# Gutenberg | eBook Reader vs Vellum

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Vellum at none against Gutenberg | eBook Reader's 6. Vellum also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Gutenberg | eBook Reader's advantage is ratings volume (761 vs 7) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Vellum holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gutenberg | eBook Reader has 761 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Gutenberg | eBook Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of Vellum's.

Gutenberg | eBook Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, Vellum every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gutenberg | eBook Reader | Vellum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (761 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gutenberg-ebook-reader/id1289618861/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vellum-book-tracking/id6760317919/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **761** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 69.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 48 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Webron Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1071126548) | [Jonathan Barnette](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883823632) |

## 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


### Vellum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vellum-book-tracking/id6760317919)

A beautifully designed app to track your reading progress, organize your library, and set reading goals. It helps you focus on reading more by providing insights into your habits and progress without unnecessary distractions.

**Highlights:** Organize books into custom shelves, Scan ISBNs to add books, Import Goodreads libraries, Track live reading sessions, Set and track reading goals, View reading calendar and stats, Customizable themes

**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 Vellum free?

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

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

Vellum is rated higher. Gutenberg | eBook Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 761 ratings, while Vellum averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do Gutenberg | eBook Reader or Vellum have ads?

Gutenberg | eBook Reader shows ads; Vellum does not.

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

Gutenberg | eBook Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and Vellum every 9 days. Most recently, Gutenberg | eBook Reader was updated on October 29, 2026 and Vellum on October 24, 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.*