Comparison

BookPlayer vs Shiori Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BookPlayer

This app provides a dedicated listening experience for audiobooks in M4B, M4A, MP3, and FLAC formats. It offers robust import, management, and playback features, including chapter navigation, variable playback speed, and cloud sync for seamless listening across devices.

Highlights
  • Import audiobooks via AirDrop, Files, iTunes, servers, and zip files
  • Manage library with progress tracking, sorting, and playlists
  • Advanced playback controls including speed, rewind, and volume boost
  • Chapter navigation and lock screen controls
  • Cloud sync for cross-device listening
  • CarPlay and Apple Watch companion app support
Features
Read full description

A wonderful player for your M4B/M4A/MP3/FLAC based audiobooks. Import – Using AirDrop from your Mac or iOS device – From Files and other apps on your device – Via File Sharing in iTunes on your Mac or PC – From your own AudibookShelf or Jellyfin server – Zip files with your folders and books Manage – Maintain and see progress of your books – Mark books as finished – Drag & Drop to sort your library – Create playlists – Automatically play items in turn – Play the first unfinished file by tapping on the playlist artwork – Move files to playlists from the library or import them directly – Edit your book details (title, author, artwork) – Connect to your Hardcover.app account, and track your library progress Listen – Control audio playback from the lock screen, control center or from the companion app on the Apple Watch – Play and navigate books with Chapters – Jump to start of the current book – Change playback speed – Smart rewind – Volume Boost – Support for remote events from headset buttons and the lock screen – Sleep timer with adjustable duration – CarPlay support – VoiceOver support – Dolby Atmos support – Dark mode for night owls – Continue listening across your devices with Cloud Sync, including stand alone playback on your Apple Watch Supported M4B/M4A/MP3 BookPlayer is licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0. The source code and a list of all its contributors can be found on the GitHub page of this project at www.github.com/TortugaPower/BookPlayer You can see our Privacy policy and terms of use in the following links: – https://github.com/TortugaPower/BookPlayer/blob/main/PRIVACY_POLICY.md – https://github.com/TortugaPower/BookPlayer/blob/main/TERMS_CONDITIONS.md For help and ways to contribute to the project see the support section in the Settings screen of BookPlayer or visit www.bookplayer.app If you enjoy BookPlayer, we would be glad if you consider writing a review.

About

Shiori Reader

This EPUB reader is designed for Japanese language learners. It offers one-tap dictionary lookups, vocabulary saving, and Anki integration to help users expand their Japanese vocabulary and improve reading comprehension.

Highlights
  • One-tap dictionary lookup
  • Yomitan dictionary import
  • Seamless EPUB reading
  • Vocabulary list saving
  • Anki integration
  • Context-aware learning
  • Smart Japanese text support
Features
Read full description

Read Japanese books with ease - look up words with a tap and expand your vocabulary. Shiori Reader is the ultimate EPUB reader designed specifically for Japanese language learners. With a sleek interface and powerful learning tools, Shiori transforms your reading experience by making Japanese texts accessible and enjoyable. Key Features: • One-tap dictionary lookup - Simply tap any Japanese word to instantly see its meaning, reading, and pitch accent • Dictionary import - Import Yomitan-formatted dictionaries to help expand your Japanese vocabulary • Seamless EPUB reading - Enjoy a fluid reading experience with customizable themes and font settings • Vocabulary building - Save important words to your vocabulary list for later review • Anki integration - Export words directly to AnkiMobile for efficient spaced repetition study • Context-aware learning - See words in their original sentence context to enhance understanding • Smart Japanese support - Advanced support for kanji, furigana, pitch accent, and complex Japanese text • Customizable reading experience - Choose between scroll and page modes, adjust font size and theme colors Perfect for Japanese learners at any level, Shiori Reader bridges the gap between reading authentic Japanese content and building vocabulary. Import your own EPUB files and start improving your Japanese reading skills today.

Screenshots

BookPlayer4 screens
Shiori Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shiori Reader at none against BookPlayer's 15. Shiori Reader also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 83%). BookPlayer's advantage is ratings volume (20K vs 14) and chart position (#61 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BookPlayer sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Shiori Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BookPlayer against 4.7 for Shiori Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BookPlayer has 20K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of BookPlayer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shiori Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BookPlayer ships an update every 10 days, Shiori Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
BookPlayer versus Shiori Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookPlayerShiori Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (20K ratings) — better4.7 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews82.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20K — better14
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#61 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB310 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGianni CarloClint Russell Graviet Jr

Customer experience

BookPlayer

All ratings19,501 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews1,294 reviews
Positive82.8%
Neutral4.9%
Negative12.4%

Shiori Reader

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

BookPlayer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Playback issues with certain audio formats
  • Importing problems with large audiobook libraries
  • Crashes when deleting books

Requested features

6 requests
  • Bookmark management
  • Percentage completion tracking
  • Improved multi-file book handling
  • Customizable sleep timer
  • iCloud/cloud sync between devices
Show 1 more
  • Siri/Shortcuts integration

Shiori Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

11 purchases

BookPlayer

Subscriptions7
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$1.991 Month
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$2.991 Month
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$3.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Pro Monthly (1 Month)$4.991 Month
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$6.991 Month
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$9.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly (1 Year)$49.991 Year
One-time4
  • Kind tip$2.99
  • Kind Tip$2.99
  • Excellent Tip2 variants$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Incredible Tip2 variants$9.99
None

Shiori Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BookPlayer free?
BookPlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shiori Reader free?
Shiori Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BookPlayer or Shiori Reader?
BookPlayer is rated higher. BookPlayer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 20K ratings, while Shiori Reader averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.
Do BookPlayer or Shiori Reader have ads?
Neither BookPlayer nor Shiori Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BookPlayer or Shiori Reader?
BookPlayer ships an update every 10 days, and Shiori Reader weekly. Most recently, BookPlayer was updated on October 16, 2026 and Shiori Reader on October 2, 2026.

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