# Umsizi Reader vs Xarra

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Umsizi Reader at none against Xarra's 3. Umsizi Reader also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Xarra sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Umsizi Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Umsizi Reader | Xarra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 76 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mobilica](https://appshunter.io/developer/834210337) | [Daniel Devesa Derksen-Staats](https://appshunter.io/developer/1866327000) |

## What reviewers say

### Umsizi Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/umsizi-reader/id6460006913)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Xarra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xarra-text-to-speech-reader/id6759402266)

Listen to articles, documents, and web content with natural-sounding text-to-speech. Customize playback speed, voices, and reading fonts, with optional synced highlighting. This app prioritizes privacy, working offline without accounts or tracking.

**Highlights:** On-device text-to-speech, Supports PDF, EPUB, Markdown, and more, Web article sharing, Adjustable playback speed and voices, Customizable reading fonts, Synced line and word highlighting, Offline functionality

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Umsizi Reader free?

Umsizi Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Xarra free?

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

### Do Umsizi Reader or Xarra have ads?

Neither Umsizi Reader nor Xarra shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Umsizi Reader or Xarra?

Umsizi Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, and Xarra every 3 weeks. Most recently, Umsizi Reader was updated on October 25, 2026 and Xarra on October 25, 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.*