Comparison

Reader vs Bound

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

Head to head
About

Reader

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
Read full description

The iOS companion to the macOS Reader PDF viewer. Here you can read with no distractions and annotated, then work further with your documents back on your Mac using iCloud.

About

Bound

Features
Read full description

Bound is a powerful and efficient tool for event and deadline management. Its elegant and intuitive interface makes it easy to create and manage deadlines, while its customisable features allow you to tailor it to your preferences. Bound offers useful features like long-pressing deadlines for quick access to options like editing, deleting, or pinning tasks to the top of your list. The Shake device option is also handy for clearing schedules or removing completed tasks. The app's main focus is on deadline management, where you can easily create deadlines with a name, date, and time, and a symbol to make it stand out. Bound's computed property for time left calculates the remaining time until the deadline based on the current date and time, and schedules notifications to remind you of approaching deadlines. The notification system is robust and customisable, allowing you to receive notifications based on your preferences, whether it be approaching deadlines, due deadlines, or both. Let's just say - Bound is a must-have productivity tool for anyone looking to stay organised and meet important events and deadlines.

Screenshots

Reader2 screens
Bound4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bound at none against Reader's 1. Reader's advantage is device support (5 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, 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. Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bound asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reader ships an update weekly, Bound every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Reader versus Bound: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReaderBound
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Augmented Text Company LTDRobin Naghshbandi

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Reader

One-time1
  • Ask AI Subscription$1.99
None

Bound

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Reader free?
Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bound free?
Bound is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Reader or Bound have ads?
Neither Reader nor Bound shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reader or Bound?
Reader ships an update weekly, and Bound every 2 weeks. Most recently, Reader was updated on August 14, 2026 and Bound on September 8, 2026.

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