# unrealBook vs MusicReader

The clearest difference is price: MusicReader at Free against unrealBook's $14.99. MusicReader also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly) and device support (4 vs 1). unrealBook's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (85% vs 55%). On ads there is nothing between them.

MusicReader is free to download; unrealBook costs $14.99 up front. MusicReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. unrealBook asks for nothing beyond the download.

unrealBook holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: unrealBook has 1.3K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of unrealBook's written reviews are positive against 55% of MusicReader's.

unrealBook ships an update monthly, MusicReader every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | unrealBook | MusicReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $14.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unrealbook/id370135173/reviews)** | [4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musicreader/id1462173924/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **84.7% of reviews** | 54.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 192 MB | 268 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Aron Nelson](https://appshunter.io/developer/353420800) | [Leoné MusicReader B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/364580608) |

## What reviewers say

### unrealBook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unrealbook/id370135173)

This app digitizes your music library, replacing bulky binders with your iPad. Easily organize, search, and access your music or lyrics with features like indexing, bookmarks, and setlists. Ideal for gigging musicians seeking a convenient and portable solution.

**Highlights:** Digitize music and lyrics PDFs, Alphabetized and indexed song list, Create bookmarks and setlists, Hot spots for navigation, Built-in music player, Annotation tools, Wireless syncing between iPads

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient organization of music
- 👍 Useful features like setlists and annotations
- 👍 Reliable and stable performance
- 👍 Excellent customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔍 Unintuitive user interface
- 🔍 Difficulty adding/importing files
- 🔍 Limited annotation and editing capabilities

**Reported bugs**

- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Inconsistent page resizing and zooming
- Unexpected behavior when editing lyrics or text

**Requested features**

- Improved annotation tools with Apple Pencil support
- Ability to selectively clear annotations
- Automatic song indexing for PDF songbooks
- Larger transport controls and more intuitive navigation


### MusicReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musicreader/id1462173924)

This app transforms your devices into a digital sheet music stand, offering a comprehensive solution for musicians. Organize your library, annotate scores, and manage music across devices with cloud synchronization and offline capabilities.

**Highlights:** Organized music library, Versatile display options, Integrated playlist, In-app annotations, Hands-free page turning, Cross-device synchronization, Offline capabilities

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MRSync Subscription 1 Year | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is unrealBook free?

unrealBook costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MusicReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, unrealBook or MusicReader?

unrealBook is rated higher. unrealBook averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while MusicReader averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.

### Do unrealBook or MusicReader have ads?

Neither unrealBook nor MusicReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, unrealBook or MusicReader?

unrealBook ships an update monthly, and MusicReader every 9 days. Most recently, unrealBook was updated on October 29, 2026 and MusicReader on October 29, 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.*