Comparison

Bookshop.org vs Wisdom.org

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

Head to head
About

Bookshop.org

Read your ebooks and discover new titles while supporting independent bookstores. All ebook purchases made through this platform directly benefit local bookshops, ensuring their continued success in the digital age.

Highlights
  • Read ebooks from your library
  • Browse millions of ebooks
  • Add titles to wishlist
  • Support local bookstores with purchases
  • Connect seamlessly with Bookshop
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Bookshop.org’s mission is simple: We help local, independent bookstores thrive by giving more than 80% of our profits back to our network of 3,000+ stores. In our app, you can read millions of ebooks - and every purchase supports an independent bookstore near you! In the Bookshop app you can: - Read your ebooks in our customizable ebook reader. - Browse millions of titles and discover your next favorite read in romance, thrillers, mystery, fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and more. - Organize your TBR into custom shelves. - Highlight in five different colors, and add notes to your highlighted passages. - Sort & filter highlights and notes by date created, book order, and more. - Save titles to your wishlist so you can read them later. - Shop knowing that over 80% of the profit goes directly to local, independent bookstores. We’re a Certified B Corp, and we’ve raised more than $50 million for independent bookstores nationwide since 2020. Download the Bookshop.org app to support bookstores, not billionaires.

About

Wisdom.org

Explore a curated library of Buddhist teachings from various traditions. Access books on Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, and mindfulness, designed for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Download content for offline reading and integrate teachings into your daily life.

Highlights
  • Curated Buddhist library
  • Teachings on Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, mindfulness
  • Offline book downloads
  • Guided reflections and practical teachings
  • Accessible for beginners and scholars
  • Intuitive reading experience
Features
Read full description

Looking to begin your journey into Buddhism or deepen your existing practice? The Wisdom App is your gateway to a rich and carefully curated library of teachings drawn from the world’s great Buddhist traditions. Whether you are new to meditation or a longtime practitioner, this app offers a space to study, reflect, and grow—at your own pace and on your own terms. At the heart of the Wisdom App is an extensive digital collection featuring titles on Tibetan Buddhism, Theravada, Zen practice, and modern mindfulness. Each book is thoughtfully selected to support a wide range of readers—from the simply curious to dedicated students of Buddhist philosophy. With just a few taps, you can explore teachings from renowned masters, contemporary scholars, and beloved meditation instructors, all in one place. Designed for both accessibility and depth, the app allows you to download books directly to your device, making it easy to read anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re commuting, traveling, or setting aside quiet time at home, your library is always within reach. The reading experience is clean and intuitive, helping you stay focused on what matters most: engaging with the teachings. The Wisdom App is more than just a reading platform—it’s a companion on the path. It invites you not only to learn about the Dharma, but to put it into practice in your daily life. Through clear instructions, guided reflections, and practical teachings, the app supports you in transforming insight into lived experience. Study becomes contemplation; contemplation becomes action. Whether you are cultivating mindfulness in everyday moments, developing compassion in your relationships, or engaging in formal meditation, the Wisdom App helps bridge the gap between understanding and embodiment. You’ll find guidance on establishing a steady practice, working skillfully with the mind, and integrating key principles such as impermanence, non-attachment, and interdependence into your life. The app encourages you to return again and again to the essentials of the path—ethical conduct, mental clarity, and wisdom—while offering teachings that illuminate how these qualities unfold over time. In this way, the Dharma becomes not just something you read about, but something you live. For scholars and serious practitioners, the Wisdom App also provides access to authoritative translations and commentaries that illuminate classical texts with precision and care. For newcomers, it offers approachable and engaging introductions that make complex ideas understandable and relevant. This balance ensures that the app remains a valuable resource as your knowledge and experience evolve. With its seamless design and thoughtfully curated content, the Wisdom App brings centuries of Buddhist insight into the modern world. It bridges tradition and technology, making it easier than ever to connect with teachings that have guided generations toward greater awareness and compassion. The Wisdom App is free for Wisdom Plus members, gives you instant access to our new and featured releases, enables you to build your personalized portable library, shows you what’s trending with your fellow Wisdom readers, learn about Wisdom’s highly respected authors, and watch featured videos. Wherever you are on your path, the Wisdom App places a world of wisdom in your hands—inviting you not only to read deeply, but to practice sincerely, embody the Dharma, and live with greater presence, purpose, and compassion each day.

Screenshots

Bookshop.org4 screens
Wisdom.org4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bookshop.org at none against Wisdom.org's 14. Bookshop.org also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 4) and chart position (#145 vs unranked). Wisdom.org's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Wisdom.org sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Bookshop.org asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Wisdom.org holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshop.org has 2.2K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bookshop.org ships an update every 5 days, Wisdom.org weekly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Bookshop.org versus Wisdom.org: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookshop.orgWisdom.org
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.2K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews56.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.2K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#145 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.416.4
Further details — not scored
Size111 MB118 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperBookshop, Inc.Wisdom Publications

Customer experience

Bookshop.org

All ratings2,175 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews180 reviews
Positive56.7%
Neutral22.8%
Negative20.6%

Wisdom.org

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Bookshop.org

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to remember last page read
  • Scrolling issues and unexpected page skipping
  • Formatting problems (stripped italics, weird paragraph spacing)
  • Settings not persisting between app sessions

Requested features

7 requests
  • More font and theme options
  • Ability to adjust line spacing, margins, and other formatting
  • Implement highlighting, annotation, and note-taking features
  • Add search functionality
  • Improve page turning and navigation
Show 2 more
  • Provide better dark mode/night reading experience
  • Sync reading progress across devices

Wisdom.org

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Bookshop.org

No in-app purchases

14 purchases

Wisdom.org

One-time14
  • eBook$11.99
  • eBook$12.99
  • eBook$17.99
Show 11 more
  • eBook$20.99
  • eBook$50.99
  • eBook$53.99
  • eBook$55.99
  • eBook$59.99
  • eBook$60.99
  • eBook$63.99
  • eBook$64.99
  • eBook$66.99
  • eBook$73.99
  • eBook$89.99

Questions

Is Bookshop.org free?
Bookshop.org is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wisdom.org free?
Wisdom.org is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bookshop.org or Wisdom.org?
Wisdom.org is rated higher. Bookshop.org averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Wisdom.org averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Bookshop.org or Wisdom.org have ads?
Neither Bookshop.org nor Wisdom.org shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bookshop.org or Wisdom.org?
Bookshop.org ships an update every 5 days, and Wisdom.org weekly. Most recently, Bookshop.org was updated on October 25, 2026 and Wisdom.org on October 25, 2026.

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