# Literal vs Hardcover.app

The clearest difference is rating: Literal at 4.8 against Hardcover.app's 4.2. Literal also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 52%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Hardcover.app's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 20 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Literal holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 66 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Literal's written reviews are positive against 52% of Hardcover.app's.

Literal ships an update every 20 months, Hardcover.app every 6 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Literal | Hardcover.app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/literal-an-addictive-reader/id1484519222/reviews)** | [4.2 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **66** |
| Positive reviews | **94.1% of reviews** | 52.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Literal LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484519221) | [Hardcover LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663379895) |

## 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


### Hardcover.app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893)

This app helps you organize and discover books. Track what you've read, create custom lists, and see what friends are reading. Set reading goals and share your thoughts on books.

**Highlights:** Track read and to-read books, Organize with lists and tags, See friends' reading activity, Discover trending books, Rate and review books, Set reading goals, Track reading statistics

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Literal free?

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

### Is Hardcover.app free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Literal or Hardcover.app?

Literal is rated higher. Literal averages 4.8 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Hardcover.app averages 4.2 from 66 ratings.

### Do Literal or Hardcover.app have ads?

Neither Literal nor Hardcover.app shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Literal or Hardcover.app?

Literal ships an update every 20 months, and Hardcover.app every 6 months. Most recently, Literal was updated on November 3, 2026 and Hardcover.app on November 3, 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.*