SmartBook vs KeepReading
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SmartBook
This app facilitates language learning through bilingual reading. It offers parallel text, tap-to-translate functionality, and audio narration to help users master new languages by reading books and articles. Users can upload their own content or access a library of free dual-language books.
- Parallel book reader
- Tap to translate
- Real-time translation with Reverso Context
- Audio narration
- FB2 and EPUB reader
- Vocabulary builder
- AI translation
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SmartBook turns any book into a dual-language reading experience. Read Spanish, Italian, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, English and many more languages with the original text and its translation side by side, and learn languages naturally through the stories you actually want to read. WHY SMARTBOOK - Bilingual, side-by-side reading: the original and its translation together in one parallel-text view. - Tap to translate: tap any word or phrase for an instant translation and a word definition, right on the page. - Context examples: see how the word you tapped is used in real sentences. - AI translation: translation that takes the surrounding context into account. - Automatic paragraph translation: switch it on and the translation of each paragraph appears as you read. - Word and phrase pronunciation: tap a word or phrase to hear it read aloud (text-to-speech). - Your vocabulary: save words and phrases with their context, then export the list as CSV or TXT or send it to a flashcard app. - A library of 75,000+ books: create folders, rate books, and filter, sort and search to find the right book for your level. - Your own books: open EPUB (with images), FB2 and TXT files. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick a book from the built-in library or add your own. 2. Read in parallel: the original and the translation stay side by side. 3. Tap any word or phrase to translate it and hear how it sounds. 4. Save the words you want to remember. LEARN BY READING Learn Spanish, Italian, French, German or Russian by reading real books. Start with short stories, move on to novels in the original, and let your vocabulary grow page by page, with the translation always one tap away. PERFECT FOR - Language learners who want to read real books, not only textbook drills. - Bilingual readers and polyglots who like to follow the original and the translation together. - Anyone who wants to read foreign texts without switching between apps and dictionaries. Some features require a subscription or an in-app purchase: paragraph translation, the choice of translation engines, AI translation, automatic paragraph translation, context examples, vocabulary export and premium books. Download SmartBook and start reading in two languages today.
KeepReading
Effortlessly read foreign language texts with instant translations. This app helps you build vocabulary and comprehension by providing seamless translation options for various content types, making language learning enjoyable and interruption-free.
- Tap-to-show word translation
- Swipe-to-show phrase/sentence translation
- Auto-scan translation while reading
- Supports web pages, ePubs, PDFs, and notes
- Over 20 languages supported
- Vocabulary and comprehension building
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Dive into the world of foreign language reading with KeepReading—your ultimate companion for learning without interruptions. Forget the hassle of stopping to check a dictionary. With KeepReading, translations appear right when you need them, so you can focus on what really matters: enjoying your reading. It’s designed to help you breeze through tricky texts, effortlessly building your vocabulary and comprehension as you go. Here’s how KeepReading keeps things simple: 1. Tap-To-Show: Need a quick word translation? Just tap and keep going. 2. Swipe-To-Show: Want to see a full phrase or sentence translated? Swipe and it’s done. 3. Auto-Scan-To-Show: Let the app scan and translate while you keep reading—no interruptions, no effort. Whether it’s web pages, ePubs, PDFs, or your personal notes, KeepReading makes sure translations are smooth and seamless. With support for over 20 languages—including Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and more—KeepReading has you covered, no matter what you’re reading. Reading is one of the best ways to learn a new language, but tackling texts that feel too advanced can be frustrating. KeepReading turns frustration into flow, helping you confidently take on challenging content while growing your skills. Start reading your way to fluency with KeepReading today.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: KeepReading at 5.0 against SmartBook's 4.5. KeepReading also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). SmartBook's advantage is ratings volume (23 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. SmartBook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. KeepReading asks for nothing beyond the download.
KeepReading holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartBook has 23 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of SmartBook's written reviews are positive against 50% of KeepReading's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartBook | KeepReading |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (23 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 56.2% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 23 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | Every 5 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 106 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Stanislau Kurs | Cambridge Technology Innovation Centre Ltd |
Customer experience
SmartBook
KeepReading
In-app purchases
SmartBook
- Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
- Annual subscription$19.991 Year
- Premium PRO$24.99
KeepReading
No in-app purchases









