# Crying Suns vs Avid Reader

The clearest difference is price: Avid Reader at Free against Crying Suns's $8.99. Avid Reader also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Crying Suns's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On device support there is nothing between them.

Avid Reader is free to download; Crying Suns costs $8.99 up front. Avid Reader sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Crying Suns asks for nothing beyond the download.

Crying Suns ships an update monthly, Avid Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crying Suns | Avid Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crying-suns/id1511788295/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#62** | — |
| Size | 1014 MB | 114 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alternative Shift](https://appshunter.io/developer/394617049) | [5 Ladders Entertainment LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788369483) |

## What reviewers say

### Crying Suns

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crying-suns/id1511788295)

**Currently charting:** #62 Top Paid · Role Playing, #129 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

Command a space fleet in a tactical rogue-lite inspired by classic sci-fi. Explore a procedurally generated universe, engage in strategic ship battles, and uncover a deep storyline across six chapters. Experience a rich narrative and atmospheric gameplay designed for mobile.

**Highlights:** Procedurally-generated space exploration, Tactical battleship and squadron fleet combat, Over 300 story events, Deep, 6-chapter storyline, Mobile-optimized interface

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun gameplay
- 🌟 Amazing atmosphere and story
- 👍 Engaging combat system
- 💎 Great value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Small text and UI elements
- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay and missions

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when using certain ship abilities
- Crashes during end-of-chapter cutscenes
- Progression-blocking bugs preventing access to new content
- Inability to progress past specific story points due to crashes

**Requested features**

- Zoom functionality for combat screen
- Ability to play own music during gameplay
- Endless mode or sandbox option
- Improved tutorial to explain key mechanics


### Avid Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avid-reader/id6749188597)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10 Gold Stars | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ad Free / Unlimited Stars | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Crying Suns free?

Crying Suns costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Avid Reader free?

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

### Do Crying Suns or Avid Reader have ads?

Avid Reader shows ads; Crying Suns does not.

### Which is updated more often, Crying Suns or Avid Reader?

Crying Suns ships an update monthly, and Avid Reader weekly. Most recently, Crying Suns was updated on September 28, 2026 and Avid Reader on September 15, 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.*