel averages 4.5 from 316 ratings.

### Do LN or Light Novel have ads?

Light Novel shows ads; LN does not.

### Which is updated more often, LN or Light Novel?

LN ships an update monthly, and Light Novel weekly. Most recently, LN was updated on September 29, 2026 and Light Novel on September 30, 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.*