Comparison

SideBooks vs PureLibro

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

PureLibro

This app offers a comprehensive reading experience for various digital book and comic formats. It features AI-powered image enhancement, cloud synchronization, extensive customization options, and robust privacy controls. Enjoy hands-free reading and track your progress with detailed statistics.

Highlights
  • Supports TXT, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, CBZ, CBR and more
  • AI-powered image enhancement for comics
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Hands-free auto reading mode
  • Extensive customization of fonts, layout, and appearance
  • Advanced privacy features with password and Face ID
  • Detailed reading statistics and library management
Features
Read full description

PureLibro is a multi-format reader for novels, comics, PDFs, local files, and remote libraries. Feature Highlights. Everything is designed for better reading. 1. Rich format support: supports popular formats including TXT, EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, AZW, CBZ, CBR, PDF, ZIP, and RAR (DRM-free files only). 2. Comic reader: supports ZIP, RAR, CBZ, and CBR comic archives. PDF, EPUB, and MOBI files can also be switched to comic mode with one tap, making it ideal for comics, art books, and image-rich content. 3. Remote library streaming reading (comic mode): supports remote libraries such as SMB, OPDS and WebDAV. On servers that support streaming access, ZIP, RAR, CBZ, CBR, and PDF files can be opened without fully downloading them first, saving local storage space. 4. AI-based image enhancement: supports Waifu2x / Anime4K to improve comic image quality (comic mode only). 5. iCloud sync: keeps reading progress and book data consistent across your devices. 6. Data backup: package your reading data with one tap and save it to cloud drives or other storage locations for extra peace of mind. 7. TXT file editing: edit TXT content directly for easier reading and organization. 8. Multiple import methods: import books via WebDAV, cloud drives, Wi-Fi transfer, iCloud, and more. 9. Auto reading: free your hands and make long reading sessions more comfortable. 10. Personalized layout: customize character spacing, paragraph layout, background images, and text colors to create your own reading style. 11. Eye-friendly reading: supports dark mode, page curl, slide, scrolling, and other reading modes, with Simplified/Traditional Chinese conversion. 12. Privacy protection: supports password, gesture, and Face ID unlock, and allows you to encrypt or hide books to protect your personal reading space. 13. Reading statistics: records reading duration, frequency, progress, and more to help you understand your reading habits. 14. Flexible book management: supports custom groups, title editing, and sorting for a clearer library. 15. Custom covers: customize covers for TXT and other books to make your bookshelf look better. 16. Automatic chapter detection: TXT novels can also be divided into chapters with one tap, improving the long-form reading experience. 17. Multiple font options: use system fonts or import custom fonts. 18. Multiple listening voices: supports system text-to-speech and Alibaba Cloud speech synthesis, with multiple voices to choose from. -- Pro benefits: After subscribing to Pro, you can use all Pro advanced features during the service period and remove all ads. -- Monthly subscription (1 month), quarterly subscription (3 months), and yearly subscription (1 year) are auto-renewable subscriptions. -- The actual product price applies. The purchase price will be charged in your local currency according to the current exchange rate defined by iTunes. Payment will be charged to your iTunes account upon confirmation of purchase. 【Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Auto-Renewable Subscription Services】 -- If you subscribe to the monthly, quarterly, or yearly auto-renewable service, you authorize Window Reading to charge your iTunes account (the “Account”) for the next billing cycle of the Pro service within 24 hours before the current subscription period expires. If the charge fails due to insufficient account balance, Window Reading reserves the right to suspend or terminate your Pro service without further notice. -- To cancel an active auto-renewable subscription, go to “Settings” on your iOS device → “iTunes Store & App Store” → select “Apple ID” → tap “View Apple ID” → tap “Subscriptions” on the account settings page → cancel the subscription. -- Privacy Policy: https://gitee.com/coder_to/luck/blob/master/App/Privacy.md -- Terms of Service and Auto-Renewal Terms: https://gitee.com/coder_to/luck/blob/master/App/serviceForMembers.md Icon Design Studying icons created by Freepik - Flaticon

Screenshots

SideBooks4 screens
PureLibro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: PureLibro at 362 against SideBooks's 97. SideBooks's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.4). On price, rating, review sentiment 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. SideBooks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PureLibro sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. 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 — 4.6 for SideBooks against 4.6 for PureLibro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 97 and 362 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of SideBooks's written reviews are positive against 77% of PureLibro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, PureLibro every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SideBooks versus PureLibro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideBooksPureLibro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (97 ratings)4.6 (362 ratings)
Positive reviews73.7% of reviews76.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings97362 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.4
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB42 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperTatsumi-system Co., Ltd.添欢 谢

Customer experience

SideBooks

All ratings97 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews518 reviews
Positive73.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative17.2%

PureLibro

All ratings362 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.8%
Written reviews171 reviews
Positive76.6%
Neutral11.7%
Negative11.7%

User reviews

SideBooks

From 97 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth page turning
  • 📚 Great for reading comics and manga
  • 🗂️ Excellent folder organization
  • 🔍 Useful search and table of contents features
  • 💻 Seamless Dropbox integration

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes when loading large files
  • 🚫 Limited file format support (no CBZ/CBR)
  • 🔍 Difficult to find and delete books
  • 🔒 Requires Dropbox access, no local file support
  • 🔍 Small thumbnail size makes it hard to browse

PureLibro

From 362 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent rendering and image quality
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive user interface
  • 🔒 Supports a variety of file formats
  • 💡 Customizable reading experience
  • 🚀 Fast and responsive app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Some issues with text formatting and italics
  • 💡 Lack of multi-device sync and progress tracking
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or performance issues
  • 💡 Limited font and theme customization options
  • 🐛 Localization problems with menus and settings

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

PureLibro

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between reading modes
  • Issues with loading and rendering large books or comics
  • Problems with the reliability of the built-in web browser
  • Bugs related to the iCloud sync and backup functionality

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add support for more text-to-speech options
  • Implement bulk import and management of books
  • Introduce multi-device sync and reading progress tracking
  • Expand font and theme customization capabilities
  • Improve localization and translation of the app
Show 2 more
  • Add support for OPDS and other external library sources
  • Implement a more robust and user-friendly TXT file handling

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SideBooks

One-time1
  • Thema extension Add-On$0.99
6 purchases

PureLibro

Subscriptions3
  • 1 monthly subscription$0.991 Month
  • 3 monthly subscription$1.993 Months
  • yearly subscription$5.991 Year
One-time3
  • Pro Special Offer$12.99
  • Unlock Pro Version$12.99
  • Unlock Pro Version$19.99

Questions

Is SideBooks free?
SideBooks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PureLibro free?
PureLibro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SideBooks or PureLibro?
SideBooks and PureLibro are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 97 and 362 ratings respectively.
Do SideBooks or PureLibro have ads?
Neither SideBooks nor PureLibro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SideBooks or PureLibro?
SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, and PureLibro every 10 days. Most recently, SideBooks was updated on October 13, 2026 and PureLibro on October 13, 2026.

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