# Readest vs Bookshelf

The clearest difference is price: Readest at Free against Bookshelf's $2.99. Readest also leads on ratings volume (178 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). Bookshelf's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 8). On ads there is nothing between them.

Readest is free to download; Bookshelf costs $2.99 up front. Readest sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Bookshelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bookshelf holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Readest has 178 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Readest ships an update fortnightly, Bookshelf daily. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Readest | Bookshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (178 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readest-ebook-reader/id6738622779/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelf-vox/id6740767372/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **178** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 85.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 67 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bilingify LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781524090) | [Andrea Gelati](https://appshunter.io/developer/946833064) |

## What reviewers say

### Readest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readest-ebook-reader/id6738622779)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscribe to Plus Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Subscribe to Pro Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Subscribe to Plus Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| Subscribe to Pro Plan | $99.99 | per year |
| 1 GB | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2 GB | $14.99 | one-time |
| 5 GB | $29.99 | one-time |
| 10 GB | $49.99 | one-time |


### Bookshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelf-vox/id6740767372)

Manage your entire book collection with this app. Quickly add books, track your reading progress, capture notes and quotes, and organize your library with custom tags. Seamlessly sync across devices.

**Highlights:** Instant book addition via search or barcode scan, Track reading progress and set goals, Capture notes and favorite quotes, Organize books by status, tags, and custom categories, Seamless iCloud synchronization across devices

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Readest free?

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

### Is Bookshelf free?

Bookshelf costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Readest or Bookshelf?

Bookshelf is rated higher. Readest averages 4.5 out of 5 from 178 ratings, while Bookshelf averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Readest or Bookshelf have ads?

Neither Readest nor Bookshelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Readest or Bookshelf?

Readest ships an update fortnightly, and Bookshelf daily. Most recently, Readest was updated on September 26, 2026 and Bookshelf on September 13, 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.*