# ReadNow vs Dolphin Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ReadNow at 80% against Dolphin Reader's 25%. ReadNow also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.3) and ads (none vs shown). Dolphin Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ReadNow sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Dolphin Reader sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReadNow holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ReadNow has 3K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of ReadNow's written reviews are positive against 25% of Dolphin Reader's.

ReadNow ships an update monthly, Dolphin Reader every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadNow | Dolphin Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readnow-novels-and-stories/id1471258643/reviews)** | [3.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-reader/id1569280416/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **80.4% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#33** | — |
| Size | 63 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [CHANGDU TECHNOLOGY (USA) CO.,LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1445513991) | [Dolphin Technology Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1569145150) |

## What reviewers say

### ReadNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readnow-novels-and-stories/id1471258643)

**Currently charting:** #33 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers, #60 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #67 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

Discover a vast library of trending novels and stories across diverse genres like romance, fantasy, and sci-fi. Enjoy daily updates, earn free coins to read, and connect with fellow readers to discuss your favorite plots. Access legal translations of popular worldwide titles.

**Highlights:** Select any genre: romance, fantasy, sci-fi, fanfiction, Daily updated stories with new chapters, Earn free coins through daily login, Connect with other novel enthusiasts, Access legal translations of popular novels

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Coins Package 10 | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Month SVIP | $12.99 | per month |
| Monthly Coins Package 15 | $14.99 | per month |
| Daily Coins Bundle 20 | $19.99 | per month |
| Coins Package 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coins Package 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Coins Package 10 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Coins Package 20 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Coins Package 30 | $29.99 | one-time |
| Coins Package 50 | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Interesting and captivating stories
- 👍 Good variety of genres and book options
- 🤩 Engaging and page-turning narratives
- 🕰️ Ability to earn free coins/chapters through daily check-ins and ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive coin/chapter costs to continue reading
- ⌛ Slow conversion of points to usable coins
- 🔒 Limited access to free chapters and content
- 🤔 Unclear point/coin system and conversion rates

**Reported bugs**

- Ads not always working to earn free coins
- Chapters/books randomly becoming locked after purchase

**Requested features**

- More free chapter access and ways to earn coins
- Option to purchase full books instead of chapters
- Faster conversion of points to coins
- Clearer explanation of point/coin system


### Dolphin Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-reader/id1569280416)

Access a vast library of web novels and fantasy stories across multiple genres. Enjoy popular titles, the latest chapters, and exclusive membership benefits. Read for free or purchase coins for discounted chapter access.

**Highlights:** Extensive book genres: Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Werewolf/Vampire, Collection of popular web novels and new reads, Latest chapters available, Hundreds of books read over 1 million times, Membership privileges: free books, discounted chapters, bonus coins, Purchase gold coins for chapter access

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| Beginner Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 500 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Beginner Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Chapter Unlock Pack 3 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Annual Membership | $39.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Coins | $49.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Coins | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadNow free?

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

### Is Dolphin Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ReadNow or Dolphin Reader?

ReadNow is rated higher. ReadNow averages 4.2 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Dolphin Reader averages 3.3 from 16 ratings.

### Do ReadNow or Dolphin Reader have ads?

Dolphin Reader shows ads; ReadNow does not.

### Which is updated more often, ReadNow or Dolphin Reader?

ReadNow ships an update monthly, and Dolphin Reader every 9 days. Most recently, ReadNow was updated on November 9, 2026 and Dolphin Reader on November 3, 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.*