# iReadNote vs HiReader

The clearest difference is ads: HiReader at none against iReadNote's shown. HiReader also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). iReadNote's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (135 vs 10). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iReadNote sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and HiReader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iReadNote holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iReadNote has 135 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of iReadNote's written reviews are positive against 88% of HiReader's.

iReadNote ships an update monthly, HiReader every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iReadNote | HiReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ireadnote/id6450734655/reviews)** | [4.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hireader-epub-and-pdf-reader/id6737322638/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **135** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **94.4% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [晓德 江](https://appshunter.io/developer/1694635894) | [云根 付](https://appshunter.io/developer/1696464801) |

## What reviewers say

### iReadNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ireadnote/id6450734655)

This app offers a highly customizable reading experience for various text and comic formats. It supports over 40 file types, allows for deep personalization of the reading interface, and includes features like smart notes, audiobook streaming, and multi-device sync. Family controls and robust backup options are also provided.

**Highlights:** Supports 40+ file types, Customizable reading interface, Smart notes and highlights, Audiobook playback and sync, Cloud drive and WebDAV import, Multi-device iCloud sync, Family controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscriptions | $0.99 | per month |
| Three Monthly Subscriptions | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly Subscriptions | $3.99 | per year |
| Buy me a drink | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buyout permanent members | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Highly customizable interface and reading settings
- ⚡ Smooth and fast performance
- 📚 Excellent local file reading capabilities
- 🎙️ Advanced text-to-speech with custom voice sources
- 💾 Small app size with rich features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 📡 Forced internet requirement for local reader
- 🔊 Intrusive and frequent reward video popups
- ❌ Misleading ad close buttons that don't work
- ⚙️ Settings not persisting between sessions

**Reported bugs**

- Reading jumps backward to previous pages unexpectedly
- Search button and text overlap after deleting books
- TTS configuration not saved between sessions
- App crashes when exporting voice configuration
- Voice highlighting out of sync with audio playback

**Requested features**

- iCloud sync for books and reading progress across devices
- Reset sync status option for switching Apple IDs
- Password protection after app backgrounding
- Improved PDF functionality with draggable progress bar and page jumping
- Chapter-based audio stop trigger instead of time-based


### HiReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hireader-epub-and-pdf-reader/id6737322638)

Organize and read your local ebooks with a feature-rich reader. Supports multiple formats, custom themes, and detailed reading statistics. Sync your progress across devices.

**Highlights:** Multi-format ebook support, Organize books into groups, Customizable reading layout and themes, Detailed reading statistics, Cloud sync for progress and files, Flexible document import options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HiReader Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| HiReader Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| HiReader Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iReadNote free?

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

### Is HiReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iReadNote or HiReader?

iReadNote is rated higher. iReadNote averages 4.8 out of 5 from 135 ratings, while HiReader averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do iReadNote or HiReader have ads?

iReadNote shows ads; HiReader does not.

### Which is updated more often, iReadNote or HiReader?

iReadNote ships an update monthly, and HiReader every 9 days. Most recently, iReadNote was updated on October 21, 2026 and HiReader on October 20, 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.*