# Shiori Reader vs Hoshi Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Hoshi Reader at 5.0 against Shiori Reader's 4.7. On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hoshi Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 20 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shiori Reader | Hoshi Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiori-reader/id6744979827/reviews) | **[5.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoshi-reader/id6758244332/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 310 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Clint Russell Graviet Jr](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810290576) | [Manh-Hao Steffen Pham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871502447) |

## What reviewers say

### Shiori Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiori-reader/id6744979827)

This EPUB reader is designed for Japanese language learners. It offers one-tap dictionary lookups, vocabulary saving, and Anki integration to help users expand their Japanese vocabulary and improve reading comprehension.

**Highlights:** One-tap dictionary lookup, Yomitan dictionary import, Seamless EPUB reading, Vocabulary list saving, Anki integration, Context-aware learning, Smart Japanese text support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 Shiori Reader free?

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

### Is Hoshi Reader free?

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

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

Hoshi Reader is rated higher. Shiori Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Hoshi Reader averages 5.0 from 20 ratings.

### Do Shiori Reader or Hoshi Reader have ads?

Neither Shiori Reader nor Hoshi Reader shows ads.

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

Shiori Reader ships an update weekly, and Hoshi Reader weekly. Most recently, Shiori Reader was updated on October 2, 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.*