# Bionic Reading® vs illumiBook

The clearest difference is review sentiment: illumiBook at 100% against Bionic Reading®'s 26%. illumiBook also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bionic Reading® sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.95 per month. illumiBook asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bionic Reading® | illumiBook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.4 (151 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bionic-reading/id1644658030/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **151** | — |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 52 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bionic Reading AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1659624105) | [AppSherpas Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/343714976) |

## What reviewers say

### Bionic Reading®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bionic-reading/id1644658030)

This app enhances reading speed and comprehension by highlighting the most concise parts of words. It offers customizable reading modes to aid users with reading difficulties and improve focus for all.

**Highlights:** Text revision for faster reading, Customizable reading modes, Save reading position across platforms, Bookmarks for favorite pages, Upload files, text, or websites for conversion, Export to EPUB, PDF, WORD, Light and Dark Mode

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bionic Reading® Premium | $2.95 | per month |
| Bionic Reading® Premium Plus | $12.99 | per month |
| Bionic Reading® Premium | $30.49 | per year |
| Bionic Reading® Premium Plus | $128.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faster reading
- 🔍 Helpful for ADHD and dyslexia
- 👍 Life-changing for some users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🚫 Limited functionality (no PDF support)
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes
- Subscription issues (unable to upgrade, cancel, or get refunds)
- Conversion errors and failed file uploads

**Requested features**

- Integrate with more platforms (Kindle, web browser)
- Offer one-time purchase option instead of subscription
- Improve customer support and communication


### illumiBook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illumibook/id6446170255)

This app enhances the reading experience by blending physical books with digital media, aiding literacy development and comprehension. It offers synchronized reading features and supports museum and gallery tours, making digital devices complementary to real-world exploration.

**Highlights:** Synchronized audio-assisted reading, Enhanced comprehension with physical books, Digital media integration with printed pages, Literacy support for young children, Museum, gallery, and street tours, Focus on real-world engagement

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bionic Reading® free?

Bionic Reading® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is illumiBook free?

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

### Do Bionic Reading® or illumiBook have ads?

Neither Bionic Reading® nor illumiBook shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bionic Reading® or illumiBook?

Bionic Reading® ships an update every 3 weeks, and illumiBook every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bionic Reading® was updated on October 12, 2026 and illumiBook on October 2, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*