# Hot Novel vs ArcReader

The clearest difference is ads: Hot Novel at none against ArcReader's shown. Hot Novel also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). ArcReader's advantage is ratings volume (67 vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hot Novel sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and ArcReader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hot Novel against 4.9 for ArcReader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcReader has 67 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Hot Novel ships an update every 3 weeks, ArcReader weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hot Novel | ArcReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-novel/id1605908934/reviews)** | [4.9 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcreader-web-novel-offline/id6762717697/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **67** |
| Positive reviews | — | 95.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [圣 严](https://appshunter.io/developer/1604724934) | [Thien Le](https://appshunter.io/developer/1617088747) |

## What reviewers say

### Hot Novel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-novel/id1605908934)

Access a vast library of books with real-time updates on various genres. Discover new stories and enjoy a continuously expanding collection of reading material.

**Highlights:** Extensive book library, Real-time updates, Multiple book types, Free access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 200 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Week | $5.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1500 Coins | $14.99 | one-time |
| Month | $19.99 | one-time |
| Three Month | $49.99 | one-time |
| 6000 Coins | $54.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Coins | $99.99 | one-time |


### ArcReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcreader-web-novel-offline/id6762717697)

Download and read web novels offline with customizable themes, fonts, and scroll modes. Convert novels to audiobooks with on-device narration and build vocabulary with an integrated dictionary. Sync progress across devices and import EPUB files.

**Highlights:** Download and read web novels offline, Customizable reader themes and fonts, On-device text-to-speech narration, EPUB file import, Integrated dictionary with flashcards, Cross-device reading progress sync

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ArcReader VIP — Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| ArcReader VIP — Annual | $44.99 | per year |
| ArcReader VIP - Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hot Novel free?

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

### Is ArcReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hot Novel or ArcReader?

Hot Novel is rated higher. Hot Novel averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while ArcReader averages 4.9 from 67 ratings.

### Do Hot Novel or ArcReader have ads?

ArcReader shows ads; Hot Novel does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hot Novel or ArcReader?

Hot Novel ships an update every 3 weeks, and ArcReader weekly. Most recently, Hot Novel was updated on October 20, 2026 and ArcReader on October 25, 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.*