# HelloNovel vs NeoShelf

The clearest difference is ads: NeoShelf at none against HelloNovel's shown. NeoShelf also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). HelloNovel's advantage is ratings volume (39 vs 7). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HelloNovel sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and NeoShelf sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

NeoShelf holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloNovel has 39 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two.

HelloNovel ships an update weekly, NeoShelf every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloNovel | NeoShelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellonovel/id6751270216/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neoshelf/id6752472274/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **39** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 66 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [IREAD CULTURE TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1834362115) | [娟 奉](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828553980) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloNovel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellonovel/id6751270216)

Discover a vast library of romance and drama novels tailored for women. Enjoy daily updates, personalized recommendations, and customizable reading options, including offline downloads. Immerse yourself in captivating stories anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Curated romance and drama novels, Daily chapter and novel updates, Smart recommendation engine, Offline reading capability, Customizable font sizes and modes, Werewolf and CEO romance genres

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 300 coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 500 coins + 25 bonuses | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500 coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1000 coins + 100 bonuses | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1000 coins + 50 bonuses | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1500 coins + 75 bonuses | $14.99 | one-time |
| 2000 coins + 200 bonuses | $19.99 | one-time |
| 2000 coins + 300 bonuses | $19.99 | one-time |
| 3000 coins + 450 bonuses | $29.99 | one-time |
| 5000 coins + 1000 bonuses | $49.99 | one-time |
| 10000 coins + 2500 bonuses | $99.99 | one-time |


### NeoShelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neoshelf/id6752472274)

Discover thousands of exclusive novels across romance, fantasy, suspense, and paranormal genres. Get personalized recommendations and enjoy an immersive reading experience with customizable fonts and backgrounds. Your next literary escape is just a tap away.

**Highlights:** Vast library of novels, Exclusive and trending stories, Personalized recommendations, Customizable reading experience, Multiple genres available, Immersive interface

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| weekly subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| weekly subscription | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| weekly subscription | $24.99 | per 7 days |
| One-time Purchase | $9.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $14.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $44.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HelloNovel free?

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

### Is NeoShelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HelloNovel or NeoShelf?

NeoShelf is rated higher. HelloNovel averages 4.8 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while NeoShelf averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do HelloNovel or NeoShelf have ads?

HelloNovel shows ads; NeoShelf does not.

### Which is updated more often, HelloNovel or NeoShelf?

HelloNovel ships an update weekly, and NeoShelf every 2 weeks. Most recently, HelloNovel was updated on October 7, 2026 and NeoShelf on October 8, 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.*