Comparison

ActionPad vs Book

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

Head to head
About

ActionPad

Create custom control panels to remotely operate your computer applications. Simulate keyboard and mouse input, launch programs, open files, and control media. Share and download user-created panels for enhanced productivity and gaming.

Highlights
  • Customizable control panels
  • Simulate keyboard and mouse input
  • Launch applications and files
  • Open websites
  • Media and volume control
  • Create macros
  • Community Panels Hub
Features
Read full description

ActionPad allows you to create your own custom control panels to remote control applications on your computer. This app requires the ActionPad Server desktop software to be installed on your computer for full functionality. For more information on this, visit https://actionpad.co/go. Compatible with macOS and Windows. Panels can contain buttons and other objects, which can be used to simulate keyboard and mouse input, as well as open files and URLs. With grid and dynamic panel types, buttons can be arranged into a grid with customizable rows and columns, or positioned and sized anywhere you would like on your panel for infinite customization possibilities. Customize the appearance of buttons and other panel objects to give them a distinct look. Get ready to make your keyboard and mouse jealous. With ActionPad, you may implement buttons on your panel that: -Execute keystrokes, such as Command C or Ctrl V. -Move your mouse pointer or hold keys as you hold down the button. -Launch applications and open files on your computer. -Open websites in your default browser and interact with them. -Control media and volume on your computer. -Do all of these things with one press! You can have buttons send continuous keyboard and mouse input as you hold them down, or you can combine multiple actions to create simple or complex macros that will run with just one tap of the button! All of this, along with visual elements such as images, text, and containers can all be combined to create unique control panels, each of which with it's own purpose. Don't feel like creating your own panel, or want to use some pre-created panels for some of your favorite desktop apps? ActionPad features the Community Panels Hub, which allows users to upload and share panels they create. It's very easy to share panels and build upon everyone's creations. Along with sharing through the Community Panels Hub, you can also export your panel and send it via E-mail, AirDrop, or a variety of other mediums. No account needed to download user-made panels, only required if you wish to upload to share with other users. Whether it be a panel used to quickly access the most commonly used tools in Photoshop, extra shortcuts for DAW power users, controls for your cockpit in a space simulation game, or a remote control for your streaming setup, there is no limit to what you can create and control with ActionPad.

About

Book

Create publication-ready ePub and PDF files from your manuscripts. Effortlessly transform text into formats suitable for eBook distribution and print-on-demand services. Ideal for fiction authors preparing their work for platforms like Amazon.

Highlights
  • Generates ePub and PDF files
  • Assembles publication-ready fiction novels
  • Transforms Markdown or plain text manuscripts
  • Suitable for eBook distribution
  • Supports print-on-demand books
  • Directly integrates with Amazon
Features
Read full description

This application generates ePub and PDF files. Use it for assembling publication ready fiction novels. Transform manuscripts written in Markdown or plain text to formats suitable for sending eBooks and print-on-demand books directly to Amazon.

Screenshots

ActionPad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Book at Free against ActionPad's $3.99. ActionPad's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads and iOS requirement 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

Book is free to download; ActionPad costs $3.99 up front. Book sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. ActionPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ActionPad holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ActionPad has 30 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of ActionPad's written reviews are positive against 50% of Book's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ActionPad ships an update every 3 months, Book every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
ActionPad versus Book: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterActionPadBook
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (30 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews63.4% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings30 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew ArpasiHexagonal Studios Limited

Customer experience

ActionPad

All ratings30 ratings
Positive73.3%
Neutral10.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews41 reviews
Positive63.4%
Neutral7.3%
Negative29.3%

Book

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

ActionPad

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Book

Subscriptions1
  • Book-Binder Subscription$4.991 Year

Questions

Is ActionPad free?
ActionPad costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Book free?
Book is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ActionPad or Book?
ActionPad is rated higher. ActionPad averages 4.0 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Book averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do ActionPad or Book have ads?
Neither ActionPad nor Book shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ActionPad or Book?
ActionPad ships an update every 3 months, and Book every 6 months. Most recently, ActionPad was updated on October 16, 2026 and Book on October 12, 2026.

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