# SamlibReader vs Books

The clearest difference is rating: Books at 5.0 against SamlibReader's 3.3. SamlibReader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Books sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. SamlibReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Books holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

SamlibReader ships an update every 6 weeks, Books every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SamlibReader | Books |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samlibreader/id1127829505/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/books-read-and-listen/id1603956766/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 32 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ivan Kramarchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1127829504) | [Victor Cristea](https://appshunter.io/developer/1603956768) |

## 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


### Books

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/books-read-and-listen/id1603956766)

Access a vast library of Russian books and audiobooks across numerous genres. Enjoy offline reading, customizable reader settings, and track your reading habits. A premium subscription unlocks unlimited access to all content.

**Highlights:** Thousands of Russian books and audiobooks, Offline reading and audiobook playback, Customizable reader with dark mode, Bookmarks and favorites, Reading statistics, Searchable library

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ПЛАН НА 1 НЕДЕЛЮ | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| ПЛАН НА 1 МЕСЯЦ | $4.99 | per month |
| Подписка на 1 месяц — 3 дня пробно | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SamlibReader free?

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

### Is Books free?

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

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

Books is rated higher. SamlibReader averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Books averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SamlibReader or Books have ads?

Neither SamlibReader nor Books shows ads.

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

SamlibReader ships an update every 6 weeks, and Books every 3 weeks. Most recently, SamlibReader was updated on October 4, 2026 and Books on October 6, 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.*