# ARC Bookshelf vs Bilingual Bookshelf

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bilingual Bookshelf at 100% against ARC Bookshelf's 34%. Bilingual Bookshelf also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.6). ARC Bookshelf's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (38 vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bilingual Bookshelf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. ARC Bookshelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bilingual Bookshelf holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARC Bookshelf has 38 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of ARC Bookshelf's written reviews are positive against 100% of Bilingual Bookshelf's.

ARC Bookshelf ships an update every 2 months, Bilingual Bookshelf every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARC Bookshelf | Bilingual Bookshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-bookshelf/id537997638/reviews) | **[4.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bilingual-bookshelf/id6469552772/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **38** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 34.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 30 MB | 598 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Reading Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/537997641) | [Gallaudet University](https://appshunter.io/developer/514659117) |

## 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


### Bilingual Bookshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bilingual-bookshelf/id6469552772)

Explore a collection of over 50 bilingual storybooks in American Sign Language and English. Designed for families, this app fosters language development, literacy, and a love for reading through engaging stories and vibrant illustrations.

**Highlights:** 50+ bilingual storybooks, American Sign Language (ASL) and English narration, Stunning illustrations, Vocabulary building, Early language development support, Literacy skill enhancement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARC Bookshelf free?

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

### Is Bilingual Bookshelf free?

Bilingual Bookshelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ARC Bookshelf or Bilingual Bookshelf?

Bilingual Bookshelf is rated higher. ARC Bookshelf averages 3.6 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Bilingual Bookshelf averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do ARC Bookshelf or Bilingual Bookshelf have ads?

Neither ARC Bookshelf nor Bilingual Bookshelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARC Bookshelf or Bilingual Bookshelf?

ARC Bookshelf ships an update every 2 months, and Bilingual Bookshelf every 5 weeks. Most recently, ARC Bookshelf was updated on November 1, 2026 and Bilingual Bookshelf on November 7, 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.*