# Dolphin Reader vs HotNovel

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HotNovel at 92% against Dolphin Reader's 25%. HotNovel also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (219 vs 16). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dolphin Reader sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and HotNovel sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

HotNovel holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HotNovel has 219 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Dolphin Reader's written reviews are positive against 92% of HotNovel's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dolphin Reader | HotNovel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-reader/id1569280416/reviews) | **[4.8 (219 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotnovel/id6450293281/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **219** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **92.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 55 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Dolphin Technology Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1569145150) | [HONG KONG BESTREAD TECHNOLOGY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1692724450) |

## What reviewers say

### Dolphin Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-reader/id1569280416)

Access a vast library of web novels and fantasy stories across multiple genres. Enjoy popular titles, the latest chapters, and exclusive membership benefits. Read for free or purchase coins for discounted chapter access.

**Highlights:** Extensive book genres: Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Werewolf/Vampire, Collection of popular web novels and new reads, Latest chapters available, Hundreds of books read over 1 million times, Membership privileges: free books, discounted chapters, bonus coins, Purchase gold coins for chapter access

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| Beginner Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 500 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Beginner Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Chapter Unlock Pack 3 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Annual Membership | $39.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Coins | $49.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Coins | $99.99 | one-time |


### HotNovel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotnovel/id6450293281)

Immerse yourself in a world of passion and desire with this romance novel app. Personalize your love stories, connect with a community of readers, and unlock exclusive content. Discover diverse tales celebrating all kinds of love.

**Highlights:** Interactive personalized love stories, Diverse character options, Community of romance lovers, Exclusive content and rewards, Inclusive LGBTQ+ and interracial romances, Weekly writing prompts and contests

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 550 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1500 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2600 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| 4000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| 4500 Coins | $29.99 | one-time |
| 6500 Coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 High-quality, engaging story collection
- 💰 Genuinely free reading with ad-supported model
- ⏰ No aggressive paywall tactics or sneaky coin requests
- ✨ Good spelling and grammar quality
- 🎯 Variety of genres and interesting plots

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Mandatory ads after every chapter
- 💸 High coin prices for paid chapters
- 🐛 App crashes and requires reinstallation
- ⏳ Long wait times between free chapter unlocks
- 📉 Reduced free chapter availability (now 2 per 24 hours)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and forces users to delete/reinstall
- Free chapter claim button not functioning
- Blank pages appearing instead of chapter content
- Ad delivery system failing (no ads to watch for free chapters)
- Chapter jumps and narrative continuity breaks

**Requested features**

- Increase free chapters per day (at least 3)
- Reduce or eliminate ads between chapters
- Lower coin prices for paid content
- Restore previous free chapter frequency
- Fix chapter ordering and continuity


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dolphin Reader free?

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

### Is HotNovel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dolphin Reader or HotNovel?

HotNovel is rated higher. Dolphin Reader averages 3.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while HotNovel averages 4.8 from 219 ratings.

### Do Dolphin Reader or HotNovel have ads?

Both Dolphin Reader and HotNovel show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dolphin Reader or HotNovel?

Dolphin Reader ships an update every 9 days, and HotNovel every 9 days. Most recently, Dolphin Reader was updated on September 23, 2026 and HotNovel on October 10, 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.*