# Stories AR vs SideReader

The clearest difference is rating: SideReader at 5.0 against Stories AR's 3.1. SideReader also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Stories AR's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (8 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SideReader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stories AR has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Stories AR ships an update monthly, SideReader fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stories AR | SideReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stories-ar/id1474051863/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidereader/id6767108162/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 44.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 12 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 27.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [STORIES AR LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1765907734) | [Sergei Shik](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896385665) |

## What reviewers say

### Stories AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stories-ar/id1474051863)

Bring your photos to life with augmented reality. Point your device's camera at a picture or QR code to see animated AR content appear, transforming static images into dynamic experiences.

**Highlights:** Animated AR pictures, QR code integration, Photo album animation, Greeting card AR, Artist and business AR integration, Free demo version

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### SideReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidereader/id6767108162)

Record videos with your script displayed as a teleprompter. Create both portrait and landscape versions from a single take, and rehearse your lines before recording. Captures high-resolution video and prioritizes user privacy by storing data locally.

**Highlights:** Integrated teleprompter, Dual portrait/landscape recording, Rehearsal mode, High-resolution video capture (up to 4K/60 FPS), Privacy-focused, local storage, Script management

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stories AR free?

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

### Is SideReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Stories AR or SideReader?

SideReader is rated higher. Stories AR averages 3.1 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while SideReader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Stories AR or SideReader have ads?

SideReader shows ads; Stories AR does not.

### Which is updated more often, Stories AR or SideReader?

Stories AR ships an update monthly, and SideReader fortnightly. Most recently, Stories AR was updated on October 25, 2026 and SideReader 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.*