# Reader vs Halo OS

The clearest difference is rating: Reader at 5.0 against Halo OS's 4.3. Reader also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 26 months) and device support (5 vs 3). Halo OS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (75% vs 56%). On price, ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Halo OS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Reader's written reviews are positive against 75% of Halo OS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Reader ships an update weekly, Halo OS every 26 months. Both last shipped on August 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reader | Halo OS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader/id1179373118/reviews)** | [4.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-os/id1578192575/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 26 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 1 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [The Augmented Text Company LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/459748478) | [Tiago Mendes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1235886918) |

## What reviewers say

### Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader/id1179373118)

This app provides a distraction-free reading and annotation experience for PDF documents on iOS. Seamlessly sync your annotated files with your Mac for further editing and workflow integration via iCloud.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free reading, PDF annotation, iCloud sync with Mac, Companion to macOS app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ask AI Subscription | $1.99 | one-time |


### Halo OS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-os/id1578192575)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a functional desktop computer. Connect external displays, keyboards, and mice to navigate a web browser and file explorer with ease.

**Highlights:** External monitor support, Bluetooth keyboard and mouse compatibility, Web browser, File explorer, TXT file reader, Window management

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reader free?

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

### Is Halo OS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Reader or Halo OS?

Reader is rated higher. Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Halo OS averages 4.3 from 8 ratings.

### Do Reader or Halo OS have ads?

Neither Reader nor Halo OS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reader or Halo OS?

Reader ships an update weekly, and Halo OS every 26 months. Most recently, Reader was updated on August 14, 2026 and Halo OS on August 14, 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.*