# iBOOKLIGHT vs Freading

The clearest difference is rating: Freading at 4.6 against iBOOKLIGHT's 3.5. Freading also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (2.9K vs 41). iBOOKLIGHT's advantage is review sentiment (46% vs 17%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iBOOKLIGHT sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Freading asks for nothing beyond the download.

Freading holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freading has 2.9K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of iBOOKLIGHT's written reviews are positive against 17% of Freading's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

iBOOKLIGHT ships an update every 12 months, Freading every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iBOOKLIGHT | Freading |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibooklight/id301861333/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freading/id485015785/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **46.0% of reviews** | 16.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 9 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [jami becker](https://appshunter.io/developer/300634303) | [Library Ideas, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/485015788) |

## What reviewers say

### iBOOKLIGHT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibooklight/id301861333)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a convenient book light for nighttime reading. This app offers a simple, clean interface to illuminate your pages without disturbing others. Position it upright or on a pillow for a fuss-free reading experience.

**Highlights:** Turns device into a book light, Simple and clean interface, Adjustable positioning, Stays on indefinitely, No fussy controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Logo on Light Screen | $0.99 | one-time |
| Change light screen color hue | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Simple and straightforward design
- 📖 Perfect for bedtime reading without disturbing others
- 🔆 Adjustable brightness for comfortable reading
- ⏱️ Stays on indefinitely when configured properly
- 🆓 Free app with no mandatory payments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Screen turns off after 30 seconds to a few minutes without proper settings
- 📱 Just adjusts phone brightness - limited functionality
- 💰 In-app purchases for hue changes that don't work properly
- 📢 Intrusive ads that pop up frequently
- 🔊 Ads with sound can wake sleeping partners

**Reported bugs**

- Screen goes dark after 30 seconds despite claims of indefinite operation
- In-app hue purchase feature non-functional
- Page number saves don't persist after closing app
- Settings button does nothing or is non-functional
- Brightness changes affect phone's system brightness permanently

**Requested features**

- Built-in brightness adjustment within app without phone settings
- Auto-lock settings integrated into app
- Multiple color/hue options that actually work
- Clear in-app instructions for first-time users
- Dark mode or warmer light options for eye comfort


### Freading

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freading/id485015785)

This app allows users to read EPUB and PDF books downloaded from participating libraries. It supports Adobe DRM and offers a comfortable reading experience with features like page turning and adjustable text size.

**Highlights:** Read EPUB and PDF books, Adobe DRM support, Tap or swipe page turning, Remembers last page read, Selectable text size

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 📚 Wide selection of books
- 🕰 No late fees

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 📱 Difficult to navigate and use
- 🔍 Poor search and discovery
- 📚 Limited book selection
- 🔒 Login and authentication issues

**Reported bugs**

- Books fail to download or open
- App crashes when trying to access downloaded books
- Login process is unreliable and inconsistent

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and reliability
- Enhance user interface and navigation
- Expand book selection and search capabilities
- Streamline login and authentication process


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iBOOKLIGHT free?

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

### Is Freading free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iBOOKLIGHT or Freading?

Freading is rated higher. iBOOKLIGHT averages 3.5 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Freading averages 4.6 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do iBOOKLIGHT or Freading have ads?

Neither iBOOKLIGHT nor Freading shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iBOOKLIGHT or Freading?

iBOOKLIGHT ships an update every 12 months, and Freading every 9 months. Most recently, iBOOKLIGHT was updated on October 31, 2026 and Freading on November 6, 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.*