# Literal vs Softgoods

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Literal at none against Softgoods's 2. Literal also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (94% vs 74%). Softgoods's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 20 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Softgoods sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Literal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Literal holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 74 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Literal's written reviews are positive against 74% of Softgoods's.

Literal ships an update every 20 months, Softgoods fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Literal | Softgoods |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/literal-an-addictive-reader/id1484519222/reviews)** | [4.4 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softgoods/id6450132477/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **74** |
| Positive reviews | **94.1% of reviews** | 74.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Literal LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484519221) | [Jordan Wagner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571989636) |

## 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


### Softgoods

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softgoods/id6450132477)

Organize and journal your favorite fan fiction. Create custom shelves, add notes to stories, and track your reading habits. Share your discoveries and thoughts with friends.

**Highlights:** Store and bookmark fan fiction, Create custom shelves, Add notes to stories, Track reading statistics, Share shelves and notes publicly, Tag stories for easy searching

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Literal free?

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

### Is Softgoods free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Literal or Softgoods?

Literal is rated higher. Literal averages 4.8 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Softgoods averages 4.4 from 74 ratings.

### Do Literal or Softgoods have ads?

Neither Literal nor Softgoods shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Literal or Softgoods?

Literal ships an update every 20 months, and Softgoods fortnightly. Most recently, Literal was updated on October 26, 2026 and Softgoods on October 30, 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.*