# Shakespeare vs Shakespeare SwipeSpeare

The clearest difference is rating: Shakespeare at 4.8 against Shakespeare SwipeSpeare's 2.7. Shakespeare also leads on ratings volume (3.5K vs 23) and review sentiment (74% vs 58%). Shakespeare SwipeSpeare's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shakespeare sells 27 one-off in-app purchases and Shakespeare SwipeSpeare sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shakespeare holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shakespeare has 3.5K ratings behind it against 23, 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 58% of Shakespeare SwipeSpeare's.

Shakespeare ships an update every 3 weeks, Shakespeare SwipeSpeare every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shakespeare | Shakespeare SwipeSpeare |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare/id285035416/reviews)** | [2.7 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-swipespeare/id582673708/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | **73.7% of reviews** | 57.6% 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 | 171 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PlayShakespeare.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/809094812) | [BookCaps](https://appshunter.io/developer/461992824) |

## 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 (27)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Modern Translation (AYLI) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Sonnets) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (AWEW) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation(Coriolanus) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (CoE) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (WT) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Othello) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Much Ado) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (LLL) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Hamlet) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Macbeth) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (R&J) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (King Lear) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Glossary by Alexander Dyce | $3.99 | one-time |
| Glossary by C. T. Onions | $3.99 | one-time |
| Schmidt's Lexicon | $3.99 | one-time |
| Glossary by C. T. Onions | $4.99 | one-time |
| All Apocrypha | $7.99 | one-time |
| Course: Intro to Shakespeare | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Apocrypha | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Lexicons | $9.99 | one-time |
| Course Shakespeare for Kids | $9.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Shakespeare Pro | $12.99 | one-time |
| All Lexicons | $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


### Shakespeare SwipeSpeare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-swipespeare/id582673708)

Easily understand Shakespeare's works with this app that translates classic texts into modern English. Swipe to toggle between original and translated versions, access a built-in dictionary, biography, and study guides. Order print or ePub versions of plays.

**Highlights:** Modern English translations, Interactive swipe to toggle text, Searchable Shakespeare Dictionary, Shakespeare biography, Print and ePub ordering, Cross-device sync, Study guides and lesson plans

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Midsummer Nights Dream | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hamlet | $1.99 | one-time |
| Macbeth | $1.99 | one-time |
| Romeo and Juliet | $1.99 | one-time |
| Julius Caesar | $1.99 | one-time |
| The Tempest | $1.99 | one-time |
| Twelfth Night | $1.99 | one-time |
| Othello | $1.99 | one-time |
| Much Ado About Nothing | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Plays | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Great resource for understanding Shakespeare
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 📚 Modern translation alongside original text
- 🚀 Swipe feature for quick translation
- 🎯 Helpful for students and teachers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 App takes money without unlocking content
- 🚫 Customer service unresponsive
- ❓ Confirmation codes not sent
- 💰 Lost money on purchases
- 📉 Purchases not restoring on new devices

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening app
- Crashes when trying to open a book
- Takes money but doesn't unlock plays
- Confirmation code not sent
- Purchases not restoring

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit notes
- Side-by-side view of original and modern text
- Line numbers included
- Character lists available
- Bookmark functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shakespeare free?

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

### Is Shakespeare SwipeSpeare free?

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

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

Shakespeare is rated higher. Shakespeare averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while Shakespeare SwipeSpeare averages 2.7 from 23 ratings.

### Do Shakespeare or Shakespeare SwipeSpeare have ads?

Neither Shakespeare nor Shakespeare SwipeSpeare shows ads.

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

Shakespeare ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shakespeare SwipeSpeare every 6 weeks. Most recently, Shakespeare was updated on October 23, 2026 and Shakespeare SwipeSpeare on October 23, 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.*