Comparison

King Lear! vs Shakespeare

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

King Lear!

Experience Shakespeare's classic tragedy with this reader app. It features adjustable auto-scrolling speeds for a comfortable reading experience of the play's dramatic events.

Highlights
  • Classic Shakespearean tragedy
  • Auto-scrolling reader
  • Adjustable scroll speeds
  • Detailed plot summary
  • Character interactions
Features
Read full description

King Lear is a tragedy, by William Shakespeare. This reader is equipped with various auto scroller speeds to make a more pleasurable reading experience. Lear, who is old, wants to retire from power. He decides to divide his realm among his three daughters, and offers the largest share to the one who loves him best. Goneril and Regan both proclaim in fulsome terms that they love him more than anything in the world, which pleases him. Cordelia speaks temperately and honestly, which annoys him. In his anger he disinherits her, and divides the kingdom between the other two. Kent objects to this unfair treatment. Lear is further enraged by Kent's contradiction, and banishes him from the country. Cordelia's two suitors enter. Learning that she is disinherited, the Duke of Burgundy withdraws his suit, but the King of France is impressed by her honesty and marries her anyway. Lear announces he will live alternately with Goneril and Regan, and their husbands, the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall. He reserves to himself a retinue of one hundred knights, to be supported by his daughters. Goneril and Regan speak privately, agreeing that Lear is old and foolish...

About

Shakespeare

Access all of Shakespeare's plays translated into simple, modern English. This app offers a user-friendly interface, offline reading, and customizable themes to make the Bard's works accessible and enjoyable for students, educators, and enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Complete collection of Shakespeare's plays
  • Simple English translations
  • Offline reading capability
  • Customizable themes and reading settings
  • Educational tool for students and teachers
  • Improved vocabulary and understanding
Features
Read full description

Unlock the timeless magic of William Shakespeare—made simple, accessible, and fun! Welcome to Fluid Shakespeare, your ultimate companion to the Bard's complete works. Whether you are a student prepping for literature exams, a teacher looking for engaging classroom tools, or a classic literature enthusiast, this app bridges the gap between Elizabethan English and modern readers. Experience all of Shakespeare’s plays and poems with line-by-line modern translations, read-along audio, and in-depth study guides! KEY FEATURES: The Complete Works Access every single play and poem written by William Shakespeare. From legendary tragedies to beloved comedies and historical epics, it's all here in one app. Side-by-Side Modern Translation Say goodbye to confusing old English! Read the original text side-by-side with a clear, simple modern English translation. Go line-by-line to truly understand the beauty of Shakespeare’s storytelling. Read-Along Audio Immerse yourself in the drama! Listen to high-quality, read-along audio for all content. Perfect for auditory learners, commuters, and those wanting to hear the rhythm of the Bard’s words. Comprehensive Study Guides (Exam Prep) Ace your literature classes! Our built-in study materials include detailed scene summaries, deep-dive character sketches, and thematic breakdowns to help students master their exams. In-Built Glossary & Dictionary Stuck on a word? Tap to instantly look up archaic words and phrases with our built-in Shakespearean dictionary. Expand your vocabulary as you read. Custom Themes & Dark Mode Personalize your reading experience. Adjust font sizes and styles, and switch to Dark Mode for comfortable, eye-friendly nighttime reading. Read Offline Download your favorite plays, poems, and audio tracks to read and listen anywhere, anytime—no internet connection required! WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDE: Popular Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, Julius Caesar. Beloved Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night, As You Like It. Historical Epics: Henry V, Richard III, King John. Classic Romances: The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale. Complete Poetry: All 154 Sonnets and narrative poems. WHO IS THIS APP FOR? Students: Simplify your homework, understand complex plots, and prepare for exams with confidence. Teachers: Enhance your curriculum and engage your students with side-by-side translations and audio. Enthusiasts & Beginners: Break down the language barrier and discover (or rediscover) the greatest stories ever told. Language Learners: Improve your English vocabulary by comparing classic texts with modern equivalents. Embrace the brilliance of Shakespeare without the language barrier. Download Fluid Shakespeare today and start your journey into the world of the Bard! Support & Feedback: We love hearing from our community of readers! For any feedback, feature requests, or suggestions, please write to us at support@knovella.com

Screenshots

King Lear!4 screens
Shakespeare4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: King Lear! at none against Shakespeare's shown. King Lear! also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). Shakespeare's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 50%) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. King Lear! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Shakespeare sells 20 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for King Lear! against 5.0 for Shakespeare. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of King Lear!'s written reviews are positive against 67% of Shakespeare's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

King Lear! ships an update every 9 days, Shakespeare fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
King Lear! versus Shakespeare: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKing Lear!Shakespeare
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB62 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperQualex Consulting Services, IncMysthetic Inc

Customer experience

King Lear!

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Shakespeare

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

King Lear!

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99
20 purchases

Shakespeare

One-time20
  • Venus and Adonis$0.99
  • The Rape of Lucrece$0.99
  • The Phoenix and the Turtle$0.99
Show 17 more
  • A Lovers Complaint$0.99
  • The Passionate Pilgrim$0.99
  • The Twelfth Night$0.99
  • Romeo and Juliet$0.99
  • Hamlet$0.99
  • Macbeth$0.99
  • Cymbeline$0.99
  • King John$0.99
  • Henry IV Part II$0.99
  • Troilus and Cressida$0.99
  • Henry VI Part II$0.99
  • Henry VI Part III$0.99
  • Henry VIII$0.99
  • Richard III$0.99
  • Pericles, Prince of Tyre$0.99
  • Richard II$0.99
  • Complete Collection - 37 Plays$19.99

Questions

Is King Lear! free?
King Lear! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shakespeare free?
Shakespeare is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, King Lear! or Shakespeare?
King Lear! and Shakespeare are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do King Lear! or Shakespeare have ads?
Shakespeare shows ads; King Lear! does not.
Which is updated more often, King Lear! or Shakespeare?
King Lear! ships an update every 9 days, and Shakespeare fortnightly. Most recently, King Lear! was updated on October 8, 2026 and Shakespeare on October 11, 2026.

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