# ARC Bookshelf vs Dolphin EasyReader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ARC Bookshelf at none against Dolphin EasyReader's 2. ARC Bookshelf also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). Dolphin EasyReader's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.6) and ratings volume (128 vs 38). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dolphin EasyReader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ARC Bookshelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dolphin EasyReader holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 128 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of ARC Bookshelf's written reviews are positive against 36% of Dolphin EasyReader's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARC Bookshelf | Dolphin EasyReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-bookshelf/id537997638/reviews) | **[4.0 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-easyreader/id1161662515/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 38 | **128** |
| Positive reviews | 34.0% of reviews | **35.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 30 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Reading Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/537997641) | [Dolphin Computer Access Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1161662514) |

## What reviewers say

### ARC Bookshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-bookshelf/id537997638)

This eReader app provides access to award-winning books designed for young learners. It supports children in Kindergarten and first grade as they develop reading confidence and independence through teacher-vetted content.

**Highlights:** Access to American Reading at Home books, Designed for Kindergarten and first-grade levels, Gradual removal of reading support, Builds reading confidence, Independent learning

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for early readers
- 👍 Helps with reading skills
- 👍 Engaging for children
- 👍 Realistic page turning effect
- 👍 Useful for sight words

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login issues frequent
- 🐛 Server always down
- 🐛 Crashing after first use
- 🐛 App crashes on iPhone 5S
- 🐛 Crashing after first use

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot make an account
- Keeps asking to log in
- Page stuck in two-page model
- Books do not load
- App closes and goes home

**Requested features**

- Add more books
- Add more reading levels
- Add option to zoom
- Add themes
- Add bookmarks


### Dolphin EasyReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dolphin-easyreader/id1161662515)

This app provides accessible reading for individuals with print disabilities like dyslexia and vision impairments. It connects to global libraries and talking newspaper services, offering customizable text, audio playback, and support for various formats.

**Highlights:** Accessible book libraries, Talking newspaper access, Customizable fonts and colors, Adjustable text size and contrast, Text-to-Speech (TTS) audio, Braille display support, Multiple document format support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Personal Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Personal Annual | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARC Bookshelf free?

ARC Bookshelf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dolphin EasyReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ARC Bookshelf or Dolphin EasyReader?

Dolphin EasyReader is rated higher. ARC Bookshelf averages 3.6 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Dolphin EasyReader averages 4.0 from 128 ratings.

### Do ARC Bookshelf or Dolphin EasyReader have ads?

Neither ARC Bookshelf nor Dolphin EasyReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARC Bookshelf or Dolphin EasyReader?

ARC Bookshelf ships an update every 2 months, and Dolphin EasyReader every 2 months. Most recently, ARC Bookshelf was updated on November 1, 2026 and Dolphin EasyReader on November 6, 2026.

---

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