# the reader vs I Read

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: the reader at none against I Read's 5. the reader also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). I Read's advantage is ratings volume (123 vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 14 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. I Read sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. the reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

the reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: I Read has 123 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of the reader's written reviews are positive against 75% of I Read's.

the reader ships an update every 14 months, I Read every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | the reader | I Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-reader/id475858519/reviews)** | [4.6 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-read-reading-comprehension/id1629883809/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **123** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CROMBEZ Emmanuel](https://appshunter.io/developer/375656695) | [Sierra Chica Software SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/492684294) |

## What reviewers say

### the reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-reader/id475858519)

This app allows you to read custom text aloud to children. It's designed to engage young minds with personalized stories and content.

**Highlights:** Read custom text aloud, Personalized content, Child-friendly interface, Engaging for young learners

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### I Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-read-reading-comprehension/id1629883809)

This educational app transforms reading into an engaging game for children aged 5-9. It uses fun texts and illustrations across five levels to build reading comprehension skills and confidence. Designed for offline use, it makes learning to read an enjoyable experience without ads or personal data requests.

**Highlights:** Engaging reading games, Improves comprehension, Five easy-to-use levels, Animal-themed readings, Offline functionality, Kid-friendly design, Progress tracking with rewards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dinosaurs | $4.99 | one-time |
| Basic primer | $4.99 | one-time |
| Animals | $4.99 | one-time |
| Countries | $4.99 | one-time |
| All Collections | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is the reader free?

the reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is I Read free?

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

### Which has better reviews, the reader or I Read?

the reader is rated higher. the reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while I Read averages 4.6 from 123 ratings.

### Do the reader or I Read have ads?

Neither the reader nor I Read shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, the reader or I Read?

the reader ships an update every 14 months, and I Read every 4 months. Most recently, the reader was updated on October 6, 2026 and I Read on October 21, 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.*