# ChaReader vs Black Box

The clearest difference is update cadence: Black Box at every 3 days against ChaReader's every 2 months. Black Box also leads on ratings volume (41 vs 8). ChaReader's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 67%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Black Box holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Black Box has 41 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of ChaReader's written reviews are positive against 67% of Black Box's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ChaReader ships an update every 2 months, Black Box every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ChaReader | Black Box |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chareader/id1531941930/reviews) | **[4.7 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-box-lock-restrict-apps/id6547836962/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **41** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 3 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kuixi Song](https://appshunter.io/developer/1052013882) | [俊涛 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702439770) |

## What reviewers say

### ChaReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chareader/id1531941930)

Convert text from various sources into spoken word. Save articles as audio or PDF, and extract key information. Personalize your reading experience with adjustable voice settings and display options.

**Highlights:** Import articles from web, documents, images (OCR), Read articles aloud with adjustable voice settings, Export audio to MP3, Export articles to PDF, Extract key information (email, links, phone), Save favorite sentences to Collections

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Black Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-box-lock-restrict-apps/id6547836962)

Secure your phone by locking and restricting access to sensitive applications. Protect your private data with advanced password protection and prevent unauthorized app usage or in-app purchases. Enjoy comprehensive digital privacy with an easy-to-use interface.

**Highlights:** App locking with password protection, App disappearance for hidden access, App usage restrictions, Secure privacy with advanced passwords, Payment locking for in-app purchases, Intuitive interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ChaReader free?

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

### Is Black Box free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ChaReader or Black Box?

Black Box is rated higher. ChaReader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Black Box averages 4.7 from 41 ratings.

### Do ChaReader or Black Box have ads?

Neither ChaReader nor Black Box shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ChaReader or Black Box?

ChaReader ships an update every 2 months, and Black Box every 3 days. Most recently, ChaReader was updated on October 24, 2026 and Black Box on October 24, 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.*