# Open Library Reader vs BookPad

Open Library Reader and BookPad both sit at 3.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of BookPad's written reviews are positive against 26% of Open Library Reader's. BookPad also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Open Library Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BookPad sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Open Library Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.1 for Open Library Reader against 3.0 for BookPad. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Open Library Reader has 51 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of Open Library Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of BookPad's.

Open Library Reader ships an update every 2 months, BookPad every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Open Library Reader | BookPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.1 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-library-reader/id1573989409/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookpad-daily-book-reading/id6756967718/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **51** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 26.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Loomis House, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573989411) | [Ammad Akhtar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838118146) |

## What reviewers say

### Open Library Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-library-reader/id1573989409)

Access and read millions of books from an online library. Organize your reading lists, track borrowed books, and discover related titles within a familiar reading interface. Requires an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Browse and check out millions of books, Track reading progress and wishlists, Built-in search and related title discovery, Shelf management and edition changes, Checkout tracking for borrowed books, Customizable reading interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### BookPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookpad-daily-book-reading/id6756967718)

Discover your next favorite book with this free reading app. It offers unlimited access to thousands of books across all genres and includes a daily streak tracker to help build consistent reading habits. Enjoy a beautiful, distraction-free reading experience with smart search and personalized recommendations.

**Highlights:** Unlimited free books, Daily reading streak tracker, Smart search and discovery, Distraction-free interface, Daily reading reminders, Personalized recommendations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $12.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Open Library Reader free?

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

### Is BookPad free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Open Library Reader or BookPad?

Open Library Reader is rated higher. Open Library Reader averages 3.1 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while BookPad averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Open Library Reader or BookPad have ads?

BookPad shows ads; Open Library Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, Open Library Reader or BookPad?

Open Library Reader ships an update every 2 months, and BookPad every 3 weeks. Most recently, Open Library Reader was updated on October 25, 2026 and BookPad 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.*