Comparison

plappa vs Readest

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

Head to head
About

plappa

This app is a client for self-hosted media servers like Jellyfin and AudioBookShelf, designed specifically for playing audiobooks. It supports common audio formats, reads metadata, and allows for offline listening with optional in-app purchases for advanced features.

Highlights
  • Jellyfin, Emby, AudioBookShelf client
  • Supports common audio formats
  • Saves and syncs playback states
  • Reads audiobook metadata
  • Offline listening (via IAP)
  • Podcast and collection support (AudioBookShelf)
Features
Read full description

Disclaimer: plappa only works in connection with a Jellyfin or AudioBookShelf media server! plappa is an audiobook player/client for Jellyfin, Emby and AudioBookShelf, the popular self-hosted media server. Features: - Support for most common audio formats - Purpose built for audiobooks - Save and sync playback states via iCloud or your AudioBookShelf server - Reads metadata like author, narrator and others - Download audiobooks and podcast episodes for offline listening* - Support for podcasts, collections and series with AudioBookShelf * plappa allows you to unlock additional features like downloads and customization options through optional in-app purchases: You can choose between a one-time purchase or an auto-renewing subscription (1 month free trial included). The one-time purchase unlocks all current and future updates. With the subscription, all features are available for the duration of your subscription. Both the subscription and one-time purchase can be shared with your family. plappa is licensed under the Apple standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Readest

This app is a powerful ebook reader designed for deep thinkers and researchers. It offers advanced annotation tools, seamless device syncing, and robust library management with OPDS and Calibre support. Enjoy a distraction-free reading experience with customizable modes and multi-book viewing for enhanced study and analysis.

Highlights
  • OPDS Online Libraries
  • Calibre Integration
  • Sync Across Devices
  • Bookshelf Management
  • Customizable Reading Modes
  • Multi-Book View
  • Advanced Annotations & Highlights
Features
Read full description

Readest is an ebook reader for people who read a lot, and who want their books, notes and reading position on whatever device is nearest. Open EPUB, PDF, MOBI, AZW3, FB2, CBZ, TXT and Markdown in one library. Pull books from OPDS catalogs or from your own Calibre server. Read, annotate, listen, translate. Made for iPhone and iPad • CarPlay, so you can keep listening on the road with playback controls on the dashboard • Download read-aloud voices per book and listen with no connection at all • Add books from Files, Mail or any share sheet, and read them in place instead of copying them into a second library • Open up to four books at once on iPad and arrange them how you like Reading • Paginated or scrolling, with custom fonts, themes, spacing and margins • Vertical text for CJK books • Contrast and refresh tuned for e-ink screens • Full-text search inside a book Your library • Browse, search and download from OPDS catalogs and public libraries • Connect to Calibre or Calibre-Web, covers and metadata included • Organize with bookshelf groups you can rename Notes • Highlights, bookmarks and structured notes • Copy a highlight together with a deep link back to the passage • Export your annotations Listening and languages • Text-to-speech with downloadable offline voices • Translate a sentence, a page, or an entire book • Wikipedia and dictionary lookup without leaving the page Sync • Readest Cloud, or bring your own: iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, WebDAV, S3 • KOReader sync keeps your progress in step with your e-reader • iPhone, iPad, Mac, all other platforms and the web Readest is open source. Support: support@readest.com Privacy Policy: https://readest.com/privacy-policy Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

plappa4 screens
Readest4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: plappa at 4.7 against Readest's 4.5. Readest's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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. plappa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year and Readest sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

plappa holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 331 and 185 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of plappa's written reviews are positive against 84% of Readest's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

plappa ships an update every 5 weeks, Readest fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
plappa versus Readest: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterplappaReadest
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (331 ratings) — better4.5 (185 ratings)
Positive reviews86.5% of reviews — better83.9% of reviews
Number of ratings331 — better185
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLeo WehrfritzBilingify LLC

Customer experience

plappa

All ratings331 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral4.2%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews289 reviews
Positive86.5%
Neutral6.2%
Negative7.3%

Readest

All ratings185 ratings
Positive86.5%
Neutral5.4%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews280 reviews
Positive83.9%
Neutral5.4%
Negative10.7%

Bugs and requests

plappa

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Can't login Audiobookshelf
  • Podcasts library not listing all podcasts

Requested features

9 requests
  • Auto download when start playing book
  • Auto delete when finished book
  • Option to add multiple servers
  • More sorting and filtering options in the library section
  • Refresh button for libraries
Show 4 more
  • Easy way to change server address without logging out
  • Sync the unplayed/unlistened flags with AudiobookShelf
  • Shortcut to bookmarks from within the player
  • Slider for fine-tuned control of playback speed

Readest

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

plappa

Subscriptions1
  • Subscription (1 Year)1 Month trial$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full Version (Lifetime)$4.99
9 purchases

Readest

Subscriptions4
  • Subscribe to Plus Plan$4.991 Month
  • Subscribe to Pro Plan$9.991 Month
  • Subscribe to Plus Plan$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Subscribe to Pro Plan$99.991 Year
One-time5
  • 1 GB$9.99
  • 2 GB$14.99
  • Full Customization$19.99
Show 2 more
  • 5 GB$29.99
  • 10 GB$49.99

Questions

Is plappa free?
plappa is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Readest free?
Readest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, plappa or Readest?
plappa is rated higher. plappa averages 4.7 out of 5 from 331 ratings, while Readest averages 4.5 from 185 ratings.
Do plappa or Readest have ads?
Neither plappa nor Readest shows ads.
Which is updated more often, plappa or Readest?
plappa ships an update every 5 weeks, and Readest fortnightly. Most recently, plappa was updated on October 12, 2026 and Readest on October 11, 2026.

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