# ReadVortex vs JotShelf

The clearest difference is price: ReadVortex at Free against JotShelf's $1.99. ReadVortex also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

ReadVortex is free to download; JotShelf costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReadVortex ships an update every 6 months, JotShelf every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadVortex | JotShelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 7 months |
| Size | 61 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EMDES SOLUTIONS LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1766028021) | [Marko Zamurovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876493192) |

## What reviewers say

### ReadVortex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readvortex/id6749256811)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### JotShelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jotshelf/id6760388919)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadVortex free?

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

### Is JotShelf free?

JotShelf costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do ReadVortex or JotShelf have ads?

Neither ReadVortex nor JotShelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ReadVortex or JotShelf?

ReadVortex ships an update every 6 months, and JotShelf every 7 months. Most recently, ReadVortex was updated on October 9, 2026 and JotShelf on October 16, 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.*