# ReadUp vs Reader Alive

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ReadUp at none against Reader Alive's 2. ReadUp also leads on ads (none vs shown). Reader Alive's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reader Alive sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. ReadUp asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReadUp ships an update fortnightly, Reader Alive every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadUp | Reader Alive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 289 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Antonio Claudio Costa Junior](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845417598) | [Nocoly.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/1766222288) |

## What reviewers say

### ReadUp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readup-track-your-reading/id6753879837)

This app helps you build a consistent reading habit by tracking your sessions, organizing your library, and providing insights into your reading progress. It features an AI assistant for book discussions and recommendations, along with smart search to discover new titles.

**Highlights:** Session tracking with timer, Book library organization, AI reading assistant, Smart book search, Reading statistics and history, Progress sharing cards

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Reader Alive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader-alive/id6766441925)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadUp free?

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

### Is Reader Alive free?

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

### Do ReadUp or Reader Alive have ads?

Reader Alive shows ads; ReadUp does not.

### Which is updated more often, ReadUp or Reader Alive?

ReadUp ships an update fortnightly, and Reader Alive every 5 days. Most recently, ReadUp was updated on October 24, 2026 and Reader Alive on October 12, 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.*