# Relay Reader vs Bookshare Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Relay Reader at 4.5 against Bookshare Reader's 3.3. Relay Reader also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.4). Bookshare Reader's advantage is review sentiment (36% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Relay Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshare Reader has 67 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Relay Reader's written reviews are positive against 36% of Bookshare Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Relay Reader ships an update every 7 months, Bookshare Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Relay Reader | Bookshare Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relay-reader/id1478453360/reviews)** | [3.3 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshare-reader/id1605201737/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **67** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **35.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 19 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Educational Testing Service](https://appshunter.io/developer/923503056) | [Benetech](https://appshunter.io/developer/425585906) |

## What reviewers say

### Relay Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relay-reader/id1478453360)

This app helps users of all ages improve their reading skills by taking turns reading aloud with a virtual partner. Users can record themselves to practice and build confidence while enjoying classic literature.

**Highlights:** Turn-based reading with virtual partner, Self-recording for reflection, Builds reading confidence and stamina, Access to literary classics, Suitable for all ages

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bookshare Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshare-reader/id1605201737)

Access a vast library of ebooks designed for individuals with reading barriers. Enjoy high-quality audio narration and customize your reading experience with adjustable fonts, colors, and speeds. Continue reading seamlessly from where you left off.

**Highlights:** Access millions of ebooks, High-quality audio narration, Customizable reading experience, Adjustable font size and colors, Follow along with highlighted text, Offline reading

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for dyslexic readers
- 👍 Realistic text-to-speech voices
- 👍 Offline book downloads
- 👍 Essential for blind users
- 👍 Significant improvements made

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Prolonged pauses in speech
- 🐛 Library not syncing across devices
- 🐛 Reading lists don't sync
- 🐛 Progress not saved across devices
- 🐛 Stuck on copyright page (manga)

**Reported bugs**

- Prolonged pauses in text-to-speech
- Library not syncing across devices
- Reading lists not syncing
- Reading progress not saved across devices
- Manga stuck on copyright page

**Requested features**

- Fix prolonged pauses in text-to-speech
- Sync library across devices
- Sync reading lists across devices
- Save reading progress across devices
- Fix manga page navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Relay Reader free?

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

### Is Bookshare Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Relay Reader or Bookshare Reader?

Relay Reader is rated higher. Relay Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Bookshare Reader averages 3.3 from 67 ratings.

### Do Relay Reader or Bookshare Reader have ads?

Neither Relay Reader nor Bookshare Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Relay Reader or Bookshare Reader?

Relay Reader ships an update every 7 months, and Bookshare Reader every 3 weeks. Most recently, Relay Reader was updated on October 1, 2026 and Bookshare Reader on October 11, 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.*