Comparison

TaoOfWisdom vs Shakespeare

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

Head to head
About

TaoOfWisdom

Explore the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching with this beautifully illustrated app. It offers a serene reading experience, allowing you to delve into ancient philosophy and find inner peace amidst life's uncertainties. Navigate easily with intuitive controls and bookmark your favorite passages.

Highlights
  • Tao Te Ching text
  • Poignant illustrations
  • Intuitive page navigation
  • Content listing for quick access
  • Bookmark functionality
  • Universal app for iPhone and iPad
Features
Read full description

For people who think there's more to life than cable news, blogs, work, family, gadgets. Find the calmness underneath. Wade through the vastness. Be grounded amidst Life's uncertainties. Peek from a transformed point of view. Long, long ago, before Lao Tzu left the imperial kingdom, he was asked by a gatekeeper to impart his wisdom before the world lost him altogether. What he left behind was the Tao Te Ching. This version tries its best to capture the breath, meaning, poetry, depth and otherworldliness that Lao Tzu was pointing to, framed in the poignant pictures of artist-photographer Dollie Rubiano. Available as a universal app in beautiful layout for both iPad and iPhone/iPod Touch versions, it is free for all to share, to be enlightened, to be enjoyed. Swipe or tap at a page's side to go through the pages. Tap in the middle to hide/show the menu. Quickly go to the page you want via the Contents listing or via your own saved Lookup Tabs. Quickly bookmark a page by tapping on the bookmark icon. Just as briskly go back to your bookmarked page by tapping on the Go-To-Bookmark Arrow.

About

Shakespeare

Access all of Shakespeare's plays translated into simple, modern English. This app offers a user-friendly interface, offline reading, and customizable themes to make the Bard's works accessible and enjoyable for students, educators, and enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Complete collection of Shakespeare's plays
  • Simple English translations
  • Offline reading capability
  • Customizable themes and reading settings
  • Educational tool for students and teachers
  • Improved vocabulary and understanding
Features
Read full description

Unlock the timeless magic of William Shakespeare—made simple, accessible, and fun! Welcome to Fluid Shakespeare, your ultimate companion to the Bard's complete works. Whether you are a student prepping for literature exams, a teacher looking for engaging classroom tools, or a classic literature enthusiast, this app bridges the gap between Elizabethan English and modern readers. Experience all of Shakespeare’s plays and poems with line-by-line modern translations, read-along audio, and in-depth study guides! KEY FEATURES: The Complete Works Access every single play and poem written by William Shakespeare. From legendary tragedies to beloved comedies and historical epics, it's all here in one app. Side-by-Side Modern Translation Say goodbye to confusing old English! Read the original text side-by-side with a clear, simple modern English translation. Go line-by-line to truly understand the beauty of Shakespeare’s storytelling. Read-Along Audio Immerse yourself in the drama! Listen to high-quality, read-along audio for all content. Perfect for auditory learners, commuters, and those wanting to hear the rhythm of the Bard’s words. Comprehensive Study Guides (Exam Prep) Ace your literature classes! Our built-in study materials include detailed scene summaries, deep-dive character sketches, and thematic breakdowns to help students master their exams. In-Built Glossary & Dictionary Stuck on a word? Tap to instantly look up archaic words and phrases with our built-in Shakespearean dictionary. Expand your vocabulary as you read. Custom Themes & Dark Mode Personalize your reading experience. Adjust font sizes and styles, and switch to Dark Mode for comfortable, eye-friendly nighttime reading. Read Offline Download your favorite plays, poems, and audio tracks to read and listen anywhere, anytime—no internet connection required! WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDE: Popular Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, Julius Caesar. Beloved Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night, As You Like It. Historical Epics: Henry V, Richard III, King John. Classic Romances: The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale. Complete Poetry: All 154 Sonnets and narrative poems. WHO IS THIS APP FOR? Students: Simplify your homework, understand complex plots, and prepare for exams with confidence. Teachers: Enhance your curriculum and engage your students with side-by-side translations and audio. Enthusiasts & Beginners: Break down the language barrier and discover (or rediscover) the greatest stories ever told. Language Learners: Improve your English vocabulary by comparing classic texts with modern equivalents. Embrace the brilliance of Shakespeare without the language barrier. Download Fluid Shakespeare today and start your journey into the world of the Bard! Support & Feedback: We love hearing from our community of readers! For any feedback, feature requests, or suggestions, please write to us at support@knovella.com

Screenshots

TaoOfWisdom4 screens
Shakespeare4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Shakespeare at Free against TaoOfWisdom's $2.99. Shakespeare also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 45 months) and device support (4 vs 2). TaoOfWisdom's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, ratings volume and iOS requirement 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

Shakespeare is free to download; TaoOfWisdom costs $2.99 up front. Shakespeare sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. TaoOfWisdom asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for TaoOfWisdom against 5.0 for Shakespeare. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of TaoOfWisdom's written reviews are positive against 67% of Shakespeare's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TaoOfWisdom ships an update every 45 months, Shakespeare fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
TaoOfWisdom versus Shakespeare: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTaoOfWisdomShakespeare
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews84.2% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings38 — better
Update frequencyEvery 45 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB62 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperVicente MalixiMysthetic Inc

Customer experience

TaoOfWisdom

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive84.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.8%

Shakespeare

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

TaoOfWisdom

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Shakespeare

One-time10
  • Venus and Adonis$0.99
  • The Rape of Lucrece$0.99
  • The Phoenix and the Turtle$0.99
Show 7 more
  • A Lovers Complaint$0.99
  • The Passionate Pilgrim$0.99
  • The Twelfth Night$0.99
  • Romeo and Juliet$0.99
  • Hamlet$0.99
  • Macbeth$0.99
  • Complete Collection - 37 Plays$19.99

Questions

Is TaoOfWisdom free?
TaoOfWisdom costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shakespeare free?
Shakespeare is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TaoOfWisdom or Shakespeare?
TaoOfWisdom and Shakespeare are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 8 ratings respectively.
Do TaoOfWisdom or Shakespeare have ads?
Shakespeare shows ads; TaoOfWisdom does not.
Which is updated more often, TaoOfWisdom or Shakespeare?
TaoOfWisdom ships an update every 45 months, and Shakespeare fortnightly. Most recently, TaoOfWisdom was updated on November 1, 2026 and Shakespeare on November 3, 2026.

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