Comparison

MartialTales vs ArcReader

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

Head to head
About

MartialTales

Features
Read full description

Welcome to "Wuxia Zhuan" - an immersive reading app that brings together classic martial arts novels and Chinese classic masterpieces! Here, you will delve into the ancient world of martial arts, explore the endless ways of chivalry, and experience thrilling adventures and legendary stories. "Wuxia Zhuan" includes many martial arts novels and highly respected Chinese classic masterpieces such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "The Art of War" and "Journey to the West". Here, you can immerse yourself in the heroic deeds, superb swordsmanship and noble ideals in the martial arts world, while exploring the historical struggles, strategic wisdom and mythological journeys in these legendary works. From the legendary gatherings of martial arts heroes to the thrilling battles of the rivers and lakes, from the epic stories of ancient dynasties to Sun Tzu's eternal strategies, each story will bring you into the colorful world of martial arts and Chinese literature. Whether you are a veteran lover of martial arts novels, a lover of Chinese classics, or a first-timer in these themes, "Wuxia Zhuan" can meet your needs. There are a wealth of classic martial arts novels and immortal Chinese masterpieces here, waiting for you to explore and embark on an unforgettable reading journey. Join "Wuxia Zhuan" now, start an exciting martial arts adventure, explore the colorful world of martial arts and Chinese classics, and experience an epic fantasy journey! Subscription Function Description Subscription service: Automatic renewal of novel membership -Subscription period: 1 month (continuous monthly product package), 3 months (continuous seasonal product package), and 12 months (continuous annual product package). Payment: After the user confirms the purchase and makes the payment, it will be credited to their iTunes account Renewal: Apple iTunes account will be charged within 24 hours before expiration. After successful deduction, the subscription cycle will be extended by one subscription cycle Cancel Renewal: To cancel the renewal, please manually disable the automatic renewal feature in iTunes/ApplelD settings management 24 hours before the current subscription period expires Privacy Policy: https://novel.rayenergytech.com/privacy.html Membership Service Agreement: https://novel.rayenergytech.com/terms.html

About

ArcReader

Download and read web novels offline with customizable themes, fonts, and scroll modes. Convert novels to audiobooks with on-device narration and build vocabulary with an integrated dictionary. Sync progress across devices and import EPUB files.

Highlights
  • Download and read web novels offline
  • Customizable reader themes and fonts
  • On-device text-to-speech narration
  • EPUB file import
  • Integrated dictionary with flashcards
  • Cross-device reading progress sync
Features
Read full description

Paste any web novel link. Download every chapter. Read offline anywhere — no account, no subscription required to start. ArcReader is the offline-first reader for Royal Road, WTR-Lab, NovelFire, and dozens more sources. Bring your own link, we handle the rest — whether it's progression fantasy, xianxia, cultivation fiction, LitRPG, isekai, romance, or any English web novel and light novel. Loved by readers who wanted something quieter: no crowded feeds, no coin walls, just your books. Built for readers who want full control: pick your theme, your font, your scroll mode, and read offline whenever you want. POPULAR GENRES ON ARCREADER Progression Fantasy · Cultivation · Xianxia · Wuxia · Xuanhuan · LitRPG · GameLit · Isekai · Reincarnation · Fantasy · Romance · Sci-Fi · Fanfiction · Thriller · Horror · Slice of Life · Harem · Adventure WHY READERS LOVE ARCREADER A reader designed for long sessions Choose between four themes (Light, Dark, Sepia, Black AMOLED). Adjust font size, line spacing, font family, and margins to find your perfect setup. Switch between paginated mode with page-turn animation, or smooth continuous scroll. Listen with on-device narration Built-in neural text-to-speech turns any novel into an audiobook — runs entirely on your device. No internet required, no data costs, no monthly fees for the core feature. Adjustable speed from 0.75x to 2x, lock-screen controls, sleep timer, and auto-advance between chapters. Offline-first reading Downloaded content stays on your device in a local library — not a temporary cache. Read on airplanes, in tunnels, or anywhere connectivity is unreliable. Import your own EPUB files Already have books saved as EPUB? Import them straight into your library and read them with the same themes, fonts, and narration as everything else. Look up words and build vocabulary Tap any word for an instant dictionary definition, then save it as a flashcard. Review your flashcards later to lock in new vocabulary as you read. Highlights and notes Long-press to highlight passages in four colors with optional notes. Review all your highlights for any title in one place. Reading position sync Auto-saves your position every few seconds. Open a book on another device and continue exactly where you left off, after signing in. No sign-up wall Open the app and start reading. Account creation is optional — only needed if you want to sync between devices. EVERYTHING ARCREADER OFFERS - Customizable reader (themes, fonts, layout, scroll modes) - On-device neural text-to-speech with voice selection - Background audio with lock-screen controls and sleep timer - Highlights and notes with color coding - Import your own EPUB files into your library - Built-in dictionary with tap-to-define - Vocabulary flashcards to review and remember new words - Reading progress auto-save and cross-device sync - Daily reading goals and streaks - Reading statistics and history ARCREADER VIP (OPTIONAL SUBSCRIPTION) ArcReader VIP adds: - Premium cloud voices for high-quality narration - Unlimited chapter downloads - Ad-free reading experience ArcReader VIP is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. The exact price in your local currency is shown in the app and on the App Store before you confirm. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at purchase confirmation. Subscriptions auto-renew unless turned off in iOS Settings at least 24 hours before the current period ends; renewal is charged within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. PRIVACY ArcReader stores your reading data on your device. Optional account sync uses encrypted cloud storage. We do not sell your data. Full privacy policy available below. Terms of Service: https://arcreaders.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://arcreaders.app/privacy.html

Screenshots

MartialTales4 screens
ArcReader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: MartialTales at 13.0 against ArcReader's 15.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. MartialTales sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ArcReader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MartialTales ships an update every 5 days, ArcReader weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
MartialTales versus ArcReader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMartialTalesArcReader
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (67 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—95.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—67 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB155 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperRayenergyThien Le

In-app purchases

4 purchases

MartialTales

Subscriptions3
  • one month$2.991 Month
  • Three months$5.993 Months
  • One year$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • one book$0.99
3 purchases

ArcReader

Subscriptions2
  • ArcReader VIP — Monthly$5.991 Month
  • ArcReader VIP — Annual$44.991 Year
One-time1
  • ArcReader VIP - Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is MartialTales free?
MartialTales is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ArcReader free?
ArcReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MartialTales or ArcReader have ads?
Both MartialTales and ArcReader show ads.
Which is updated more often, MartialTales or ArcReader?
MartialTales ships an update every 5 days, and ArcReader weekly. Most recently, MartialTales was updated on October 27, 2026 and ArcReader on October 31, 2026.

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