# Archivist Browser vs ArchiveShelf

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Archivist Browser at none against ArchiveShelf's 1. Archivist Browser also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (63 vs 7). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ArchiveShelf sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Archivist Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

Archivist Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Archivist Browser has 63 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 88% and 88% positive.

Archivist Browser ships an update every 3 days, ArchiveShelf weekly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Archivist Browser | ArchiveShelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archivist-browser/id6756570654/reviews)** | [4.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archiveshelf-home-inventory/id6756975449/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **63** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 79 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Robert Lothian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794088570) | [Bryan Jeffrey Martin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1847187783) |

## What reviewers say

### Archivist Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archivist-browser/id6756570654)

Stream millions of films, audiobooks, music, and digital texts directly from the Internet Archive. This media player offers enhanced playback, universal TV casting, and organized file management for researchers and enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Stream films, audiobooks, music, and texts, Universal TV Casting (AirPlay), High-resolution image viewer, Optimized audio with background support, Topic Chips for content filtering, Folder sharing via URL or QR code, On-the-fly renaming and text file cleanup

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### ArchiveShelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archiveshelf-home-inventory/id6756975449)

Effortlessly catalog your belongings, from personal collections to home assets. Track details, add photos, store receipts, and manage warranties. Visualize your inventory value and generate reports for insurance purposes.

**Highlights:** Detailed asset tracking, Visual inventory with multiple photos, Receipt and warranty management, Lending tracker, Smart inventory insights, Insurance-ready PDF reports, Barcode scanning

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Archivist Browser free?

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

### Is ArchiveShelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Archivist Browser or ArchiveShelf?

Archivist Browser is rated higher. Archivist Browser averages 4.9 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while ArchiveShelf averages 4.6 from 7 ratings.

### Do Archivist Browser or ArchiveShelf have ads?

Neither Archivist Browser nor ArchiveShelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Archivist Browser or ArchiveShelf?

Archivist Browser ships an update every 3 days, and ArchiveShelf weekly. Most recently, Archivist Browser was updated on October 30, 2026 and ArchiveShelf on October 30, 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.*