# Shakespeare vs eNotes

The clearest difference is rating: Shakespeare at 4.8 against eNotes's 4.0. Shakespeare also leads on ratings volume (3.5K vs 292) and review sentiment (74% vs 61%). eNotes's advantage is iOS requirement (12.2 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shakespeare sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and eNotes sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shakespeare holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shakespeare has 3.5K ratings behind it against 292, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Shakespeare's written reviews are positive against 61% of eNotes's.

Shakespeare ships an update every 3 weeks, eNotes every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shakespeare | eNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare/id285035416/reviews)** | [4.0 (292 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/enotes-literature-notes-app/id538489509/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 292 |
| Positive reviews | **74.2% of reviews** | 61.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 416 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PlayShakespeare.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/809094812) | [eNotes.com, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/538489512) |

## What reviewers say

### Shakespeare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare/id285035416)

Access the complete works of Shakespeare, including plays, sonnets, and poems. Features include a powerful search, integrated glossary, note-taking, and customization options for a rich reading experience.

**Highlights:** Complete works of Shakespeare, Powerful search and concordance, Integrated glossary with definitions, Add and share personal notes, Customizable reading experience, Scene breakdowns and character descriptions, Modern translations and lexicons

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Modern Translation (Hamlet) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Macbeth) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Schmidt's Lexicon | $3.99 | one-time |
| All Apocrypha | $7.99 | one-time |
| Course: Intro to Shakespeare | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Lexicons | $9.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Shakespeare Pro | $12.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (All Works) | $14.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (All Works) | $19.99 | one-time |
| Shakespeare Ultimate | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best app out there
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Terrific app for Shakespeare lovers
- 👍 Remarkable level of detail and care
- 👍 Invaluable for actors and students

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes, buggy, unstable
- 💰 Nickel-and-diming for features
- 💰 Upgrade to pro is misleading
- 💰 Constant nagging to upgrade
- 🤔 Abbreviated character names

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch or opening plays
- Scrolling and UI issues
- Incompatible with latest iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add modern translations
- Include line numbers
- Improve search and navigation
- Add more content like sonnets
- Sync purchases across devices


### eNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/enotes-literature-notes-app/id538489509)

This app provides literature students with study guides, homework help, and quizzes to deepen their understanding of books and prepare for classes. It offers access to over 40,000 study guides and more than 300,000 homework questions with answers across various subjects.

**Highlights:** 40,000+ literature study guides, 300,000+ homework questions & answers, Multiple-choice quizzes, Audio and PDF summaries, Personalized homework help, Daily and weekly new content

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| eNotes Pass | $14.99 | per month |
| eNotes Pass | $14.99 | per month |
| eNotes Pass | $49.99 | per year |
| eNotes Pass | $49.99 | per year |
| 1-week Pass | $6.99 | one-time |
| 1-month Pass | $14.99 | one-time |
| 1-year Pass | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful study guides
- 💡 Comprehensive content
- 🚀 Quick responses from staff
- 🧠 Improves understanding and grades

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Subscription required for full access
- 🐛 Crashes and login issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues and unexpected charges
- Inability to cancel or manage subscription
- Content not accessible after payment

**Requested features**

- Offline access to content
- More free features and trial options
- Improved user interface and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shakespeare free?

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

### Is eNotes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shakespeare or eNotes?

Shakespeare is rated higher. Shakespeare averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while eNotes averages 4.0 from 292 ratings.

### Do Shakespeare or eNotes have ads?

Neither Shakespeare nor eNotes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shakespeare or eNotes?

Shakespeare ships an update every 3 weeks, and eNotes every 6 weeks. Most recently, Shakespeare was updated on November 9, 2026 and eNotes on November 1, 2026.

---

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