# True Reader vs Novel Reader & Bookmate

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: True Reader at none against Novel Reader & Bookmate's 3. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Novel Reader & Bookmate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. True Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

True Reader ships an update every 2 days, Novel Reader & Bookmate daily. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | True Reader | Novel Reader & Bookmate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-reader/id6754861119/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 28 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [John Chambers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818117158) | [halit aldemir](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852616652) |

## What reviewers say

### True Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-reader/id6754861119)

Enjoy your favorite books in a comfortable, minimalist dark interface. This e-reader supports multiple file formats and offers intuitive navigation, adjustable text, and smart progress tracking for a focused reading experience.

**Highlights:** Multiple file format support (PDF, EPUB, TXT, CBZ/ZIP, Images), Intuitive tap controls for page navigation, Adjustable font sizes, Automatic chapter detection, Smart reading progress tracking, Clean, distraction-free interface, Local storage and privacy focused

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Novel Reader & Bookmate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novel-reader-and-bookmate-lore/id6757860326)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zarathustra Pro Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Zarathustra Pro Monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Zarathustra Pro Annual | $249.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is True Reader free?

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

### Is Novel Reader & Bookmate free?

Novel Reader & Bookmate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do True Reader or Novel Reader & Bookmate have ads?

Neither True Reader nor Novel Reader & Bookmate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, True Reader or Novel Reader & Bookmate?

True Reader ships an update every 2 days, and Novel Reader & Bookmate daily. Most recently, True Reader was updated on November 5, 2026 and Novel Reader & Bookmate 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.*