# Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts vs Cengage Read

The clearest difference is rating: Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts at 4.8 against Cengage Read's 4.2. Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (62K vs 4K). Cengage Read's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts has 62K ratings behind it against 4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts's written reviews are positive against 20% of Cengage Read's.

Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts ships an update every 2 weeks, Cengage Read every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts | Cengage Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearson-plus-study-prep-and-etexts/id1571362338/reviews)** | [4.2 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cengage-read/id6444260893/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **62K** | 4K |
| Positive reviews | **30.4% of reviews** | 19.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#125** | — |
| Size | 552 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pearson Education, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/329060244) | [Cengage Learning](https://appshunter.io/developer/371168145) |

## What reviewers say

### Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearson-plus-study-prep-and-etexts/id1571362338)

**Currently charting:** #125 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Access your Pearson eTextbooks and supplementary learning materials in one app. Watch short video explanations of complex topics and utilize study tools like notes, highlights, and flashcards. The app also offers an audiobook feature for most eTextbooks and powerful search functionality.

**Highlights:** eTextbook access, Video explanations, Notes and highlights, Audiobook feature, Searchable content, Flashcard creation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient access to textbooks
- 🎧 Useful audio feature
- 📚 Helpful study tools (flashcards, quizzes)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy highlighting and page navigation
- 📱 Poor usability on mobile devices
- 🔍 Lack of search and page number features
- 💰 Expensive for limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Textbooks failing to load or display properly
- Audio playback issues and lack of syncing
- Inconsistent behavior when switching apps or rotating devices

**Requested features**

- Improved highlighting and annotation tools
- Better syncing between devices and web version
- Page number support
- Split-screen and landscape mode on tablets


### Cengage Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cengage-read/id6444260893)

Access and study your digital textbooks from anywhere. This app allows students to read, take notes, highlight, bookmark, and use text-to-speech for a flexible learning experience on the go.

**Highlights:** Read eTextbooks on the go, Take notes and highlight, Bookmark important sections, Text-to-speech functionality, Search keywords, Navigate via table of contents

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to read textbooks
- 🚀 Convenient for on-the-go learning
- 👍 Useful for listening to audio while commuting
- 👍 Allows highlighting and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
- 🔥 Poor text formatting and layout
- 👎 Difficult to navigate and use
- 🔒 Login and account issues
- 🔍 Missing key features like split-screen and assignment tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and sign-outs
- Inconsistent highlighting and note-taking functionality
- Inability to view full pages and content
- Text-to-speech feature not working properly

**Requested features**

- Improve text formatting and layout
- Add split-screen support for note-taking
- Enhance accessibility features like text-to-speech
- Integrate assignment and due date tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts free?

Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cengage Read free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts or Cengage Read?

Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts is rated higher. Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts averages 4.8 out of 5 from 62K ratings, while Cengage Read averages 4.2 from 4K ratings.

### Do Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts or Cengage Read have ads?

Neither Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts nor Cengage Read shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts or Cengage Read?

Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts ships an update every 2 weeks, and Cengage Read every 2 months. Most recently, Pearson+ | Study Prep & eTexts was updated on September 25, 2026 and Cengage Read on September 23, 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.*