# Barnes & Noble vs Aesop Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Aesop Reader at 5.0 against Barnes & Noble's 1.8. Barnes & Noble's advantage is ratings volume (2.4K vs 1) and chart position (#11 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Aesop Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barnes & Noble has 2.4K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Barnes & Noble ships an update every 3 weeks, Aesop Reader every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barnes & Noble | Aesop Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barnes-and-noble/id1477515079/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aesop-reader/id6476888615/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.4K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 7.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#11** | — |
| Size | 70 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Barnes & Noble](https://appshunter.io/developer/320214165) | [OWLCODE SOLUTIONS LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1728125661) |

## What reviewers say

### Barnes & Noble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barnes-and-noble/id1477515079)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access a vast selection of books, eBooks, audiobooks, and more. Discover new releases, bestsellers, and personalized recommendations. Shop for toys, gifts, and home items, with options for home delivery or in-store pickup.

**Highlights:** Shop millions of books, Browse eBooks and audiobooks, Discover new releases and bestsellers, Scan barcodes for product details, Digital member card, Store locator, Manage account and wishlists

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient app for shopping
- 📚 Great selection of books
- 🚀 Smooth browsing experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- ⚠️ Buggy and unreliable app
- 🕰️ Slow performance and loading times
- 📤 Logging out issues
- 🤔 Confusing user interface

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Cart items disappearing
- Inability to log in or stay logged in
- Inconsistent behavior across features

**Requested features**

- Add Face ID/Touch ID login
- Improve search and filtering options
- Integrate order tracking and digital receipts
- Allow in-app ebook purchases


### Aesop Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aesop-reader/id6476888615)

Discover and share stories in a modern digital format. This app blends classical storytelling with contemporary digital presentation, offering literature and poetry.

**Highlights:** Story discovery, Story sharing, Digital literature, Digital poetry, Classical storytelling, Modern storytelling

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barnes & Noble free?

Barnes & Noble is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Aesop Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Barnes & Noble or Aesop Reader?

Aesop Reader is rated higher. Barnes & Noble averages 1.8 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while Aesop Reader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Barnes & Noble or Aesop Reader have ads?

Neither Barnes & Noble nor Aesop Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barnes & Noble or Aesop Reader?

Barnes & Noble ships an update every 3 weeks, and Aesop Reader every 11 days. Most recently, Barnes & Noble was updated on November 8, 2026 and Aesop Reader on November 4, 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.*