# Shakespeare Pro vs Matlock

The clearest difference is price: Matlock at Free against Shakespeare Pro's $12.99. Matlock also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Shakespeare Pro's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 2). On update cadence, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Matlock is free to download; Shakespeare Pro costs $12.99 up front. Shakespeare Pro sells 24 one-off in-app purchases and Matlock sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Matlock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shakespeare Pro has 1.7K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Shakespeare Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, Matlock every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shakespeare Pro | Matlock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $12.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-pro/id341392367/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matlock-bjj-study-app/id6755410310/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 87.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 416 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PlayShakespeare.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/809094812) | [Ashlee Spradley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1847742148) |

## What reviewers say

### Shakespeare Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-pro/id341392367)

Access the complete works of Shakespeare, including plays, sonnets, and poems. Features include a searchable concordance, integrated glossary, note-taking and sharing capabilities, and customizable reading options. Explore character details, historical context, and original spellings.

**Highlights:** Complete works of Shakespeare, Searchable concordance, Integrated glossary with definitions, Add and share personal notes, Customizable reading experience, Character descriptions and arcs, Original First Folios and Quartos

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

**In-app purchases (24)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Modern translation: AYLI | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (M4M) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Much Ado) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Tempest) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (2GV) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern translation: A&C | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Henry 5) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (JC) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern translation: COE | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Pericles) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Othello) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (TN) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Macbeth) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (RJ) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Hamlet) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Schmidt's Lexicon | $3.99 | one-time |
| Glossary by C. T. Onions | $3.99 | one-time |
| Glossary by Alexander Dyce | $3.99 | one-time |
| All Apocrypha Plays | $7.99 | one-time |
| All Lexicons | $9.99 | one-time |
| Course: Intro to Shakespeare | $9.99 | one-time |
| Course: Shakespeare for Kids | $9.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (All) | $17.99 | one-time |
| Shakespeare Ultimate | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Comprehensive Shakespeare collection
- 📚 Helpful features like glossary, character summaries, and search
- 💻 Convenient to have all works in one app
- 🎨 Well-designed and easy to use
- 🤓 Invaluable resource for students and Shakespeare enthusiasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficulty searching Folio texts
- 📝 Lack of note-taking functionality
- 🔔 Persistent requests for reviews can be annoying
- 🔤 Some inaccuracies in modern language translations

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch after recent update
- Glossary feature not working as expected
- Quote of the day widget not functioning properly
- Formatting issues when reading in certain orientations

**Requested features**

- Add ability to take notes and highlight text
- Improve search functionality, especially for Folio texts
- Provide more detailed character and plot summaries
- Include links to video/audio performances of the plays
- Offer more language options (e.g., original spelling, modern translations)


### Matlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matlock-bjj-study-app/id6755410310)

This app helps practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu improve their skills by studying techniques, positions, and submissions. It offers tools like flashcards and notes for faster review and better performance on the mat.

**Highlights:** Technique memorization, Jiu-Jitsu skill improvement, Grappling skill building, Study positions and submissions, Flashcards for review, Daily training tools

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Matlock Premium | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shakespeare Pro free?

Shakespeare Pro costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Matlock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shakespeare Pro or Matlock?

Matlock is rated higher. Shakespeare Pro averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Matlock averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Shakespeare Pro or Matlock have ads?

Matlock shows ads; Shakespeare Pro does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shakespeare Pro or Matlock?

Shakespeare Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, and Matlock every 2 weeks. Most recently, Shakespeare Pro was updated on October 27, 2026 and Matlock on October 24, 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.*