# Gutenberg | eBook Reader vs Open Library Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Gutenberg | eBook Reader at 69% against Open Library Reader's 26%. Gutenberg | eBook Reader also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (713 vs 50). Open Library Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Gutenberg | eBook Reader sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Open Library Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Gutenberg | eBook Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gutenberg | eBook Reader has 713 ratings behind it against 50, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Gutenberg | eBook Reader's written reviews are positive against 26% of Open Library Reader's.

Gutenberg | eBook Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, Open Library Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gutenberg | eBook Reader | Open Library Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (713 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gutenberg-ebook-reader/id1289618861/reviews)** | [3.0 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-library-reader/id1573989409/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **713** | 50 |
| Positive reviews | **69.2% of reviews** | 26.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 47 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Webron Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1071126548) | [Loomis House, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573989411) |

## What reviewers say

### Gutenberg | eBook Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gutenberg-ebook-reader/id1289618861)

Access a vast library of public domain e-books and audiobooks from around the world. Explore tens of thousands of titles across numerous languages and categories, including classics and popular works.

**Highlights:** Vast public domain e-book library, Extensive audiobook collection, Thousands of titles available, Multiple languages supported, Categorized book selection, Top 50 e-books listed

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium | $39.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Extensive collection of classic literature
- 💰 Free access to thousands of books
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 📖 Page-turning feature mimics physical books
- 🌙 Night mode for comfortable reading

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Search function is unreliable and confusing
- 📱 Poor book organization and browsing
- 💔 Missing many books found on Project Gutenberg website
- 📺 Excessive and intrusive advertisements
- ⚙️ Limited customization options for book format

**Reported bugs**

- Search returns no results or irrelevant results
- Books listed on Project Gutenberg not appearing in app
- App fails to download certain books
- Reading progress not saved between sessions
- Continuous scroll instead of page-by-page display

**Requested features**

- Improved search functionality with better filtering
- Better book organization and categorization system
- Dictionary/word definition feature
- Improved paragraph spacing and text formatting
- Page-by-page navigation instead of chapter-based


### Open Library Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-library-reader/id1573989409)

Access and read millions of books from an online library. Organize your reading lists, track borrowed books, and discover related titles within a familiar reading interface. Requires an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Browse and check out millions of books, Track reading progress and wishlists, Built-in search and related title discovery, Shelf management and edition changes, Checkout tracking for borrowed books, Customizable reading interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gutenberg | eBook Reader free?

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

### Is Open Library Reader free?

Open Library Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Gutenberg | eBook Reader or Open Library Reader?

Gutenberg | eBook Reader is rated higher. Gutenberg | eBook Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 713 ratings, while Open Library Reader averages 3.0 from 50 ratings.

### Do Gutenberg | eBook Reader or Open Library Reader have ads?

Gutenberg | eBook Reader shows ads; Open Library Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, Gutenberg | eBook Reader or Open Library Reader?

Gutenberg | eBook Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and Open Library Reader every 2 months. Most recently, Gutenberg | eBook Reader was updated on September 23, 2026 and Open Library Reader on September 22, 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.*