# Shakespeare Audio Library vs Gutenberg | eBook Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Gutenberg | eBook Reader at 4.5 against Shakespeare Audio Library's 3.8. Gutenberg | eBook Reader also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 33%) and ratings volume (713 vs 4). Shakespeare Audio Library's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shakespeare Audio Library sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Gutenberg | eBook Reader sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Gutenberg | eBook Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gutenberg | eBook Reader has 713 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Shakespeare Audio Library's written reviews are positive against 69% of Gutenberg | eBook Reader's.

Shakespeare Audio Library ships an update every 7 months, Gutenberg | eBook Reader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 6, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shakespeare Audio Library | Gutenberg | eBook Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-audio-library/id667980121/reviews) | **[4.5 (713 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gutenberg-ebook-reader/id1289618861/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **713** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **69.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WGQM Partners, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731208667) | [Webron Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1071126548) |

## What reviewers say

### Shakespeare Audio Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare-audio-library/id667980121)

Access the complete audio works of William Shakespeare, including plays and poetry. Stream content for free with samples, or upgrade for unlimited access to the entire library without taking up device storage. Works on both iPhone and iPad.

**Highlights:** Complete works of Shakespeare, Audio versions of plays, Shakespearean poetry, Famous monologues and dialogues, Streamed content (no storage), Works on iPhone and iPad

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shakespeare Full Library | $2.99 | one-time |


### Gutenberg | eBook Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gutenberg-ebook-reader/id1289618861)

Access a vast library of public domain e-books and audiobooks from around the world. Explore tens of thousands of titles across numerous languages and categories, including classics and popular works.

**Highlights:** Vast public domain e-book library, Extensive audiobook collection, Thousands of titles available, Multiple languages supported, Categorized book selection, Top 50 e-books listed

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium | $39.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Extensive collection of classic literature
- 💰 Free access to thousands of books
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 📖 Page-turning feature mimics physical books
- 🌙 Night mode for comfortable reading

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Search function is unreliable and confusing
- 📱 Poor book organization and browsing
- 💔 Missing many books found on Project Gutenberg website
- 📺 Excessive and intrusive advertisements
- ⚙️ Limited customization options for book format

**Reported bugs**

- Search returns no results or irrelevant results
- Books listed on Project Gutenberg not appearing in app
- App fails to download certain books
- Reading progress not saved between sessions
- Continuous scroll instead of page-by-page display

**Requested features**

- Improved search functionality with better filtering
- Better book organization and categorization system
- Dictionary/word definition feature
- Improved paragraph spacing and text formatting
- Page-by-page navigation instead of chapter-based


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shakespeare Audio Library free?

Shakespeare Audio Library is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Gutenberg | eBook Reader free?

Gutenberg | eBook Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Shakespeare Audio Library or Gutenberg | eBook Reader?

Gutenberg | eBook Reader is rated higher. Shakespeare Audio Library averages 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Gutenberg | eBook Reader averages 4.5 from 713 ratings.

### Do Shakespeare Audio Library or Gutenberg | eBook Reader have ads?

Gutenberg | eBook Reader shows ads; Shakespeare Audio Library does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shakespeare Audio Library or Gutenberg | eBook Reader?

Shakespeare Audio Library ships an update every 7 months, and Gutenberg | eBook Reader every 6 weeks. Most recently, Shakespeare Audio Library was updated on June 6, 2026 and Gutenberg | eBook Reader on September 23, 2026.

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