# Readwise Books vs Actually Read

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Readwise Books at none against Actually Read's 1. Readwise Books also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 91%) and ratings volume (144 vs 47). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Actually Read sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Readwise Books asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Readwise Books against 4.9 for Actually Read. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 144 and 47 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Readwise Books's written reviews are positive against 91% of Actually Read's.

Readwise Books ships an update every 3 days, Actually Read every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Readwise Books | Actually Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (144 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwise-books/id6502848368/reviews)** | [4.9 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/actually-read-focus-reader/id6796197302/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **144** | 47 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 90.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#116** | #149 |
| Size | 133 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Readwise, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476885527) | [Prism32 LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1591711559) |

## What reviewers say

### Readwise Books

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwise-books/id6502848368)

**Currently charting:** #116 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

This reading app allows you to buy, read, and track all your books in one place. It automatically logs your reading sessions and provides detailed metrics to help you improve. Share your reading progress with friends in a low-pressure feed.

**Highlights:** Centralized book library, Automatic reading session logging, Detailed reading metrics, Print book tracking, Highlighting and note-taking, Optional social feed, EPUB audio playback

**In-app purchases:** none


### Actually Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/actually-read-focus-reader/id6796197302)

**Currently charting:** #149 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Enhance your reading experience by tracking books, blocking distractions, and engaging with content through AI-powered summaries and passage retrieval. Import your own EPUBs and PDFs, or discover public-domain books within a customizable reading environment.

**Highlights:** Book tracking and reading lists, Deep Focus app and website blocking, EPUB and PDF import, AI-powered book engagement, On-device AI processing, Customizable reading space

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Actually Read Plus | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Readwise Books free?

Readwise Books is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Actually Read free?

Actually Read is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Readwise Books or Actually Read?

Readwise Books is rated higher. Readwise Books averages 5.0 out of 5 from 144 ratings, while Actually Read averages 4.9 from 47 ratings.

### Do Readwise Books or Actually Read have ads?

Neither Readwise Books nor Actually Read shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Readwise Books or Actually Read?

Readwise Books ships an update every 3 days, and Actually Read every 2 days. Most recently, Readwise Books was updated on November 4, 2026 and Actually Read on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Readwise Books or Actually Read?

Readwise Books currently peaks at #116 in the App Store charts, and Actually Read at #149. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*