# iReadNote vs Scuba

The clearest difference is ads: Scuba at none against iReadNote's shown. Scuba also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). iReadNote's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). 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 Scuba sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $24.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iReadNote ships an update monthly, Scuba every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iReadNote | Scuba |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (131 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ireadnote/id6450734655/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **131** | — |
| Positive reviews | 94.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 51 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [晓德 江](https://appshunter.io/developer/1694635894) | [Tim Brown](https://appshunter.io/developer/1792076997) |

## 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


### Scuba

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scuba-classic-book-reader/id6761863067)

Discover and read classic books with a modern, mobile-first approach. This app breaks down stories into digestible beats, using vertical swipes for natural phone navigation. Story recaps and offline reading features help you maintain your reading habit.

**Highlights:** Story beats for easier reading, Recaps to remember story progress, Vertical swiping for phone reading, Home screen widget for current book, Offline reading support, Curated bookstore

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scuba Reading Pass | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iReadNote free?

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

### Is Scuba free?

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

### Do iReadNote or Scuba have ads?

iReadNote shows ads; Scuba does not.

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

iReadNote ships an update monthly, and Scuba every 3 days. Most recently, iReadNote was updated on September 25, 2026 and Scuba on September 21, 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.*