# Reading Buddy vs Upstrive Early

The clearest difference is update cadence: Upstrive Early at every 5 months against Reading Buddy's every 20 months. Reading Buddy's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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.

Reading Buddy ships an update every 20 months, Upstrive Early every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reading Buddy | Upstrive Early |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-buddy/id1474204907/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **6** | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oxford University Press](https://appshunter.io/developer/439233805) | [Upstrive GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759958095) |

## What reviewers say

### Reading Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-buddy/id1474204907)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Upstrive Early

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstrive-early/id6450315347)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reading Buddy free?

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

### Is Upstrive Early free?

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

### Do Reading Buddy or Upstrive Early have ads?

Neither Reading Buddy nor Upstrive Early shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reading Buddy or Upstrive Early?

Reading Buddy ships an update every 20 months, and Upstrive Early every 5 months. Most recently, Reading Buddy was updated on October 11, 2026 and Upstrive Early on October 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*