# ARC Bookshelf vs BookSmart by Worldreader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BookSmart by Worldreader at 83% against ARC Bookshelf's 34%. BookSmart by Worldreader also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). ARC Bookshelf's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

BookSmart by Worldreader holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of ARC Bookshelf's written reviews are positive against 83% of BookSmart by Worldreader's.

ARC Bookshelf ships an update every 2 months, BookSmart by Worldreader fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARC Bookshelf | BookSmart by Worldreader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-bookshelf/id537997638/reviews) | **[4.3 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/booksmart-by-worldreader/id1629873557/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 34.0% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 30 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Reading Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/537997641) | [Worldreader](https://appshunter.io/developer/1629873559) |

## 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


### BookSmart by Worldreader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/booksmart-by-worldreader/id1629873557)

Access thousands of free books, learning materials, and activities in multiple languages for K-12 children. Designed to foster reading development and support learning goals, it offers engaging content for both children and caretakers to enjoy together.

**Highlights:** Thousands of free books, Learning materials and activities, Multiple languages, K-12 focus, Reading development support, Interactive activities for comprehension

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARC Bookshelf free?

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

### Is BookSmart by Worldreader free?

BookSmart by Worldreader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ARC Bookshelf or BookSmart by Worldreader?

BookSmart by Worldreader is rated higher. ARC Bookshelf averages 3.6 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while BookSmart by Worldreader averages 4.3 from 25 ratings.

### Do ARC Bookshelf or BookSmart by Worldreader have ads?

Neither ARC Bookshelf nor BookSmart by Worldreader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARC Bookshelf or BookSmart by Worldreader?

ARC Bookshelf ships an update every 2 months, and BookSmart by Worldreader fortnightly. Most recently, ARC Bookshelf was updated on October 16, 2026 and BookSmart by Worldreader on October 16, 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.*