Namo Amitabha vs Bookstar
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Namo Amitabha
Explore the profound meaning of "Namo Amitabha" within Pure Land Buddhism. This app delves into the concept of Amitabha Buddha's name as the embodiment of boundless kindness, compassion, wisdom, and merits.
- Explanation of Amitabha Buddha's Name
- Concepts of Pure Land Buddhism
- Spiritual merits and virtues
- Boundless kindness and compassion
- Wisdom and perfections of Buddhahood
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By accomplishment of his Name, Amitabha—or "Namo Amitabha" as he was called in full by Shakyamuni Buddha—ensured that the direct rewards (all beings or inhabitants in the Land of Bliss, including Amitabha himself) and the circumstantial rewards (all the landscapes and features of the Land of Bliss) were all manifestations of his Name. In Pure Land Buddhism, this is also known as "direct and circumstantial in a single entity." The Name "Namo Amitabha" is the body of Amitabha Buddha, filled with boundless kindness and compassion, perfect and complete wisdom, and splendid merits and virtues. It is also filled with Amitabha’s light, his vow-mind, his supernormal powers and energy, and all the exquisite perfections of Buddhahood.
Bookstar
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Read English books in the original — the ones you actually want to read. Bookstar keeps the translation right under the original text, page after page. Nothing to look up, nothing to type, no reason to put the book down. The safety net is already there. HOW IT WORKS 1. Add your own EPUB — from Files, iCloud, or anywhere on your iPhone.** 2. Read the original. The translation into your language stays below it, passage by passage.* 3. Tap a star to hear that sentence read aloud, and catch how the language actually sounds.* 4. Open Explain on a phrase that feels odd. It tells you what it means in plain words, with an everyday example.* WHAT YOU GET • Your own library — import the EPUB files you already own** • Translation always in view: no pop-ups, no dictionary detours, no losing your place* • Audio for any marked sentence — rhythm and pronunciation, not just meaning* • Translate into 11 languages: Spanish, French, German, Ukrainian, Polish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Turkish, Russian • A free classic included, so you can start today: The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan • A quiet reader — no streaks, no badges, no feed • Explanations for idioms and odd phrases — the meaning in plain words, and an example you can hear* WHO IT IS FOR • You are around B1–B2 in English, and textbooks stopped being enough • Your favourite author's new book is not translated into your language — and might never be • You moved abroad and need the living language, not classroom phrases • You are preparing for an exam and need real reading plus pronunciation *READING PAST PAGE 10 REQUIRES A SUBSCRIPTION The first 10 pages of a book are free. That includes the included classic and one book you import. Translation and audio are included on those free pages. **ONE IMPORTED BOOK IS FREE You can import one EPUB of your own without a subscription. Adding more of your own books requires Bookstar Premium. BOOKSTAR PREMIUM • Weekly Premium — 1 week — $9.99 • Six Month Premium — 6 months — $49.99 (equivalent to $8.33/month), with a 7-day free trial Prices are in U.S. dollars. In other countries the price is shown in your local currency on this page and on the subscription screen, before any payment is taken. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. You can manage or cancel in Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions. ABOUT THE BOOKS Bookstar is a reader, not a bookstore. We do not sell, host, or distribute books — you import EPUB files you already own. The one title included with the app is in the public domain. Format: EPUB only. Books must be in English; the translation can be any of the 11 languages above. Terms of Use: https://bookstar.cc/terms Privacy Policy: https://bookstar.cc/privacy
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Namo Amitabha at none against Bookstar's 3. Namo Amitabha also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.2). Bookstar's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 28 months). On price and ads 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. Bookstar sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Namo Amitabha asks for nothing beyond the download.
Namo Amitabha ships an update every 28 months, Bookstar every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Namo Amitabha | Bookstar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 28 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 18.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sam Tseng | Anatolii Malynovskyi |
In-app purchases
Namo Amitabha
No in-app purchases
Bookstar
- Monthly$5.991 Month
- Weekly$6.997 Days
- Six Months$29.996 Months









