Comparison

SideBooks vs BookSlide

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

BookSlide

Features
Read full description

6 reasons to read differently Designed for people who read on the go, never stop learning, and care about their privacy. Read and listen at the same time Text advances on screen in sync with the narration. Each paragraph is visually highlighted as the audio reads it. More retention, less effort. Any article, turned into a book Share any URL from Safari and BookSlide extracts the text, letting you pick exactly what to keep — ready to read and listen to. Your reading list, always with you. Read in any language BookSlide detects the language automatically and translates it using Apple's on-device API — right on your device. Audio plays back in the language you choose. Your books ride along in the car Built-in CarPlay support to browse your library, switch chapters, and control playback from your car's screen. Total privacy, no compromises Everything happens on your iPhone. No account, no servers, no tracking. What you read is yours alone — always, no exceptions. You decide what you listen to Pick chapters, adjust the voice, skip the sections you don't care about. Full control over flow and pace — because your time matters.

Screenshots

SideBooks4 screens
BookSlide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BookSlide at none against SideBooks's 1. SideBooks's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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. BookSlide asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, BookSlide every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SideBooks versus BookSlide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideBooksBookSlide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (97 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews73.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings97 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS9.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB8 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperTatsumi-system Co., Ltd.Jorge Carlos Borges Ku

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

BookSlide

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SideBooks

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

BookSlide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SideBooks free?
SideBooks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BookSlide free?
BookSlide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SideBooks or BookSlide have ads?
Neither SideBooks nor BookSlide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SideBooks or BookSlide?
SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, and BookSlide every 3 weeks. Most recently, SideBooks was updated on October 17, 2026 and BookSlide on October 1, 2026.

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