# 微信听书 vs Persimmon Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Persimmon Reader at none against 微信听书's 8. 微信听书's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 微信听书 sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Persimmon Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

微信听书 ships an update every 3 weeks, Persimmon Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 微信听书 | Persimmon Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (950 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1522424583/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **950** | — |
| Positive reviews | 49.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Size | 160 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/292374531) | [Qihang Yang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1798324283) |

## What reviewers say

### 微信听书

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1522424583)

An official audio content platform within WeChat, offering a wide range of licensed content including literature, podcasts, children's stories, and more. Users can enjoy 90 minutes of free listening daily, with options to subscribe for uninterrupted access. Explore diverse genres and curated themes for a comprehensive audio experience. Subscribe and follow for updates on the latest content. Terms for automatic membership renewal and pricing details available.

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 会员连续包月 | $1.99 | per month |
| 会员包月 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 赠送好友会员月卡 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 会员包季 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 赠送好友会员季卡 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 年卡特惠 | $19.99 | one-time |
| 会员包年 | $24.99 | one-time |
| 赠送好友会员年卡 | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and clean interface
- 🚀 Smooth playback experience
- 💡 Diverse selection of translated works

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent audio quality
- 🔒 Restricted access for overseas users
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤖 Subpar AI narration

**Reported bugs**

- Downloading issues
- Frequent crashes
- Login and account problems

**Requested features**

- Ability to search by narrator
- Support for Apple Watch
- Improved offline download functionality
- More free listening time


### Persimmon Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/persimmon-reader/id6800041021)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 微信听书 free?

微信听书 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Persimmon Reader free?

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

### Do 微信听书 or Persimmon Reader have ads?

Neither 微信听书 nor Persimmon Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 微信听书 or Persimmon Reader?

微信听书 ships an update every 3 weeks, and Persimmon Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, 微信听书 was updated on October 13, 2026 and Persimmon Reader on October 1, 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.*