Storyteller Reader vs Thorium Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Storyteller Reader
This app allows you to read EPUB ebooks with guided narration on your device. It supports immersive reading features and can sync with a self-hosted backend for automatic audiobook and ebook alignment.
- Read EPUB books
- Guided narration support
- Immersive reading
- Self-hosted backend pairing
- Automatic audiobook/ebook alignment
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Storyteller is a self-hosted platform for creating and reading ebooks with guided narration. You can use the app to read any EPUB books, including those with Media Overlays (also called “immersive reading” or “guided narration”) on your device, or you can pair it with the Storyteller self-hosted backend server, which can automatically align audiobooks and ebooks for immersive reading!
Thorium Reader
Organize all your ebooks, comics, and manga in a single app. Customize your reading experience with adjustable text, fonts, and themes. Listen to audiobooks and zoom into visual content with ease.
- Unified bookshelf for all content
- Adjustable text size and spacing
- Multiple font options
- Text-to-speech audio playback
- Zoom for comics and manga
- Offline dictionary and translation
- Import EPUB, PDF, CBZ files
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Looking for an app where you can bring all your ebooks, comics and manga in one place? That’s what we built Thorium Reader for. Read it your way Everyone’s different, that’s why we want you to be fully in control: • Adjust text size, switch between color schemes with themes and control spacing. • 10+ fonts available, including specialized ones. • You prefer audio? Listen to any ebook, whenever you want. We’ll remember your preference. • Zoom into comics, manga and magazines. • Add bookmarks with notes. • Use the built-in iOS dictionary and translation features, even offline. • Tweak your reading experience with reading options. Bring your own books A single bookshelf and reading application where you can bring all your content: • Download free books, borrow from your library or buy from your favorite retailer. • Support for ebooks, documents, comics and manga. • Import EPUB, PDF and CBZ files. • Support for Readium LCP, used by thousands of libraries and retailers. Thorium Reader is built by EDRLab, a non-profit dedicated to open standards, reading and accessibility.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Storyteller Reader at 5.0 against Thorium Reader's 3.9. Storyteller Reader also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 60%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Storyteller Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Storyteller Reader's written reviews are positive against 60% of Thorium Reader's.
Storyteller Reader ships an update weekly, Thorium Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Storyteller Reader | Thorium Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (37 ratings) — better | 3.9 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 60.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 37 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 26.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Shane Friedman | Readium |
Customer experience
Storyteller Reader
Thorium Reader
In-app purchases
Storyteller Reader
No in-app purchases
Thorium Reader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Storyteller Reader free?
Is Thorium Reader free?
Which has better reviews, Storyteller Reader or Thorium Reader?
Do Storyteller Reader or Thorium Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Storyteller Reader or Thorium Reader?
Other comparisons
