Comparison

Storybase vs Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Storybase

Features
Read full description

Storybase helps authors build relationships with their readers, and helps readers engage deeper with books through an immersive and interactive experience. FOR READERS A new way to experience audiobooks and ebooks: immersive, interactive, and connected to the author every step of the way. โ€ข Immersive: switch between audiobook and ebook, read and listen in sync, and play soundtracks for exercising, learning, or relaxing. โ€ข Interactive: ask the book questions with built-in AI, and share chapters with the people who need them. โ€ข Connected: stay close to the author and their world, from the first page to the last. FOR AUTHORS What if your book was the beginning, not the end? โ€ข Reach: get your book into more hands with instant share links and customizable offers. โ€ข Engage: see who reads, listens, and finishes, and drop AI prompts and calls to action right into the experience. โ€ข Activate: turn attention into relationships. Capture contacts and guide readers to your real next step. โ€ข Multiply: turn your team, clients, and readers into ambassadors who pass the book forward. A book should do more than sit on a shelf. It is the door into everything you do next. Use of this app is bound by the Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Reader

Features
Read full description

Reader is the social book app built for today's readers. Discover trending books, track your reading life, and join creator-led book clubs โ€” all in one place. Whether you're coming from BookTok or switching from Goodreads, Reader makes your reading social, organized, and shareable. DISCOVER WHAT'S TRENDING Swipe through personalized recommendations in The Stack. Add books to your TBR, rate what you finish, and train your feed to match your taste. See what's blowing up this week, explore by mood or genre, follow your favorite series and authors, and scan any barcode to instantly add a book to your shelves. JOIN CREATOR-LED BOOK CLUBS Join book clubs hosted by your favorite BookTok creators. Start your own branded club with custom artwork and exclusive discussion threads. Host monthly reading challenges, lead conversations, and build a community around the stories you love. TRACK YOUR ENTIRE READING LIFE Organize your books with smart shelves: - Currently Reading - Want to Read - Finished - Did Not Finish Log progress page by page, set daily goals, and complete monthly challenges. Use the built-in reading timer to track focus sessions, reading pace, and streaks. MAKE YOUR READING SOCIAL Follow friends to see what they're reading and rating. Share beautifully designed reading cards. Show off your Top 5 books and reading personality. Build a public reading profile that grows with you. SWITCHING FROM GOODREADS? Import your shelves, ratings, and reading history in seconds with a simple CSV upload. No starting over. Reader is a modern alternative to Goodreads โ€” built for social discovery and creator communities. BUILT FOR READERS, NOT ADVERTISERS Reader is free with no ads. Upgrade to Reader+ for unlimited swipes, advanced stats, and deeper insights. Go Creator to launch your own book club and earn through affiliate links. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Storybase4 screens
Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Reader at every 3 days against Storybase's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Storybase sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month and Reader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Storybase ships an update every 4 months, Reader every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
Storybase versus Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStorybaseReader
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 โ€” better15.1
Further details โ€” not scored
Size8 MB40 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperStoryline Creative, LLCMATTHEW ROBERT FRIEDMAN

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Storybase

Subscriptions3
  • Reader Premium$17.991 Month
  • Author Plus$107.991 Month
  • Author Pro$214.991 Month
4 purchases

Reader

Subscriptions4
  • Reader+$4.991 Month
  • Creator$12.991 Month
  • Reader+ Annual$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Creator Annual$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Storybase free?
Storybase is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reader free?
Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Storybase or Reader have ads?
Neither Storybase nor Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Storybase or Reader?
Storybase ships an update every 4 months, and Reader every 3 days. Most recently, Storybase was updated on September 9, 2026 and Reader on September 15, 2026.

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