# SamlibReader vs ShortBook²

The clearest difference is rating: ShortBook² at 4.6 against SamlibReader's 3.3. ShortBook² also leads on ratings volume (13 vs 3). SamlibReader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ShortBook² sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. SamlibReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ShortBook² holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 13 respectively.

SamlibReader ships an update every 6 weeks, ShortBook² every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SamlibReader | ShortBook² |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samlibreader/id1127829505/reviews) | **[4.6 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortbook/id1499866684/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **13** |
| Positive reviews | — | 39.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 32 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Ivan Kramarchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1127829504) | [Jury Shortki](https://appshunter.io/developer/295094305) |

## What reviewers say

### SamlibReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samlibreader/id1127829505)

This app provides a convenient way to read books from the "Magazine Samizdat" website. It addresses issues with incorrect HTML markup, allowing users to customize font size and encoding for a better reading experience. It also keeps track of your reading progress and book list.

**Highlights:** Read "Magazine Samizdat" content, Customizable font size, Selectable text encoding, Stores reading progress, Maintains book list

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ShortBook²

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortbook/id1499866684)

This reader app offers a unique approach to text display on smaller screens, optimizing comfort and reducing eye strain. It allows extensive customization of text layout and includes decorative elements to enhance the reading experience. Supports FB2 format and provides reading statistics.

**Highlights:** Optimized text layout for small screens, Customizable text placement options, Decorative elements for atmosphere, FB2 format support (contents, footnotes, figures), Rich settings with dozens of parameters, Reading statistics and monitoring, Quick restart after breaks

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SamlibReader free?

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

### Is ShortBook² free?

ShortBook² is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SamlibReader or ShortBook²?

ShortBook² is rated higher. SamlibReader averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while ShortBook² averages 4.6 from 13 ratings.

### Do SamlibReader or ShortBook² have ads?

Neither SamlibReader nor ShortBook² shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SamlibReader or ShortBook²?

SamlibReader ships an update every 6 weeks, and ShortBook² every 2 months. Most recently, SamlibReader was updated on October 4, 2026 and ShortBook² on October 12, 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.*