Comparison

iBunkoS vs BrailleTalk

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

Head to head
About

iBunkoS

This app offers a realistic paper book reading experience on your iPhone, supporting various file formats like TXT, PDF, and comics. It includes features like a digital bookshelf, bookmarking with notes, and dictionary lookups.

Highlights
  • Realistic paper book interface
  • Supports TXT, PDF, CBZ, CBR files
  • 230+ built-in books and Aozora Bunko access
  • Customizable bookshelf and bookmarks
  • File transfer via USB, cloud, and servers
  • Dictionary lookup integration
  • Passcode lock for privacy
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

iBunkoS provides you the best way to read novels, documents and comic books on iPhone. Thanks to a realistic interface, you can enjoy reading as you would with a real paper book. Reading on your iPhone is now easier than ever! This is a great iPhone app for all the book lovers! Read books and comics in vertical setting with comfort ・Support both horizontal (left open) and vertical (right open) writings. ・The app automatically detects the binding direction of a PDF document. Double page spread and page effect ・When viewed landscape mode, the pages switch to the double page spread. The pages containing landscape format images are automatically treated as a double page spread. ・You can "flip" pages just like reading a real paper book. Feature about 230 built-in books and "Aozora Bunko" ・ You can download a book with simple controls from "Aozora Bunko", the Japanese digital library that provides copyright-free Japanese literary works. ・ The app comes with the well-known books from "Aozora Bunko". "Bookshelf" function ・Create a bookshelf as you need. ・You can easily choose a book you'd like to read by browsing the book covers displayed on the shelf. "Bookmark" function ・You can place as many bookmarks as you want and add notes on it. ・Select text as a bookmark in order to highlight the sentence. Supported file formats. iBunkoS supports the following file formats as books: - .txt, .pdf - .zip, .rar (containing .txt or .jpg/.png files) - .cbz, .cbr Transfer files ・Transfer the files using iTunes 'File Sharing' via the USB cable as well as via Dropbox, SkyDrive, pogoplug, Box, SugarSync. The app also supports both the WebDAV and the FTP servers. Utilize data from PDF ・Support the table of contents or hyperlinks on the file. ・Select and search words (when the data contains text). ・Using our own processing technology, app can select a Japanese words smoothly. Smart screen design removing the white space ・Eliminate unnecessary white space for better readability on the screen. Thumbnails of pages show quick reference for where you'd like to read ・List the page thumbnails at the bottom of the screen or in the full screen. ・The page with bookmarks will be attached a mark. You can also display only the page thumbnails which contain bookmarks. History back pages ・Viewed pages are saved in history so you can easily go back to the previous page. Look up words in the dictionary ・You can use the iPhone's built-in dictionary as well as other dictionary apps that support custom URL schemes. ・Just select text and tap the button to look up the word. Passcode lock ・You can set passcode lock on specific bookshelves or the "folder" screen that stored transferred files. Various page settings ・Available various settings such as enable/disable the flipping effect or change the position of the tap control. ・Customize your iBunkoS to suit your own preferences! You will find many more convenient functions and settings.

About

BrailleTalk

This application reads Braille electronic books aloud using synthesized voice on iOS devices. It offers customizable reading speeds, pitch, and volume, along with features like bookmarking, word searching, and free navigation within books. Users can download books from online libraries or cloud storage.

Highlights
  • Reads Braille electronic books aloud
  • Customizable reading speed, pitch, and volume
  • Bookmark specific pages
  • Search for words within books
  • Navigate freely through volumes and pages
  • Download books from online libraries
  • Supports Dropbox integration
Read full description

Braille Talk is an application that reads out Braille electronic book using synthesized voice incorporated into iOS devices, such as iPhone or iPad. If you are qualified, you can get a Braille electronic book from Sapie (Japan), or Bookshare (USA) by registering on-line library. It deals with various kinds of voices. Since it corresponds to various voice types embedded in iOS, you can select the voice of your choice. Customize sound settings You can freely set the speed, pitch and volume of reading. Check the word during reading loud One sentence is displayed during reading loud, you can check the detail explanation of the character on the screen. Move freely reading place You can move freely to any volume, page, line, heading, pageslider. Set bookmark You can place bookmarks on any specific page and jump to reading location where you set the bookmarks. Word Searching Enter any character, and you can move to the exact reading position. Downloading books You can download books by logging in online library by the Safari, or others, finding the book then downloading through Braille Talk. You also store books in online storage, such as Dropbox. Supported OS after iOS 8.0 Devices iPhone、iPad、iPod touch Contact nbs-support@nbs.co.jp How to use http://www.nbs.co.jp/ios/daisytalk/use.htm

Screenshots

iBunkoS4 screens
BrailleTalk2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BrailleTalk at Free against iBunkoS's $2.99. BrailleTalk also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (75% vs 58%). iBunkoS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#178 vs unranked). On 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

BrailleTalk is free to download; iBunkoS costs $2.99 up front. BrailleTalk sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iBunkoS asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iBunkoS ships an update every 2 months, BrailleTalk every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
iBunkoS versus BrailleTalk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriBunkoSBrailleTalk
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews58.3% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#178 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDWANGO Co., Ltd.New Braille System K.K.

Customer experience

iBunkoS

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral14.6%
Negative27.1%

BrailleTalk

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iBunkoS

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

BrailleTalk

One-time1
  • Full Version$69.99

Questions

Is iBunkoS free?
iBunkoS costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BrailleTalk free?
BrailleTalk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do iBunkoS or BrailleTalk have ads?
Neither iBunkoS nor BrailleTalk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iBunkoS or BrailleTalk?
iBunkoS ships an update every 2 months, and BrailleTalk every 9 days. Most recently, iBunkoS was updated on September 27, 2026 and BrailleTalk on September 9, 2026.

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