# Reading Buddy vs Cognistar

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Reading Buddy at none against Cognistar's 2. Reading Buddy also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). Cognistar's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 20 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cognistar sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Reading Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Reading Buddy ships an update every 20 months, Cognistar weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reading Buddy | Cognistar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | [Oxford University Press](https://appshunter.io/developer/439233805) | [Mohamed Alaa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1782331919) |

## 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


### Cognistar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cognistar/id6744457814)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Private Plan | $5.99 | one-time |
| Group Plan | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reading Buddy free?

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

### Is Cognistar free?

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

### Do Reading Buddy or Cognistar have ads?

Neither Reading Buddy nor Cognistar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reading Buddy or Cognistar?

Reading Buddy ships an update every 20 months, and Cognistar weekly. Most recently, Reading Buddy was updated on October 11, 2026 and Cognistar on October 7, 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.*