# Harvard Classics vs Shakespeare

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Harvard Classics | Shakespeare |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.4 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-classics/id624152311/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-complete-works/id6449892170/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 19 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [himalaya-soft](https://appshunter.io/developer/464715011) | [Mysthetic Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1679661112) |

## What reviewers say

### Harvard Classics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-classics/id624152311)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shakespeare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-complete-works/id6449892170)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Venus and Adonis | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Rape of Lucrece | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Phoenix and the Turtle | $0.99 | one-time |
| A Lovers Complaint | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Passionate Pilgrim | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Twelfth Night | $0.99 | one-time |
| Romeo and Juliet | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hamlet | $0.99 | one-time |
| Macbeth | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cymbeline | $0.99 | one-time |
| King John | $0.99 | one-time |
| Henry IV Part II | $0.99 | one-time |
| Troilus and Cressida | $0.99 | one-time |
| Henry VI Part II | $0.99 | one-time |
| Henry VI Part III | $0.99 | one-time |
| Henry VIII | $0.99 | one-time |
| Richard III | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pericles, Prince of Tyre | $0.99 | one-time |
| Richard II | $0.99 | one-time |
| Complete Collection - 37 Plays | $19.99 | one-time |


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