# Academic Reader vs Folio

The clearest difference is rating: Folio at 4.7 against Academic Reader's 4.0. Folio also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). Academic Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Folio sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Academic Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Folio holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 7 respectively.

Academic Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, Folio every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Academic Reader | Folio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/academic-reader/id6738695009/reviews) | **[4.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/folio-book-tracker/id6764345729/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **7** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 45 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Glassboxx Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1547970169) | [Miguel Pacheco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814844861) |

## What reviewers say

### Academic Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/academic-reader/id6738695009)

This application allows users to read ebooks published by Glassboxx Academic Publishers. It provides a dedicated platform for accessing and viewing academic content on mobile devices.

**Highlights:** Ebook reading, Access academic content, Glassboxx publisher support, Mobile viewing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Folio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/folio-book-tracker/id6764345729)

This app helps you meticulously track your reading progress, manage your book library, and cultivate a consistent reading habit. It allows for detailed logging of quotes, reviews, and reading statistics, offering a private and organized space for bibliophiles.

**Highlights:** Organize books into shelves, Save and sync favorite quotes, Rate books with quarter-star precision, Import from Goodreads/StoryGraph, Search, manual entry, or ISBN scan, Track pages, minutes, and streaks, Set reading goals

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Folio Plus Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Folio Plus Annual | $8.99 | per year |
| Folio Plus Annual | $8.99 | per year |
| Folio Plus Annual | $8.99 | per year |
| Folio Plus Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Academic Reader free?

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

### Is Folio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Academic Reader or Folio?

Folio is rated higher. Academic Reader averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Folio averages 4.7 from 7 ratings.

### Do Academic Reader or Folio have ads?

Neither Academic Reader nor Folio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Academic Reader or Folio?

Academic Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and Folio every 3 days. Most recently, Academic Reader was updated on October 2, 2026 and Folio on October 2, 2026.

---

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