# NetGalley Shelf vs OBC Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: OBC Reader at 78% against NetGalley Shelf's 20%. OBC Reader also leads on rating (2.8 vs 2.1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). NetGalley Shelf's advantage is chart position (#179 vs unranked) and ratings volume (82 vs 10). 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.

OBC Reader holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetGalley Shelf has 82 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of NetGalley Shelf's written reviews are positive against 78% of OBC Reader's.

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, OBC Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and June 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetGalley Shelf | OBC Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (82 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600/reviews) | **[2.8 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/obc-reader/id1592390086/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **82** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#179** | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [NetGalley, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499581599) | [OnlineBookClub.org LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1592390088) |

## What reviewers say

### NetGalley Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600)

**Currently charting:** #179 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access and review digital books and audiobooks provided by publishers and authors. Discover new titles, download them for offline reading, or stream audiobooks directly within the app. This platform is designed for book advocates and industry professionals to provide valuable feedback.

**Highlights:** Access digital review copies, Listen to audiobooks, Download books for offline reading, Stream audiobooks, Discover new titles, Request and review books

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works fine for some users
- 👍 Keeps user logged in
- 👍 Audiobooks work well
- 🚀 Able to read ebooks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Narration speed issues
- 🐛 Confusing interface
- 🔒 Login issues
- 🐛 Bookmarks and positions don't sync
- 🐛 No built-in dictionary

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Downloading issues with audiobooks
- Books disappearing from shelf
- Inability to remove expired books
- Inconsistent behavior when opening books

**Requested features**

- Add ability to write reviews within the app
- Improve audiobook playback controls
- Add font size adjustment
- Implement dark mode
- Sync reading progress across devices


### OBC Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/obc-reader/id1592390086)

Access a library of ePub2 books, download free titles from a community collection, and enjoy private books for members. Features include copy-paste, bookmarking, and text search for an enhanced reading experience.

**Highlights:** Read ePub2 books, Download free books, Community library access, Private member books, Copy-paste text, Bookmarks, Text search

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetGalley Shelf free?

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

### Is OBC Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NetGalley Shelf or OBC Reader?

OBC Reader is rated higher. NetGalley Shelf averages 2.1 out of 5 from 82 ratings, while OBC Reader averages 2.8 from 10 ratings.

### Do NetGalley Shelf or OBC Reader have ads?

Neither NetGalley Shelf nor OBC Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NetGalley Shelf or OBC Reader?

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, and OBC Reader every 2 months. Most recently, NetGalley Shelf was updated on September 22, 2026 and OBC Reader on June 2, 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.*