# Literal vs Bookworm Reads

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Literal at none against Bookworm Reads's 2. Literal also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 77%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). Bookworm Reads's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 20 months) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 33). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bookworm Reads sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Literal asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Literal against 4.8 for Bookworm Reads. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookworm Reads has 1.1K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Literal's written reviews are positive against 77% of Bookworm Reads's.

Literal ships an update every 20 months, Bookworm Reads every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Literal | Bookworm Reads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/literal-an-addictive-reader/id1484519222/reviews)** | [4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookworm-reads/id1574582016/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **94.1% of reviews** | 77.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Literal LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484519221) | [Bookworm Reads CLUB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1574582018) |

## What reviewers say

### Literal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/literal-an-addictive-reader/id1484519222)

This app transforms reading into an engaging group chat experience. It presents books with profile pictures and speech bubbles, making it easy to follow conversations. Users can read alone or invite friends to discuss books in real-time.

**Highlights:** Group chat reading format, Interactive book discussions, Invite friends to read together, Track reading progress, Access classic and modern titles, Suitable for educators

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bookworm Reads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookworm-reads/id1574582016)

Track your reading, connect with friends, and join a vibrant community of book lovers. Organize your library, discover new titles, and participate in reading challenges. Customize your unique worm avatar and share your literary journey.

**Highlights:** Track and categorize books, Create custom bookshelves, See friends' reading activity, Rate, review, and discuss books, Create and join book clubs, Participate in reading challenges, Customize worm avatar

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💕 Cute and fun design
- 🤗 Welcoming and supportive community
- 🌈 Vibrant and colorful interface
- 🌟 Inspiring and motivating
- 📚 Great for discovering new books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 💰 Paywall for certain features
- 🙈 Lack of privacy/customization options
- 📚 Missing books and inaccurate library

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to permanently delete user profiles
- Signup process issues with 'Accept' button not working
- Inconsistent display of book covers and information
- Frequent crashes and app freezes
- Syncing issues with imported book data

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track reading progress
- Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
- Introduce more customization options for user profiles
- Expand search capabilities to include more book details
- Integrate with other popular book platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Literal free?

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

### Is Bookworm Reads free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Literal or Bookworm Reads?

Literal is rated higher. Literal averages 4.8 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Bookworm Reads averages 4.8 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Literal or Bookworm Reads have ads?

Neither Literal nor Bookworm Reads shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Literal or Bookworm Reads?

Literal ships an update every 20 months, and Bookworm Reads every 3 weeks. Most recently, Literal was updated on October 26, 2026 and Bookworm Reads on October 25, 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.*