# GlowFable vs Shortcat

The clearest difference is rating: Shortcat at 4.7 against GlowFable's 2.8. Shortcat also leads on ratings volume (680 vs 11) and review sentiment (42% vs 33%). GlowFable's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GlowFable sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per 7 days and Shortcat sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shortcat holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shortcat has 680 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of GlowFable's written reviews are positive against 42% of Shortcat's.

GlowFable ships an update every 11 days, Shortcat fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GlowFable | Shortcat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glowfable/id6752957708/reviews) | **[4.7 (680 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortcat-short-anime/id6756181744/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **680** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **41.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 572 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hangzhou Xinghe Zhiyao Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887184776) | [Flagcat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740536449) |

## What reviewers say

### GlowFable

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glowfable/id6752957708)

This app offers a vast library of English web-novels and short fiction, including romance, fantasy, and YA genres. Enjoy a customizable reading experience with continuous scroll, adjustable text, and distraction-free controls. Listen to stories with a built-in text-to-speech audio player.

**Highlights:** Continuous scroll reading, Adjustable text and themes, Distraction-free reading controls, Built-in text-to-speech audio player, Personalized story recommendations, Favorites and bookshelf

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP Weekly | $17.99 | per 7 days |
| vip monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| vip yearly | $199.99 | per year |
| coins 1100 | $6.99 | one-time |
| coins 2400 | $19.99 | one-time |
| coins 7000 | $49.99 | one-time |


### Shortcat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortcat-short-anime/id6756181744)

Experience a new way to watch romantasy anime with short, vertical episodes designed for mobile. Discover exclusive romance and fantasy stories, perfect for quick viewing or extended binges. Stay updated with new releases and enjoy immersive, fast-paced narratives.

**Highlights:** Vertical full-screen anime, Short episodes for mobile, Exclusive romantasy series, Fast-paced storytelling, Notifications for new releases, Romance and fantasy genres

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Membership | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership Limited Offer | $36.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| One-time Purchase | $2.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $3.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $4.99 | one-time |
| 820 Coins | $5.49 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $5.49 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $5.99 | one-time |
| 1900 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $12.99 | one-time |
| 5240 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $19.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GlowFable free?

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

### Is Shortcat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, GlowFable or Shortcat?

Shortcat is rated higher. GlowFable averages 2.8 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Shortcat averages 4.7 from 680 ratings.

### Do GlowFable or Shortcat have ads?

Neither GlowFable nor Shortcat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GlowFable or Shortcat?

GlowFable ships an update every 11 days, and Shortcat fortnightly. Most recently, GlowFable was updated on October 30, 2026 and Shortcat 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.*