Comparison

Storyteller Reader vs BookOrbit

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

Head to head
About

Storyteller Reader

Create and read ebooks with guided narration on your device. This self-hosted platform allows you to enjoy EPUB books, including those with immersive reading features. Pair it with a backend server for automatic alignment of audiobooks and ebooks.

Highlights
  • Create and read ebooks
  • Guided narration
  • EPUB support
  • Media Overlays
  • Immersive reading
  • Self-hosted backend integration
Features
Read full description

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!

About

BookOrbit

Manage and enjoy your entire digital library, including ebooks, comics, audiobooks, and podcasts, all in one private space. Access your content offline, track your reading habits, and even convert ebooks to audio. Premium features offer enhanced functionality and unlimited access.

Highlights
  • Supports multiple file formats (EPUB, MOBI, PDF, CBZ, etc.)
  • Offline access to downloaded content
  • Text-to-speech functionality
  • Bookmark, highlight, and note-taking
  • Activity and reading progress tracking
  • Apple Watch audio playback
Features
Read full description

BookOrbit is your private reading space for books, comics, PDFs, audiobooks, and podcasts. Connect to your BookOrbit server and keep your library close whether you are online or offline. READ YOUR WAY • Browse and search your library • Read EPUB, MOBI, AZW, AZW3, FB2, PDF, CBZ, CBR, and CB7 files • Listen to audiobooks with chapter navigation and playback controls • Turn supported ebooks into audio with text to speech • Add bookmarks, highlights, notes, and reading progress BUILT FOR OFFLINE Download books and audio for reliable access away from your server. Changes are saved locally and synced when your server is available again. YOUR READING LIFE Track activity, sessions, progress, achievements, pace, and reading patterns in one place. APPLE WATCH Take supported audio with you and listen offline from Apple Watch. iPAD BookOrbit is designed for iPad, with two-page spreads in the reader, a side panel for contents and notes, and a library, activity, and settings that use the whole screen in portrait, landscape, and resizable windows. Keyboard shortcuts and trackpad support are included. PREMIUM BookOrbit Premium unlocks unlimited downloads, Apple Watch listening, every app finish, advanced text to speech, and advanced activity insights. Choose a yearly subscription with a two-week free trial for eligible new subscribers, or a one-time Lifetime or Lifetime Family purchase. BookOrbit requires access to a compatible self-hosted BookOrbit server. Server availability, content, and storage are managed by you or your server administrator. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://bookorbit.github.io/bookorbit-ios-support/privacy/ Support: https://bookorbit.github.io/bookorbit-ios-support/support/

Screenshots

Storyteller Reader4 screens
BookOrbit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Storyteller Reader at 4.9 against BookOrbit's 4.3. Storyteller Reader also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (95% vs 68%). BookOrbit's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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. BookOrbit sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year. Storyteller Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Storyteller Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 34 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of Storyteller Reader's written reviews are positive against 68% of BookOrbit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Storyteller Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, BookOrbit every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Storyteller Reader versus BookOrbit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStoryteller ReaderBookOrbit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (46 ratings) — better4.3 (34 ratings)
Positive reviews95.0% of reviews — better67.6% of reviews
Number of ratings46 — better34
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShane FriedmanIla Chandel

Customer experience

Storyteller Reader

All ratings45 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive95.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.0%

BookOrbit

All ratings34 ratings
Positive79.4%
Neutral14.7%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral23.5%
Negative8.8%

In-app purchases

None

Storyteller Reader

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

BookOrbit

Subscriptions1
  • BookOrbit Premium Yearly14 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time3
  • BookOrbit Lifetime Family Upgrade$14.99
  • BookOrbit Premium Lifetime$24.99
  • BookOrbit Lifetime Family$39.99

Questions

Is Storyteller Reader free?
Storyteller Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BookOrbit free?
BookOrbit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Storyteller Reader or BookOrbit?
Storyteller Reader is rated higher. Storyteller Reader averages 4.9 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while BookOrbit averages 4.3 from 34 ratings.
Do Storyteller Reader or BookOrbit have ads?
Neither Storyteller Reader nor BookOrbit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Storyteller Reader or BookOrbit?
Storyteller Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, and BookOrbit every 5 days. Most recently, Storyteller Reader was updated on November 4, 2026 and BookOrbit on October 31, 2026.

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