Comparison

Reading Buddy vs BoomReader Parents

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Reading Buddy

This app allows students and teachers to download and read eBooks offline, providing flexible reading opportunities. It features an eBook library with audio support to enhance comprehension and ensure learning at the right pace.

Highlights
  • Downloadable eBooks for offline reading
  • Access to leveled eBooks
  • Audio-enhanced eBooks
  • Offline reading anytime, anywhere
  • Develop comprehension skills
Features
Read full description

This app is a companion for students and teachers with an online subscription to Oxford Reading Buddy so they can download their eBooks for reading offline. Once downloaded, students can read their Oxford Reading Buddy eBooks—anytime, anywhere – providing more opportunities for reading. With an eBook library, based on our Oxford Levels framework, each child can learn at precisely the right pace. Audio for each eBook is included, so students can develop their comprehension skills alongside their reading skills. Develop deeper comprehension skills and encourage children to read more with this companion app for Oxford Reading Buddy. Features include: - Downloadable eBooks for offline reading - anytime, anywhere - Access to eBooks at the right Oxford Level - Audio-enhanced eBooks to develop comprehension skills Accessing the app is easy: simply log in with the same username and password for your online subscription to Oxford Reading Buddy.

About

BoomReader Parents

This app digitizes home reading records, replacing traditional diaries. Parents can easily log books, track reading progress with detailed notes, and view a complete history. It also includes a reward system for children and reminders to encourage a consistent reading routine.

Highlights
  • Digital reading diary
  • Easy book and log addition
  • Detailed reading logs with notes
  • Activity feed with reading events
  • Complete book history
  • Automatic rewards for reading
  • Reading reminders
Features
Read full description

BoomReader is the digital reading record used by thousands of parents as a way to log home reading. Say goodbye to lost or ruined reading diaries. Never again will your child's reading record be left on the bus, at home on the table or in the car during the busy school run. Easily Add Books and Logs You can easily add any book you or your child are reading with seamless search through the thousands of titles already added. Detailed Reading Logs Simply enter the page number you and your child read too. Of course, you can add more information including comments and any words or sounds your child struggled with. Complete Activity Feed The new activity feed allows you to scroll through or the reading events for your child including reading band changes, reviews and of course the reading logs. Depending on the settings chosen by the school, you may also be able to see when your logs have been viewed or liked by the class teacher. Complete Book History You can view, search and filter the complete history of the books your child has read. Rewarding Reading BoomReader automatically rewards children for reading by awarding Gems. Your child can swap Gems for reward cards. For younger children, you can use our one-click magic button to jump into your child's account so you can help them to spend their Gems. Set Reminders You can also set daily reminders to help keep that vital reading routine and guarantee some quiet parent and child time as you enjoy reading to each other. Please note - your child’s school needs to purchase BoomReader in order for you to be able to access the app.

Screenshots

Reading Buddy4 screens
BoomReader Parents4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reading Buddy at 50% against BoomReader Parents's 17%. Reading Buddy also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.4). BoomReader Parents's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 20 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading Buddy ships an update every 20 months, BoomReader Parents every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 30, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Reading Buddy versus BoomReader Parents: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading BuddyBoomReader Parents
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better16.7% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 20 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.4
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB26 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperOxford University PressAxe Edge

Customer experience

Reading Buddy

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

BoomReader Parents

Written reviews42 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral4.8%
Negative78.6%

In-app purchases

None

Reading Buddy

No in-app purchases

None

BoomReader Parents

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Reading Buddy free?
Reading Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BoomReader Parents free?
BoomReader Parents is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Reading Buddy or BoomReader Parents have ads?
Neither Reading Buddy nor BoomReader Parents shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading Buddy or BoomReader Parents?
Reading Buddy ships an update every 20 months, and BoomReader Parents every 6 weeks. Most recently, Reading Buddy was updated on August 30, 2026 and BoomReader Parents on September 24, 2026.

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