# Readest vs Hoshi Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Hoshi Reader at 5.0 against Readest's 4.5. Hoshi Reader also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 9) and review sentiment (100% vs 84%). Readest's advantage is ratings volume (185 vs 20) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Readest sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Hoshi Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hoshi Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Readest has 185 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Readest's written reviews are positive against 100% of Hoshi Reader's.

Readest ships an update fortnightly, Hoshi Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Readest | Hoshi Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (185 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readest-ebook-reader/id6738622779/reviews) | **[5.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoshi-reader/id6758244332/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **185** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 57 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bilingify LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781524090) | [Manh-Hao Steffen Pham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871502447) |

## 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 (9)**

| 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 |
| Full Customization | $19.99 | one-time |
| 5 GB | $29.99 | one-time |
| 10 GB | $49.99 | one-time |


### Hoshi Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoshi-reader/id6758244332)

This app is a lightweight Japanese EPUB reader designed for immersion learning. It features a pop-up dictionary with deinflection and supports Anki integration for vocabulary mining. Organize your library with bookshelves and track your reading progress.

**Highlights:** Vertical and horizontal reading modes, Yomitan-like pop-up dictionary, Anki mining support, Customizable Anki card format, Reading statistics, Bookshelves for library organization, Customizable themes and fonts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Readest free?

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

### Is Hoshi Reader free?

Hoshi Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Readest or Hoshi Reader?

Hoshi Reader is rated higher. Readest averages 4.5 out of 5 from 185 ratings, while Hoshi Reader averages 5.0 from 20 ratings.

### Do Readest or Hoshi Reader have ads?

Neither Readest nor Hoshi Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Readest or Hoshi Reader?

Readest ships an update fortnightly, and Hoshi Reader weekly. Most recently, Readest was updated on October 11, 2026 and Hoshi Reader on October 5, 2026.

---

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