# Shows vs ReadInstead

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shows at none against ReadInstead's 10. ReadInstead's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ReadInstead sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.19 per month. Shows asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shows ships an update every 6 weeks, ReadInstead every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shows | ReadInstead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/showsmovietv-show-tracker/id1624910011/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **22** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [APPS BAY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599035519) | [Pavlo Kovalchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886402664) |

## What reviewers say

### Shows

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/showsmovietv-show-tracker/id1624910011)

Discover detailed information about movies, TV shows, celebrities, and games. Organize your viewing with a personalized favorites list and stay updated on upcoming releases and top-rated content.

**Highlights:** Search millions of entertainment programs, View ratings, trivia, and cast details, Discover upcoming releases, Browse top-rated content, Create a personal watchlist

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### ReadInstead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readinstead/id6760823296)

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly Sale 20 | $7.19 | per month |
| Pro Monthly Sale 15 | $7.59 | per month |
| Max Monthly Sale 20 | $11.99 | per month |
| Max Monthly Sale 15 | $12.49 | per month |
| ReadInstead Max | $14.99 | per month |
| Pro Annual Sale 20 | $71.99 | per year |
| Pro Annual Sale 15 | $76.00 | per year |
| Max Annual Sale 20 | $119.99 | per year |
| Max Annual Sale 15 | $126.99 | per year |
| ReadInstead Max (Annual) | $149.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shows free?

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

### Is ReadInstead free?

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

### Do Shows or ReadInstead have ads?

Shows shows ads; ReadInstead does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shows or ReadInstead?

Shows ships an update every 6 weeks, and ReadInstead every 8 days. Most recently, Shows was updated on October 15, 2026 and ReadInstead on October 14, 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.*