# ReadNet vs HotNovel

The clearest difference is rating: HotNovel at 4.8 against ReadNet's 3.0. HotNovel also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (219 vs 1). ReadNet's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 92%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ReadNet sells 8 one-off in-app purchases 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 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HotNovel has 219 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of ReadNet's written reviews are positive against 92% of HotNovel's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ReadNet ships an update every 7 months, HotNovel every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadNet | HotNovel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readnet/id1623289512/reviews) | **[4.8 (219 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotnovel/id6450293281/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **219** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 92.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 80 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [HK Qingmo Technology limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1530149553) | [HONG KONG BESTREAD TECHNOLOGY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1692724450) |

## What reviewers say

### ReadNet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readnet/id1623289512)

This app allows users to discover and read novels with personalized recommendations and smart search. It offers offline reading, user reviews, and customizable reader settings. Users can also earn benefits through check-ins and tasks.

**Highlights:** Personalized novel recommendations, Smart search functionality, Offline reading support, User reviews and comments, Customizable reader settings, Benefit system for users

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 420 coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 840 coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1260 coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 2100 coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 4200 coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 8400 coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| 12600 coins | $29.99 | one-time |
| 21000 coins | $49.99 | 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 ReadNet free?

ReadNet 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, ReadNet or HotNovel?

HotNovel is rated higher. ReadNet averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while HotNovel averages 4.8 from 219 ratings.

### Do ReadNet or HotNovel have ads?

HotNovel shows ads; ReadNet does not.

### Which is updated more often, ReadNet or HotNovel?

ReadNet ships an update every 7 months, and HotNovel every 9 days. Most recently, ReadNet was updated on September 22, 2026 and HotNovel on August 11, 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.*