# The Ultimate Buzzer vs ReadInstead

The clearest difference is ads: ReadInstead at none against The Ultimate Buzzer's shown. ReadInstead also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Ultimate Buzzer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and ReadInstead sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.19 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Ultimate Buzzer ships an update every 2 weeks, ReadInstead every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Ultimate Buzzer | ReadInstead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-ultimate-buzzer/id459677810/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 32.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 133 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | +9 | 12+ |
| Developer | [Makens Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/455525622) | [Pavlo Kovalchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886402664) |

## What reviewers say

### The Ultimate Buzzer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-ultimate-buzzer/id459677810)

This app provides a collection of sound effects for various occasions, from game nights and parties to pranks and classroom use. It offers multiple modes for playing sounds, including a multi-sound grid and a large single button, with options for hosting multiplayer game shows.

**Highlights:** Over 75 sound effects, Multi Sound and Big Button modes, Host multiplayer game shows, Kids Mode with G-rated ads, SharePlay integration, Siri and Shortcuts support, Record and import custom sounds (Pro)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, SharePlay, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buzzer Pro | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pro - Family | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Awesome sounds
- 😆 Fun for games and pranks
- 👍 Great for kids

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Overwhelmed by ads
- 🙄 Ads interrupt usage
- 😒 Ads make app unusable
- 🤔 Inconsistent sound quality

**Reported bugs**

- Buzzer doesn't work consistently
- Difficulty navigating back to main screen

**Requested features**

- More sound options
- Volume control
- Ability to save/load favorite sounds


### ReadInstead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readinstead/id6760823296)

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly Sale 20 | $7.19 | per month |
| Pro Monthly Sale 15 | $7.59 | per month |
| Max Monthly Sale 20 | $11.99 | per month |
| Max Monthly Sale 15 | $12.49 | per month |
| ReadInstead Max | $14.99 | per month |
| Pro Annual Sale 20 | $71.99 | per year |
| Pro Annual Sale 15 | $76.00 | per year |
| Max Annual Sale 20 | $119.99 | per year |
| Max Annual Sale 15 | $126.99 | per year |
| ReadInstead Max (Annual) | $149.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Ultimate Buzzer free?

The Ultimate Buzzer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ReadInstead free?

ReadInstead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do The Ultimate Buzzer or ReadInstead have ads?

The Ultimate Buzzer shows ads; ReadInstead does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Ultimate Buzzer or ReadInstead?

The Ultimate Buzzer ships an update every 2 weeks, and ReadInstead every 8 days. Most recently, The Ultimate Buzzer was updated on November 8, 2026 and ReadInstead on November 5, 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.*