Comparison

Mantra Reader vs iMala

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Mantra Reader

This app helps you practice mantra recitation for mental clarity and spiritual growth. It allows you to use preset or custom mantras, track your progress, and sync data across devices. Enjoy a user-friendly interface with widgets for easy access.

Highlights
  • Preset and custom mantra support
  • Track reading statistics
  • Favorites list for mantras
  • User-friendly interface
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • iCloud data sync
Features
Read full description

The repetition of mantras has a beneficial effect on a person in many areas of his life. This process is able to remove suffering on the mental and physical levels and to clarify consciousness. Recite mantras and keep track of your level. In this app: - Use preset mantras or create and set up your own. - Add most actual mantras to Favorites. - Track your readings statistics over time. - Enjoy the user-friendly interface and beautiful design on your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac (with M-chip). - Use all kinds of widgets with the necessary data on Home Screen and Lock Screen. - Take advantage of data sync across all your devices via iCloud (works automatically for signed-in users). All data is saved in iCloud and won’t be lost even if the application is deleted. Important information: Recitation of mantras - is a sacrament. Approach this issue with all your awareness. In order for the practice of reciting to be correct, one must receive the transmission of the mantra from the teacher. Transmission is essential to maintain the strength of the original source of the mantra. It is not enough just to read it in a book or on the Internet. For this reason, application doesn't include the mantra texts themselves (except Vajrasattva). They must be given to you by your spiritual mentor and can be added manually later. We wish you deep awarenesses and spiritual growth!

About

iMala

This app assists in counting mantras for Buddhist practices like Ngondro. It allows users to create and edit practices, track progress with statistics, and predict completion times. Data is safely synchronized across devices.

Highlights
  • Create and edit practices
  • Add mantra texts and settings
  • Track progress with statistics
  • Predict practice completion time
  • Cloud data synchronization
Features
Read full description

iMala is an app designed to help you count mantras in Buddhist practices, especially in Ngondro. The app offers the following features: - Create and edit practices: easily create and edit your practices, add mantra texts and settings. - Convenient statistics: track your progress with clear and detailed statistics. - Practice completion prediction: get forecasts on the completion time of your practice based on your current pace. - Cloud data synchronization: keep your data safe and accessible from any device. KARMAPA CHENNO

Screenshots

Mantra Reader4 screens
iMala3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: iMala at 5.0 against Mantra Reader's 3.8. iMala also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Mantra Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iMala sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mantra Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iMala holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mantra Reader ships an update monthly, iMala weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Mantra Reader versus iMala: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMantra ReaderiMala
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (4 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings44
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleksandr VorobevAlexander Senin

Customer experience

Mantra Reader

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

iMala

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Mantra Reader

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

iMala

One-time1
  • Donate this app$1.99

Questions

Is Mantra Reader free?
Mantra Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is iMala free?
iMala is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mantra Reader or iMala?
iMala is rated higher. Mantra Reader averages 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while iMala averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Mantra Reader or iMala have ads?
Neither Mantra Reader nor iMala shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mantra Reader or iMala?
Mantra Reader ships an update monthly, and iMala weekly. Most recently, Mantra Reader was updated on June 4, 2026 and iMala on June 1, 2026.

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