Comparison

eCollection vs StoryBox Library

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

Head to head
About

eCollection

This app provides a digital platform for guided reading, offering a library of leveled eBooks and interactive features for teachers and students. It supports various reading profiles, word interaction, recording, drawing, and text editing to enhance comprehension and engagement.

Highlights
  • Guided Reading Profile
  • Custom Reading Profile
  • Independent Reading Profile
  • Tap to Hear Words
  • Tap to Save Words
  • Record Mode
  • Draw Mode
Read full description

The eCollection eReader app is part of a brand new platform that re-imagines guided reading for iPads. Guided reading is a widely used teaching strategy where the teacher and all students in a group have a copy of the same book. The teacher assists the students to practise various reading strategies in order to comprehend the text. The eCollection eReader app allows teachers and students to use eCollection eBooks for guided reading. It utilises native iOS gestures to provide a seamless experience for young readers. ~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURES ~~~~~~~~~~ 300 pedagogically sound, carefully levelled eCollection eBooks combined with the following features: + Guided Reading Profile + Custom Reading Profile + Independent Reading Profile + Tap to Hear Words + Tap to Save Words + Record Mode + Draw Mode + Edit Text Mode + Reading Sessions + Student Profiles + Reading History + Reading Groups ~~~~~~~~~~~ REVIEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~ "A great way to access a very thorough levelled reading resource. It is compact and accessible." "I am working with older students and adults. It is a fantastic way for them to access material that they can read without making it obvious that they are reading at a low level." "I love having access to the eCollection readers digitally. I have used them throughout my 30+ years teaching" "Easy for kids, parents, teachers to use, convenient, wide range of books/levels, great graphics and wonderful app. Great resource for setting readers for home or school." "eCollection has made a difference in the learning for our target children." "A highly engaging digital reading resource directly linked to school reading." "Books are expensive and this is a cheaper option. No lost or damaged books." ~~~~~~~~~~ SUPPORT ~~~~~~~~~~ Send us an email at anz.techsupport@cengage.com with any questions, feedback or requests. Privacy Policy: https://cengage.com.au/privacy Terms and Conditions: https://cengage.com.au/terms Contact: https://cengage.com.au/contact-us

About

StoryBox Library

This app offers a vast collection of diverse stories read by dynamic storytellers, designed to improve children's reading and literacy skills. It provides engaging activities and a safe, ad-free online space for imaginative play and learning, with features like read-along text and Auslan translations.

Highlights
  • Over 500 diverse stories
  • Read by dynamic storytellers
  • Auslan translations
  • Read-Along series
  • Story playlists
  • Safe and ad-free environment
  • Parent and child profiles
Features
Read full description

As a trusted and safe online educational resource enjoyed by educators, children and families around the world, StoryBox Library connects you to a world of stories. Explore diverse stories, engaging activities and let imaginations fly! Encourage creativity and play as children discover stories in a safe online space, improving their reading and literacy skills along the way. FEATURES: • Over 600 diverse stories read by dynamic storytellers, with new stories added regularly. • Auslan translations available for over 90 stories. • New Read-Along captions to help kids connect spoken words to text. • Story playlists. • Safe, trusted and ad-free for children of all ages. • Individual profile settings for parents and children. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: • Wireless internet connection • iOS 13.0+ EARLY CHILDHOOD, SCHOOLS & TERTIARY: Log in with your organisation details or SSO to access stories, playlists and more. For classroom, remote learning and home use by students. PUBLIC LIBRARIES Log in with your local library card to freely access stories, playlists and more. Designed to be integrated into your library services. FAMILIES Log in with your family subscription to access stories, playlists and more, encouraging learning, play and quality family time. ABOUT STORYBOX LIBRARY StoryBox Library is a creative, educational and fun platform developed for educators and families, playing a key role in improving literacy and language skills in children. Engaging and exciting the next generation about reading and storytelling, StoryBox Library features a growing digital library of favourite kids books read aloud by diverse storytellers, plus curriculum-based ideas and tools for educators. Help Centre: https://crm.storyboxhub.com/help-centre T&Cs and Privacy Policy: https://storyboxhub.com/terms-and-conditions

Screenshots

StoryBox Library4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: eCollection at 4.0 against StoryBox Library's 3.0. eCollection also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). StoryBox Library's advantage is review sentiment (40% vs 18%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

eCollection holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 18% of eCollection's written reviews are positive against 40% of StoryBox Library's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

eCollection ships an update every 6 months, StoryBox Library every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
eCollection versus StoryBox Library: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereCollectionStoryBox Library
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews18.2% of reviews40.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.2 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCengage Learning AustraliaStory Box Library

Customer experience

eCollection

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews55 reviews
Positive18.2%
Neutral10.9%
Negative70.9%

StoryBox Library

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

eCollection

Reported bugs

22 issues
  • App not working
  • Crash delete download repeat
  • Can’t quit from drawing mode
  • Stuck, hard to return to main page
  • No home page, cannot back to home page
Show 17 more
  • Buggy interface, buttons not displaying properly
  • Loses recording when turning pages
  • Blank screen when turning pages too fast
  • Login freezing/not being able to login
  • Crashes every time trying to log in
  • Cannot exit from a book
  • Stuck in book unable to exit
  • Terrible glitches
  • Login issues, cannot login
  • App opens but cannot click anything to login
  • Buttons do not work on current iPad update
  • Login button doesn’t work
  • App won't start
  • Stuck at login screen
  • Severe crashing problems
  • App keeps shutting down
  • Slow at connecting

Requested features

7 requests
  • Save login details
  • Clear navigation to return to main page/shelf
  • Option to buy individual subscriptions
  • Add bigger books (e.g., comics)
  • Clarify privacy for voice recording
Show 2 more
  • Improve UI and interaction design
  • Add marking read feature

StoryBox Library

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

eCollection

No in-app purchases

None

StoryBox Library

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is eCollection free?
eCollection is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is StoryBox Library free?
StoryBox Library is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, eCollection or StoryBox Library?
eCollection is rated higher. eCollection averages 4.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while StoryBox Library averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do eCollection or StoryBox Library have ads?
Neither eCollection nor StoryBox Library shows ads.
Which is updated more often, eCollection or StoryBox Library?
eCollection ships an update every 6 months, and StoryBox Library every 6 weeks. Most recently, eCollection was updated on October 22, 2026 and StoryBox Library on October 13, 2026.

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