Comparison

Harvard Classics vs Shakespeare

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

Head to head
About

Harvard Classics

Explore the history of religion, philosophy, civilization, and science through curated classic texts. This app offers a vast collection of essential readings, including the Harvard Classics, with options to read, listen, or follow along. Enjoy features like offline access, customizable reading settings, and integrated Wikipedia articles for deeper understanding.

Highlights
  • Curated classic texts
  • Read, listen, or read-along options
  • Offline access
  • Integrated Wikipedia articles
  • Customizable reading settings
  • Bookmark and search functionality
Features
Read full description

Guided by Dr. Eliot, the famed president of Harvard University, you will journey through the history of religion and philosophy, the history of civilization, and the history of classic science. Along the way, Dr. Eliot will introduce you to the books selected from the famed Harvard Classics. All classics you ever need to read in History and Civilization, in Philosophy and Religion, and in Science are collected in one app. Read, listen, or read-along these books of Harvard Classics, plus 50,000+ Gutenberg classics, on-line, off-line, anywhere, anytime. Text of each book is hand-reformatted for best reading experience, audio books done by experienced readers, and videos professionally presented. Inside each book, you can also explore an in-depth Wikipedia article about the author and the book, Most of the basic features for a book reader are also provided, include, page-turning, bookmarking, night reading, changing font size, changing background color, dictionary, and word and phrase looking up in search engine or Wikipedia.

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

Harvard Classics4 screens
Shakespeare4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Shakespeare at Free against Harvard Classics's $2.99. Shakespeare also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.4) and review sentiment (67% vs 25%). Harvard Classics's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 20) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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; Harvard Classics costs $2.99 up front. Shakespeare sells 20 one-off in-app purchases. Harvard Classics asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shakespeare holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Harvard Classics has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Harvard Classics's written reviews are positive against 67% of Shakespeare's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Harvard Classics ships an update every 3 months, Shakespeare fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Harvard Classics versus Shakespeare: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHarvard ClassicsShakespeare
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.4 (11 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB62 MB
Age rating12+12+
Developerhimalaya-softMysthetic Inc

Customer experience

Harvard Classics

All ratings11 ratings
Positive45.5%
Neutral27.3%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

Shakespeare

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

In-app purchases

None

Harvard Classics

No in-app purchases

20 purchases

Shakespeare

One-time20
  • Venus and Adonis$0.99
  • The Rape of Lucrece$0.99
  • The Phoenix and the Turtle$0.99
Show 17 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
  • Cymbeline$0.99
  • King John$0.99
  • Henry IV Part II$0.99
  • Troilus and Cressida$0.99
  • Henry VI Part II$0.99
  • Henry VI Part III$0.99
  • Henry VIII$0.99
  • Richard III$0.99
  • Pericles, Prince of Tyre$0.99
  • Richard II$0.99
  • Complete Collection - 37 Plays$19.99

Questions

Is Harvard Classics free?
Harvard Classics 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, Harvard Classics or Shakespeare?
Shakespeare is rated higher. Harvard Classics averages 3.4 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Shakespeare averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Harvard Classics or Shakespeare have ads?
Shakespeare shows ads; Harvard Classics does not.
Which is updated more often, Harvard Classics or Shakespeare?
Harvard Classics ships an update every 3 months, and Shakespeare fortnightly. Most recently, Harvard Classics was updated on October 5, 2026 and Shakespeare on October 11, 2026.

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