# PiRead vs Staread

The clearest difference is rating: PiRead at 4.3 against Staread's 3.1. PiRead also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (60% vs 39%). Staread's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PiRead sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per 7 days and Staread sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PiRead holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PiRead has 260 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of PiRead's written reviews are positive against 39% of Staread's.

PiRead ships an update every 2 months, Staread every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PiRead | Staread |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (260 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piread/id6751937545/reviews)** | [3.1 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staread/id6758330296/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **260** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | **60.4% of reviews** | 39.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 77 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [HONG KONG LITERARY EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1837614049) | [JIN FAN TECHNOLOGY CO.LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872316191) |

## What reviewers say

### PiRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piread/id6751937545)

Discover a vast library of novels across numerous genres, including romance, fantasy, and suspense. Enjoy customizable reading settings, daily updates, and exclusive original stories. Earn rewards to unlock premium content and immerse yourself in unforgettable tales.

**Highlights:** Vast novel collection, Customizable reading settings, Daily story updates, Rewards and bonus events, Original stories, Exclusive content

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $14.99 Unlimited Reading/Week | $24.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Reading/2 Months | $49.99 | per 2 months |
| Unlimited Reading/6 Months | $99.99 | per 6 months |
| Unlimited Reading/Year | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great place to find interesting novels
- 👍 Good app
- 👍 Súper good to read
- 👍 Tiene buenas historias
- 👍 Love it the novels are great to read

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Has good books but the revenue to get points are too much, too manny ads
- 💸 I don't like the ads but good stories
- 💸 Other than the prices I would recommend

**Reported bugs**

- Quick reads, most interesting - just overpriced so not worth subscribing

**Requested features**

- Longer chapters


### Staread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staread/id6758330296)

Discover an extensive library of stories across popular genres like Billionaire, Werewolf, and LGBTQ+. Enjoy an immersive reading experience with customizable display options and support for authors worldwide. Upgrade for unlimited access and an ad-free environment.

**Highlights:** Vast library of diverse genres, Customizable reading experience, Author support and publishing platform, Premium subscription for unlimited access, Weekly new book additions

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly VIP | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Pack | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP10 | $24.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $24.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly VIP | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PiRead free?

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

### Is Staread free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PiRead or Staread?

PiRead is rated higher. PiRead averages 4.3 out of 5 from 260 ratings, while Staread averages 3.1 from 11 ratings.

### Do PiRead or Staread have ads?

Staread shows ads; PiRead does not.

### Which is updated more often, PiRead or Staread?

PiRead ships an update every 2 months, and Staread every 2 weeks. Most recently, PiRead was updated on October 30, 2026 and Staread on October 31, 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.*