# Readest vs Reader Alive

The clearest difference is ads: Readest at none against Reader Alive's shown. Reader Alive's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Readest sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Reader Alive sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Readest ships an update fortnightly, Reader Alive every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Readest | Reader Alive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (185 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readest-ebook-reader/id6738622779/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **185** | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 57 MB | 289 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bilingify LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781524090) | [Nocoly.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/1766222288) |

## 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 |


### Reader Alive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader-alive/id6766441925)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Readest free?

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

### Is Reader Alive free?

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

### Do Readest or Reader Alive have ads?

Reader Alive shows ads; Readest does not.

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

Readest ships an update fortnightly, and Reader Alive every 5 days. Most recently, Readest was updated on October 11, 2026 and Reader Alive on September 26, 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.*