# Meanwhile vs Byzans, chat about books

The clearest difference is price: Byzans, chat about books at Free against Meanwhile's $4.99. Byzans, chat about books also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months) and rating (4.5 vs 4.1). Meanwhile's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and chart position (#30 vs unranked). On ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Byzans, chat about books is free to download; Meanwhile costs $4.99 up front. Byzans, chat about books sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Meanwhile asks for nothing beyond the download.

Byzans, chat about books holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Meanwhile's written reviews are positive against 89% of Byzans, chat about books's.

Meanwhile ships an update every 12 months, Byzans, chat about books every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Meanwhile | Byzans, chat about books |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meanwhile-interactive-comic/id458451517/reviews) | **[4.5 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/byzans-chat-about-books/id1438086209/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | 79.2% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#30** | — |
| Size | 55 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Zarfhome Software Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/457956106) | [Byzans GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1438086208) |

## What reviewers say

### Meanwhile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meanwhile-interactive-comic/id458451517)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Paid · Book (US App Store)

Explore a mad scientist's wonderland and make choices that shape your adventure. This interactive comic offers thousands of branching paths, leading to various outcomes, from doom to success. Experience a unique story with full audio accessibility.

**Highlights:** Branching narrative paths, User-driven story choices, Thousands of adventure outcomes, Infinite scrollable canvas, Full audio accessibility (VoiceOver)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Byzans, chat about books

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/byzans-chat-about-books/id1438086209)

Connect with fellow readers to discuss books you're currently reading or have just finished. Discover new friends, share your thoughts, and track your reading progress within a vibrant global community.

**Highlights:** Book-specific chatrooms, In-depth discussion forums, Spoiler protection, Personal book library, Reader profiles and stats, Book scanner, Trending club discussions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Badge Elhokar | $4.99 | one-time |
| Badge Gavinor | $9.99 | one-time |
| Badge Gavilar | $9.99 | one-time |
| Badge Rlain | $19.99 | one-time |
| Badge Lopen | $34.99 | one-time |
| Badge Jasnah | $34.99 | one-time |
| Badge Adolin | $49.99 | one-time |
| Badge Dalinar | $49.99 | one-time |
| Badge Kaladin | $49.99 | one-time |
| Badge Navani | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Meanwhile free?

Meanwhile costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Byzans, chat about books free?

Byzans, chat about books is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Meanwhile or Byzans, chat about books?

Byzans, chat about books is rated higher. Meanwhile averages 4.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Byzans, chat about books averages 4.5 from 20 ratings.

### Do Meanwhile or Byzans, chat about books have ads?

Neither Meanwhile nor Byzans, chat about books shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Meanwhile or Byzans, chat about books?

Meanwhile ships an update every 12 months, and Byzans, chat about books every 3 weeks. Most recently, Meanwhile was updated on September 18, 2026 and Byzans, chat about books on September 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*