# Shelf vs Bokus Reader

The clearest difference is ads: Bokus Reader at none against Shelf's shown. Bokus Reader also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, 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.

Shelf ships an update every 6 weeks, Bokus Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and August 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shelf | Bokus Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf/id1620828408/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 35 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Beat Technology AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/433400941) | [Bokus AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/645797312) |

## What reviewers say

### Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf/id1620828408)

Access your personal library of purchased audiobooks and e-books. Read or listen anywhere, anytime, with or without an internet connection. Enjoy your collection without subscriptions or time limits.

**Highlights:** Access purchased audiobooks and e-books, Read or listen offline, No subscriptions or time limits, Bookmark and comment, Customize reading experience, Adjust playback speed, Sleep timer for audiobooks

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bokus Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bokus-reader/id6446397156)

Access and enjoy your digital e-books and audiobooks on the go. Customize your reading experience with adjustable fonts, themes, and playback speeds. Sync your progress across devices seamlessly.

**Highlights:** E-book reader, Audiobook player, Offline access, Cross-device syncing, Customizable text and playback, Sleep timer

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shelf free?

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

### Is Bokus Reader free?

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

### Do Shelf or Bokus Reader have ads?

Shelf shows ads; Bokus Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shelf or Bokus Reader?

Shelf ships an update every 6 weeks, and Bokus Reader every 3 weeks. Most recently, Shelf was updated on September 9, 2026 and Bokus Reader on August 5, 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.*