# GW Reader vs HotNovel

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HotNovel at 92% against GW Reader's 0%. HotNovel also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (219 vs 8). GW Reader's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GW Reader sells 7 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 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HotNovel has 219 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of GW Reader's written reviews are positive against 92% of HotNovel's.

GW Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, HotNovel every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and August 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GW Reader | HotNovel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gw-reader/id1635936451/reviews) | **[4.8 (219 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotnovel/id6450293281/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **219** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **92.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 66 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [GW READER SDN. BHD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1635936453) | [HONG KONG BESTREAD TECHNOLOGY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1692724450) |

## What reviewers say

### GW Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gw-reader/id1635936451)

Discover a vast library of web novels, including bestsellers and exclusive originals across various genres. Customize your reading experience with adjustable settings and earn rewards through daily tasks and community engagement. Writers can also join to share their work with a global audience.

**Highlights:** Vast web novel library, Customizable reading experience, Daily task rewards, Community engagement, Personalized recommendations, Writer platform

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 200 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Special offer | $1.99 | one-time |
| 400 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 800 | $7.99 | one-time |
| 1400 | $13.99 | one-time |
| 2000 | $19.99 | 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 GW Reader free?

GW Reader 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, GW Reader or HotNovel?

HotNovel is rated higher. GW Reader averages 3.8 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while HotNovel averages 4.8 from 219 ratings.

### Do GW Reader or HotNovel have ads?

HotNovel shows ads; GW Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, GW Reader or HotNovel?

GW Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, and HotNovel every 9 days. Most recently, GW Reader was updated on August 29, 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.*