Freading vs Nightscribe
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Freading
This app allows users to read EPUB and PDF books downloaded from participating libraries. It supports Adobe DRM and offers a comfortable reading experience with features like page turning and adjustable text size.
- Read EPUB and PDF books
- Adobe DRM support
- Tap or swipe page turning
- Remembers last page read
- Selectable text size
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The Freading application is for reading EPUB books and PDF books. The application was developed for users of the Freading Ebook Service. The Freading (free reading) Ebook Service was developed by Library Ideas, LLC and is sold to libraries of all types around the world. End users are registered cardholders of participating libraries. Check with your local library for participation. The end user should use their browser to navigate the library website, then download the book from a library website into this application. Once in the application, the EPUB or PDF book can be explored and read. The Freading application is designed to lend full support for Adobe DRM and uses Adobe ID for Authentication. The Freading application includes many features that you would expect for a good reading experience such as tap or swipe to turn pages, remembering the last page read, and selectable text size.
Nightscribe
Explore and publish dark fiction, including creepypasta, horror, and sci-fi. Readers can discover new stories, save favorites, and engage with authors. Writers can share their original work with a dedicated community.
- Discover dark fiction genres
- Read stories from emerging authors
- Publish original dark fiction
- Save favorite stories
- Follow authors
- Comment on stories
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Discover creepypasta, horror, mystery, thriller, weird fiction, dark fantasy, sci-fi, and other eerie stories from emerging and established writers. Nightscribe is a home for readers and writers drawn to the darker side of fiction. FOR READERS Explore a library of dark stories, from short horror tales and internet legends to psychological thrillers and dystopian sci-fi. Browse new publications, save stories you want to read later, follow your favorite authors, and join the conversation in the comments. If you enjoy gothic atmosphere, supernatural mysteries, or unsettling plot twists, there's plenty to explore. Find your next favorite author or settle into a story that stays with you long after the last page. FOR WRITERS Share your original dark fiction with readers who love the strange and uncanny. Create your account, build your author profile, publish your stories, and give readers a reason to keep coming back. Whether you write creepypasta, serialized fiction, short horror, psychological suspense, or speculative fiction that crosses genres, you'll find a place for it on Nightscribe. Connect with readers through comments and grow a following around your work. WHY NIGHTSCRIBE - Read dark fiction from new and established authors - Publish original stories for a niche reader community - Follow writers and build your audience - Rate, comment on, and save stories - Discover horror, mystery, thriller, weird fiction, dark fantasy, and sci-fi in one app Download Nightscribe to find your next dark read or share a story of your own.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nightscribe at 100% against Freading's 17%. Nightscribe also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 9 months). Freading's advantage is ratings volume (2.9K vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Nightscribe holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freading has 2.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Freading's written reviews are positive against 100% of Nightscribe's.
Freading ships an update every 9 months, Nightscribe every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Freading | Nightscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (2.9K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 16.8% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.9K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Library Ideas, LLC | Swen de Haan |
Customer experience
Freading
Nightscribe
Bugs and requests
Freading
Reported bugs
3 issues- Books fail to download or open
- App crashes when trying to access downloaded books
- Login process is unreliable and inconsistent
Requested features
4 requests- Improve app stability and reliability
- Enhance user interface and navigation
- Expand book selection and search capabilities
- Streamline login and authentication process
Nightscribe
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Freading
No in-app purchases
Nightscribe
No in-app purchases









