Comparison

Readest vs Vocal Reads

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

Head to head
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/

About

Vocal Reads

Features
Read full description

Vocal Reads — Powered by ReadHowYouWant Discover Vocal Reads, your ultimate companion for accessible books and audio books designed for everyone, including the visually impaired and readers with dyslexia. Experience the joy of stories and knowledge with features tailored to how you read and listen. Whether you want to read how you want or simply listen, Vocal Reads makes books accessible anytime, anywhere. New Features: Reading Mode & Listen-Only Mode – Switch between immersive reading and audio-only experiences to suit your preference. Key Features: Vast Library of Accessible Books Access a wide selection of dyslexic books, audio books, and more across multiple genres. Voice Navigation Navigate the app, select books, and control playback using intuitive voice commands, making reading effortless. Customizable Font & Style Adjust fonts, text size, and colors to enhance readability for partial visual impairments. Bookmarks & Progress Tracking Easily bookmark pages and track your reading progress across all your books. With ReadHowYouWant Vocal Reads, enjoy the flexibility to read or listen to books your way – because accessible reading should fit your lifestyle.

Screenshots

Readest4 screens
Vocal Reads4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Vocal Reads at every 6 days against Readest's fortnightly. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Readest sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Vocal Reads sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Readest ships an update fortnightly, Vocal Reads every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Readest versus Vocal Reads: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReadestVocal Reads
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (191 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews84.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings191 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB93 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBilingify LLCRentole Pvt. Ltd.

In-app purchases

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
10 purchases

Vocal Reads

One-time10
  • Buy vr-coins$15.00
  • Subscribe$17.49
  • Subscribe$22.99
Show 7 more
  • Buy vr-coins$25.00
  • Buy vr-coins$30.00
  • Buy vr-coins$45.00
  • Buy vr-coins$50.00
  • Buy vr-coins$80.00
  • Buy vr-coins$100.00
  • Buy vr-coins$200.00

Questions

Is Readest free?
Readest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Vocal Reads free?
Vocal Reads is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Readest or Vocal Reads have ads?
Neither Readest nor Vocal Reads shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Readest or Vocal Reads?
Readest ships an update fortnightly, and Vocal Reads every 6 days. Most recently, Readest was updated on October 20, 2026 and Vocal Reads on October 17, 2026.

Other comparisons