Comparison

Lerner AR vs Build A Reader

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

Head to head
About

Lerner AR

This app enhances reading by bringing book content to life through augmented reality. Scan images in companion books to unlock interactive 3D models and animations related to the text. Explore space, the human body, and insects in an engaging, digital format.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality content viewer
  • Interactive 3D models
  • Educational book companion
  • Intuitive AR interface
  • Content related to space, biology, and insects
Features
Read full description

NOTICE: This app requires a minimum iOS of 11.0 and an A9 chip. Find out if your device meets requirements at www.apple.com/augmented-reality/. Augment your reading experience with Lerner AR! Download this free app to pair with a Lerner AR book. As you read, look for the Lerner AR icon throughout the book. It means there is an augmented reality experience on that page! Use the app to scan the picture near the icon to access bonus augmented reality content related to that page. Features - Easy to use, intuitive augmented reality viewer - Pop-up tips and interactive instruction help you get the most out of the experience - Brings digital content to the reading experience in a way that short links or QR codes simply can’t provide Companion books Creepy Crawlers in Action, Folding Tech, Space in Action, and The Gross Human Body in Action let readers explore space, bugs, and the human body through interactive augmented reality experiences! Watch a black hole eat a star, see the moon's orbit, look around on Mars as if you're actually there. Learn how boogers work, see inside an artery, and find out how what you eat affects your poop. Watch creepy crawlers lay eggs, hunt prey, and perform a mating dance. Each book contains multiple AR experiences to bring learning to life. It's like a pop-up book for your digital device! Augmented reality experiences in Folding Tech and the Space in Action series include: - Insight’s folding solar panels - PUFFER, the Pop-Up Flat Folding Explorer Robot - A star going supernova and exploding - A humanoid robot built for space exploration - Cassini orbiting Saturn and crashing into it - A complete animated model of the solar system - Looking around the surfaces of the moon and Mars as well as the International Space Station Augmented reality experiences in The Gross Human Body in Action series include: - Interactive stomach digestion process - Zit cross section, with interactive popping - Lice on hair - Mouth amoeba eating bad bacteria - Healthy tooth transforming into a cavity - Bruise time lapse - Femur with different kinds of bone breaks - Typical ear morphing into cauliflower ear Augmented reality experiences in Creepy Crawlers in Action series include: -Jumping spider performing a mating dance -Praying mantis hunting a mosquito -Locust laying eggs underground -Stick insect hatching -Tick sucking blood and swelling To learn more about Lerner AR and the books that include augmented reality content, please visit lernerbooks.com/go/AR. Watch your books come to life with Lerner AR! Be aware of your surroundings while using this app, as there are hazards associated with using a camera-based application while driving, walking, or otherwise being distracted or disoriented from real world situations. By downloading the app you agree to the collection, storage and use by PTC and its affiliates and service providers of Statistics from the Software and the transfer of Statistics between PTC and its affiliates and service providers (which may be in the United States or in other countries), in each case for the purposes of (a) providing the Software and Services, (b) facilitating the provision of new products, updates, enhancements and other services, (c) improving the Software, the Services, and other products, services and technologies, and (c) providing new products, services or technologies customers of PTC or its affiliates. No personally identifiable information is collected or stored.

About

Build A Reader

Read full description

The Build A Reader app from Tulsa City-County Library is a free tool that can help parents develop early literacy skills in children from birth to pre-K in order to grow and sustain a love of reading. The app offers short, bite-sized videos led by professional library staff demonstrating songs, finger plays, and great book recommendations in thematic categories such as Animals and Feelings to prepare young children for a lifetime of reading joy. Plus, when you can’t make it to the library for story time, you can still get a story time… in your pocket!

Screenshots

Lerner AR4 screens
Build A Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Lerner AR at every 6 weeks against Build A Reader's every 14 months. Lerner AR also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Lerner AR ships an update every 6 weeks, Build A Reader every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Lerner AR versus Build A Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLerner ARBuild A Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size187 MB204 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLerner Publishing GroupTulsa City-County Library

In-app purchases

None

Lerner AR

No in-app purchases

None

Build A Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lerner AR free?
Lerner AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Build A Reader free?
Build A Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lerner AR or Build A Reader have ads?
Neither Lerner AR nor Build A Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lerner AR or Build A Reader?
Lerner AR ships an update every 6 weeks, and Build A Reader every 14 months. Most recently, Lerner AR was updated on June 1, 2026 and Build A Reader on September 13, 2026.

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