Comparison

True Reader vs Skim or Dive

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

True Reader

Features
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DarkReader - A Minimalist Dark Mode E-Reader for iOS Read your favorite books in a beautiful dark interface designed for comfortable reading. DarkReader is a simple, elegant e-reader that supports multiple file formats and gets out of your way so you can focus on what matters: reading. FEATURES: Multiple Format Support โ€ข PDF - Portable Document Format with page-by-page navigation โ€ข EPUB - Electronic books with adjustable text โ€ข TXT - Plain text files โ€ข CBZ/ZIP - Comic book archives โ€ข Images - JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP Designed for Reading โ€ข Page-by-page navigation with simple tap controls โ€ข Tap right side to turn forward, left to go back โ€ข Tap center to access controls โ€ข Automatic chapter detection and formatting โ€ข Adjustable font sizes for comfortable reading Beautiful Dark Theme โ€ข Easy on your eyes in any lighting โ€ข Black, white, and gray color scheme โ€ข Consistent dark interface throughout โ€ข Perfect for nighttime reading Smart Progress Tracking โ€ข Automatically saves your reading position โ€ข Resume exactly where you left off โ€ข Visual progress bars in your library โ€ข Track multiple books simultaneously Clean & Simple โ€ข No ads or distractions โ€ข No account required โ€ข No data collection or tracking โ€ข Fast and lightweight โ€ข Intuitive interface PERFECT FOR: โ€ข Book lovers who want a clean reading experience โ€ข Students reading textbooks and PDFs โ€ข Comic book enthusiasts โ€ข Anyone who prefers dark mode interfaces โ€ข Readers who value simplicity and privacy Import books from Files, iCloud Drive, or any document source on your device. Your books and reading progress are stored locally and privately on your device. Download DarkReader today and rediscover the joy of focused, distraction-free reading.

About

Skim or Dive

Features
Read full description

Skim or Dive is an ebook reader built around one simple idea: you decide how deep you go โ€” so you finish more of the books you start. Not every book earns 400 pages of your time. When a story drags, or you have less time than it needs, ease the detail down and skim to the end instead of abandoning it. When a story grabs you, dive into every word. Same book, your pacing โ€” and far fewer half-read books on the shelf. A single slider โ€” from skim to dive โ€” reshapes any book in real time. Pull it up to glide across a chapter as a short summary. Push it down to sink into the full, unabridged prose. Every level in between gives you more or less detail, so you can race through a slow stretch and savour the part you love, all without ever leaving the page. WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT โ€ข Finish more books โ€” when a book isn't working, bail gracefully to a quick skim instead of adding it to the did-not-finish pile. โ€ข Variable detail slider (1โ€“5) โ€” read every section at the depth you want, from a one-line skim to the complete text. โ€ข One More Chapter โ€” reached the end and not ready to let go? Generate a brand-new continuation in the tone you choose: exciting, silly, mundane, mind-bending, or a whole new genre. โ€ข Ask the book โ€” curious about a character, a plot thread, or what a passage meant? Get instant answers right in the reader, carefully limited to what you've read so far. No spoilers, ever. โ€ข Tap to define โ€” long-press any word to see its dictionary definition right in the page, without losing your place. โ€ข Bring your own books โ€” import your EPUB and TXT files and read them your way. โ€ข A reader that stays out of your way โ€” adjustable font size, light and dark themes, and reading progress that's always saved. โ€ข Bookmarks โ€” mark the moments worth coming back to. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR PRIVACY Your books and your account are yours. There are no ads and no trackers. You can delete your account โ€” and the data tied to it โ€” at any time, right from the app. Read our privacy policy at https://skimordive.com/privacy. Whether you're catching the gist on a busy commute or diving deep on a lazy Sunday, Skim or Dive lets you read at your own pace, at your own depth โ€” and actually reach the end.

Screenshots

True Reader3 screens
Skim or Dive4 screens

Verdict

The call

True Reader and Skim or Dive are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters โ€” price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
True Reader versus Skim or Dive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrue ReaderSkim or Dive
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 daysEvery 2 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details โ€” not scored
Size28 MB43 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJohn ChambersANDREW IRELAND

In-app purchases

None

True Reader

No in-app purchases

None

Skim or Dive

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is True Reader free?
True Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Skim or Dive free?
Skim or Dive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do True Reader or Skim or Dive have ads?
Neither True Reader nor Skim or Dive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, True Reader or Skim or Dive?
True Reader ships an update every 2 days, and Skim or Dive every 2 days. Most recently, True Reader was updated on October 1, 2026 and Skim or Dive on September 29, 2026.

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