# Hardcover.app vs Storyteller Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Storyteller Reader at 100% against Hardcover.app's 52%. Storyteller Reader also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hardcover.app sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Storyteller Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Storyteller Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 41 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Hardcover.app's written reviews are positive against 100% of Storyteller Reader's.

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, Storyteller Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardcover.app | Storyteller Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893/reviews) | **[5.0 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyteller-reader/id6474467720/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **60** | 41 |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hardcover LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663379895) | [Shane Friedman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721687723) |

## What reviewers say

### Hardcover.app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893)

This app helps you organize and discover books. Track what you've read, create custom lists, and see what friends are reading. Set reading goals and share your thoughts on books.

**Highlights:** Track read and to-read books, Organize with lists and tags, See friends' reading activity, Discover trending books, Rate and review books, Set reading goals, Track reading statistics

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Supporter - Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


### Storyteller Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyteller-reader/id6474467720)

This app allows you to read EPUB ebooks with guided narration on your device. It supports immersive reading features and can sync with a self-hosted backend for automatic audiobook and ebook alignment.

**Highlights:** Read EPUB books, Guided narration support, Immersive reading, Self-hosted backend pairing, Automatic audiobook/ebook alignment

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hardcover.app free?

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

### Is Storyteller Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hardcover.app or Storyteller Reader?

Storyteller Reader is rated higher. Hardcover.app averages 4.2 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Storyteller Reader averages 5.0 from 41 ratings.

### Do Hardcover.app or Storyteller Reader have ads?

Neither Hardcover.app nor Storyteller Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hardcover.app or Storyteller Reader?

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, and Storyteller Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Hardcover.app was updated on September 28, 2026 and Storyteller Reader on September 29, 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.*