Comparison

SideBooks vs FlipByBlink

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

Head to head
About

SideBooks

This app offers a high-performance PDF and comic viewer with realistic paper-turning animations. It supports various viewing directions, enhanced bookshelf management, and secure password protection for your documents. Easily import files from multiple sources and enjoy a customizable reading experience.

Highlights
  • Realistic paper curl animation
  • Multiple viewing directions
  • Enhanced bookshelf management
  • Password protection
  • Dropbox and iTunes file import
  • Supports PDF, ZIP, CBZ, RAR, CBR
Features
Read full description

SideBooks is a high performance, high speed PDF viewer that allows you to enjoy reading with the feel of actual paper. =Features= Curl animation that simulates the actual turning of paper pages has been added to the standard page slide function. Supports viewing from 3 directions, documents that open left to right, right to left and vertically. It provides the optimal environment for viewing any book. All zoom rates have been optimized providing high speed, dynamic screen display. An infinite hierarchy of folders can be created, moved, deleted, renamed, etc. using the enhanced bookshelf management function. Real visual bookshelf function that corresponds to back cover style display. Files can be imported by 3 methods, Network transfer through Dropbox, USB transfer through iTunes and direct transfer from other applications. Books can be protected so others cannot view them by using the password protected locking function. This is a universal application that operates on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. =Functions= Overall: *Brightness Adjustment *Screen rotates to match the orientation of the device *Screen Rotation Lock *Password Protected Start-up Lock Viewer: *Support PDF,ZIP,CBZ,RAR and CBR format *Page Turning: Choose from slide or curl *Viewing Directions: Choose from opening left to right / right to left / vertically *Page Spacing: Choose form wide / narrow / none *Facing Pages: Choose the pair of facing pages by setting the cover to on or off *Trim function within the range of page display *Cache pre-read function for the previous and next pages *Set the display for each book and remember the page number of the last page read *Text search function (list display type) *Contents function (also supports hierarchy type) *Bookmark function (with editable memos) *Edit handwritten notes *Send to other applications (Open-In) *Send by email *Printing function (Air Print) *In-page link function *Link to outside URL function (built-in browser / Safari / Printing) *Display / Don't Display link buttons *Page turning function using tap or swipe *Expansion / Contraction function using pinch and double tap (1-1024x zoom) *Viewing of encrypted PDF files with password protection *Display / non-display of statusbar when reading Bookshelf: *Display form: Choose form list bookshelf / visual bookshelf *Function to set theme of visual bookshelf with each folder *Bookshelf thema extension pack (Add-On) *Cover editing function (corresponds to the trim) *File editing function: create, move, delete, setting for all books in folder *Bookmark list *Reading history list *Unread list *Edit of mark choose form already read / unread *Book name search function *Network transfer through Dropbox *USB transfer through iTunes *Direct transfer from other applications Special thanks to, "Give My Regards to Black Jack" SHUHO SATO Manga on Web http://mangaonweb.com

About

FlipByBlink

Read full description

There is one special feature. Blink your eyes slightly longer than you would normally close them, and you can turn the page. Other than that, it is a simple and common e-book reader application. If you perform a slightly prolonged eyelid close, you will advance one page. When you open your eyes, you have already transitioned to the next page. Blinking your eyes normally will not turn the page. The blinking of the eyes is detected by the device's built-in camera and sensors. Like general e-book applications, you can also turn pages by tapping or swiping the screen. E-book format - Only "Fixed Layout" books. For example, "directly converted from a paper book" or "comic book". - Support for importing PDF and ZIP files Use-Cases - General reading - Playing an instrument while looking at sheet music - Cooking while checking a recipe book - Reading on trains and buses - Reading for people with physical disabilities * * * Supported Devices The ARKit/FaceTrackingAPI, Apple framework, is used to detect eye blinks. This requires TrueDepth camera or A12Bionic (or later chips). https://developer.apple.com/documentation/arkit/arfacetrackingconfiguration

Screenshots

SideBooks4 screens
FlipByBlink4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FlipByBlink at none against SideBooks's 1. SideBooks's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support 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. SideBooks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FlipByBlink asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, FlipByBlink every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SideBooks versus FlipByBlink: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideBooksFlipByBlink
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (97 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews72.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings97 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTatsumi-system Co., Ltd.Ryo Yamashita

Bugs and requests

SideBooks

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when opening certain PDF files
  • Corrupted files cause repeated crashes
  • Dropbox integration issues on some devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add support for ePub and other popular formats
  • Implement iCloud/Google Drive integration
  • Allow manual rearrangement of bookshelf
  • Add dark mode and customizable background options
  • Improve bookmark and annotation features
Show 1 more
  • Implement a more intuitive file management system

FlipByBlink

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SideBooks

One-time1
  • Thema extension Add-On$0.99
None

FlipByBlink

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SideBooks free?
SideBooks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FlipByBlink free?
FlipByBlink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SideBooks or FlipByBlink have ads?
Neither SideBooks nor FlipByBlink shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SideBooks or FlipByBlink?
SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, and FlipByBlink every 2 months. Most recently, SideBooks was updated on September 25, 2026 and FlipByBlink on September 8, 2026.

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