Comparison

SideBooks vs KyBook

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

KyBook

This app is a versatile e-book reader supporting a wide range of formats including EPUB, PDF, and audiobooks. It offers extensive customization for reading modes, cloud storage integration, and easy book organization. Advanced features like DJVU support and speed reading are available via in-app purchase.

Highlights
  • Supports EPUB, FB2, PDF, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, MP3, M4A, M4B formats
  • OPDS catalogs and cloud storage integration
  • Customizable reading mode settings
  • Book organization and cataloging
  • Text-to-speech and dictionary support
  • Speed Reading (RSVP)
Features
Read full description

KyBook is a modern reader application for e-books. It has highly customizable and friendly interface and also: 

 Key features: 

 - EPUB, FB2, RTF, PDF, DJVU, CHM, CBR, CBZ, MP3, M4A, M4B formats - OPDS catalogs and network folders 
 - Google Books, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Yandex Disc - Flexible reading mode settings Complete feature list: - Supports e-books in EPUB, FictionBook (fb2, fbz, fb2.zip), TXT, RTF, PDF, DJVU, CHM, Comic Book (cbr, cbz) and Audio Book (mp3, m4a, m4b) formats. - Has wide opportunities in searching and downloading e-books from different sources. - Provides access to enormous collection of free electronic books through OPDS-catalogs support. - Downloads e-books with the help of Web Browser (Mobile Safari), e-mail or iTunes. - Saves your books into cloud storages and network folders. - Integrated with Google Books, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and Yandex Disc. - Allows flexible setting of text displaying: font selection, colour theme, text size, text alignment mode, line height, margins, paragraph indention and hyphenations. - Allows choosing book covers from different sources, changing titles and subjects. - Provides easy navigation inside the book using table of content, bookmarks or notes. - Helps organizing your books on shelves, cataloging them under subjects and sorting in different modes. - Has full-screen reading mode in landscape and portrait orientation. - Allows turning and scrolling pages in vertical or horizontal mode. - Allows locking orientation and changing screen brightness. - Supports dictionaries, translation of selected text and text-to-speech. - Integrated with social networking services (Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte) - Supports of VK Docs as Cloud Storage - Built-in Web Browser - Supports Tor Network - DJVU and PDF filters - Support of archives in ZIP and RAR format - Password-protected Bookshelves - Speed Reading (RSVP) - Automatic text summarization - Integrated with LitRes.ru - Integrated with Samizdat (samlib.ru) - Supports WebDAV protocol Dear users, DJVU, CHM, Tor Network and 'Speed Reading' requires in-app purchase "Upgrade to Pro Version". You are free to use these features during the trial period. After the trial period You can unlock them via upgrading KyBook to Pro Version.

Screenshots

SideBooks4 screens
KyBook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SideBooks at 4.7 against KyBook's 4.4. SideBooks also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). KyBook's advantage is ratings volume (466 vs 98) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, 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

Both are free to download. SideBooks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and KyBook sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SideBooks holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 98 and 466 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of SideBooks's written reviews are positive against 71% of KyBook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, KyBook every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SideBooks versus KyBook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideBooksKyBook
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (98 ratings) — better4.4 (466 ratings)
Positive reviews73.8% of reviews — better71.2% of reviews
Number of ratings98466 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB50 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperTatsumi-system Co., Ltd.Konstantin Bukreev

Customer experience

SideBooks

All ratings98 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.0%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews519 reviews
Positive73.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative17.1%

KyBook

All ratings464 ratings
Positive85.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative11.4%
Written reviews552 reviews
Positive71.2%
Neutral8.2%
Negative20.7%

User reviews

SideBooks

From 98 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

KyBook

From 466 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Fast and smooth performance
  • 📚 Supports wide range of file formats
  • 🔖 Good organization and categorization features
  • 🔊 Excellent text-to-speech functionality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Syncing issues, especially with Dropbox and Google Drive
  • 🔍 Navigation and file management could be improved
  • 💰 Paid version required for some key features
  • 📢 Intrusive ads in free version
  • 🔧 Lack of updates and support from developers

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

KyBook

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes after recent iOS updates
  • Text-to-speech function not working properly on newer devices
  • Inability to delete books from the app
  • Inconsistent theme and color customization behavior

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for more languages
  • Improve image handling and layout
  • Implement better annotation and highlighting tools
  • Provide easier access to main library from subfolders
  • Add ability to password protect individual books or folders

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SideBooks

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

KyBook

One-time2
  • Upgrade to Pro Version$0.99
  • Upgrade to Pro Version$1.99

Questions

Is SideBooks free?
SideBooks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is KyBook free?
KyBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SideBooks or KyBook?
SideBooks is rated higher. SideBooks averages 4.7 out of 5 from 98 ratings, while KyBook averages 4.4 from 466 ratings.
Do SideBooks or KyBook have ads?
Neither SideBooks nor KyBook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SideBooks or KyBook?
SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, and KyBook every 3 weeks. Most recently, SideBooks was updated on November 8, 2026 and KyBook on November 6, 2026.

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