# Shakespeare vs Harvard Classics

The clearest difference is price: Shakespeare at Free against Harvard Classics's $2.99. Shakespeare also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (33% vs 25%). Harvard Classics's advantage is rating (3.4 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Shakespeare is free to download; Harvard Classics costs $2.99 up front. Shakespeare sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Harvard Classics asks for nothing beyond the download.

Harvard Classics holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Harvard Classics has 11 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Shakespeare's written reviews are positive against 25% of Harvard Classics's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Shakespeare ships an update every 2 weeks, Harvard Classics every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shakespeare | Harvard Classics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [2.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-the-tempest/id335586515/reviews) | **[3.4 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-classics/id624152311/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **11** |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 4 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Qualex Consulting Services, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/323694416) | [himalaya-soft](https://appshunter.io/developer/464715011) |

## What reviewers say

### Shakespeare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-the-tempest/id335586515)

Experience Shakespeare's "The Tempest" with an auto-scrolling reader designed for a comfortable reading experience. This classic comedy explores themes of freedom, repentance, and forgiveness through a magical island adventure.

**Highlights:** Auto-scrolling reader, Classic Shakespearean drama, Explores themes of freedom and forgiveness, Detailed plot summary, Character descriptions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Harvard Classics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-classics/id624152311)

Explore the history of religion, philosophy, civilization, and science through curated classic texts. This app offers a vast collection of essential readings, including the Harvard Classics, with options to read, listen, or follow along. Enjoy features like offline access, customizable reading settings, and integrated Wikipedia articles for deeper understanding.

**Highlights:** Curated classic texts, Read, listen, or read-along options, Offline access, Integrated Wikipedia articles, Customizable reading settings, Bookmark and search functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shakespeare free?

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

### Is Harvard Classics free?

Harvard Classics costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shakespeare or Harvard Classics?

Harvard Classics is rated higher. Shakespeare averages 2.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Harvard Classics averages 3.4 from 11 ratings.

### Do Shakespeare or Harvard Classics have ads?

Neither Shakespeare nor Harvard Classics shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shakespeare or Harvard Classics?

Shakespeare ships an update every 2 weeks, and Harvard Classics every 3 months. Most recently, Shakespeare was updated on October 23, 2026 and Harvard Classics 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.*