Comparison

Bluefire Reader vs PageTone

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

Head to head
About

Bluefire Reader

This application allows users to read EPUB and PDF ebooks on their iPhone or iPad. It supports Adobe® Content Server protected content from various retailers, publishers, and libraries, offering features like bookmarking, notes, and search for a customized reading experience.

Highlights
  • Read EPUB and PDF ebooks
  • Supports Adobe Content Server protected content
  • Bookmarking and notes
  • Search functionality
  • Customizable reading experience
  • Collections management
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Bluefire Reader is the best way to read Adobe® Content Server protected ebooks on your iPhone or iPad. With Bluefire Reader you can read EPUB and PDF ebooks from many retailers, publishers and libraries. This full featured ereader app includes bookmarking, notes, search, collections, batch import and export, and settings for fully customizing your reading experience Bookstores, libraries and schools around the world tap Bluefire to design and develop their mission critical apps. Try Bluefire Reader today and see why.

About

PageTone

Features
Read full description

Every book has a world. PageTone helps you step into it. Create a personalised reading atmosphere inspired by the story, setting, genre, or mood you are exploring. Describe what you are reading, and PageTone prepares a layered soundscape designed to accompany the moment without taking attention away from the page. BUILD YOUR READING ROOM Start with a title or a simple description of the atmosphere you want. A quiet library during a storm. A mysterious forest at night. A warm room beside a fireplace. PageTone transforms that idea into a reading room made from complementary ambient sounds. MIX EVERY LAYER Each atmosphere can combine up to four sound layers, including rain, wind, forest ambience, fireplace, turning pages, and quiet room tone. Inside the mixer, you can: • Adjust the volume of each sound • Mute or restore individual layers • Fine-tune the balance of the room • Reset the original atmosphere • Shape the soundscape while you read READ AT YOUR OWN RHYTHM Set an optional starting page and page goal for your session, or simply read without tracking anything. PageTone keeps reading goals intentionally lightweight. There are no streaks, scores, competitive rankings, or productivity pressure. RETURN TO YOUR LATEST ROOM Your most recent reading room remains available, so you can quickly return to the atmosphere you were using and continue your session. MADE FOR QUIET MOMENTS PageTone combines an editorial interface, paper-inspired visuals, illustrated environments, and subtle animation to create a calm space around your book. The experience is designed for readers who enjoy ambience, focus, ritual, and the feeling of entering a story. FEATURES • Personalised reading atmospheres • Layered ambient soundscapes • Up to four simultaneous sound layers • Individual volume and mute controls • Optional page goals • Resume your latest reading room • Background audio support • App Shortcuts integration • No account required PageTone does not search book catalogues, scan covers, stream music, or require social activity. It is a private reading companion built around your book, your room, and your pace.

Screenshots

Bluefire Reader4 screens
PageTone3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PageTone at Free against Bluefire Reader's $4.99. Bluefire Reader's advantage is chart position (#123 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads and in-app purchases 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

PageTone is free to download; Bluefire Reader costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Bluefire Reader versus PageTone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBluefire ReaderPageTone
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (4.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#123 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBluefire ProductionsLuisa Cecilia da Silva Pinto

Bugs and requests

Bluefire Reader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Incompatible with latest iOS versions
  • Blank pages when opening some books
  • Incorrect page numbering and navigation
  • Unreliable bookmarking and note-taking

Requested features

5 requests
  • Sync reading progress across devices
  • Improved highlighting and annotation tools
  • Vertical scrolling option
  • Customizable highlight colors
  • Integrated dictionary/reference lookup

PageTone

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Bluefire Reader

No in-app purchases

None

PageTone

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bluefire Reader free?
Bluefire Reader costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PageTone free?
PageTone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Bluefire Reader or PageTone have ads?
Neither Bluefire Reader nor PageTone shows ads.

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