Comparison

Readup vs Prose Reader

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

Head to head
About

Readup

This app transforms how you read PDFs by presenting text sentence by sentence in a vertical scrolling format. It offers a distraction-free environment, smart quote collection, and automatic progress tracking for a more engaging and focused reading experience.

Highlights
  • Sentence-by-sentence vertical scrolling
  • Personal PDF library with cover previews
  • Smart quote collection via double-tap
  • Automatic progress tracking
  • Distraction-free reading interface
  • Customizable reading controls
Features
Read full description

Revolutionize Your Reading Experience Readup reimagines how you consume written content by breaking down your PDFs into bite-sized, focused sentences. Experience the addictive, TikTok-style vertical scrolling that makes reading more engaging and helps you retain information better. Key Features: Personal PDF Library Import and organize all your PDFs in one beautiful, purple-themed interface. Your books display with stunning cover previews and reading progress tracking. Revolutionary Reading Mode Swipe through your books sentence by sentence with our innovative vertical scroll design. Each sentence gets your full attention, improving comprehension and focus. Smart Quote Collection Double-tap any sentence to instantly save it to your personal quotes collection. Build your own library of wisdom, insights, and memorable passages. Automatic Progress Tracking Never lose your place again. Readup remembers exactly where you stopped, down to the specific sentence, across all your books. Distraction-Free Design Minimalist black reading interface with customizable controls. Tap to hide everything except the words that matter.

About

Prose Reader

Features
Read full description

Prose is a clean, local-first reader for ePub and PDF books. Designed with a focus on speed, privacy, and simplicity, Prose works completely offline to keep your personal library secure on your device. Key Features: - Multi-format support: Read ePub 2, ePub 3, and PDF files. - Offline library: View your books in a custom cover grid or detail list. Search, filter, and sort by title, author, last read, or reading progress. - Tailored reading experience: Customize fonts, font size, margins, and line spacing for reflowable ePub books. Zoom and fit controls are available for PDF files. - Reading themes: Switch between light, dark, and sepia themes to match your environment. Themes apply across the entire application interface. - Local-first sync: Connect your own WebDAV server to sync books, reading positions, bookmarks, highlights, and settings. Sync runs in the background and resolves conflicts by keeping your furthest reading position. - Annotation and reference: Create bookmarks, highlight text, and look up definitions using the built-in offline dictionary. - Privacy and security: Your data is never sent to third-party services. WebDAV credentials are saved securely in your operating system keychain. There is no telemetry, analytics, or tracking.

Screenshots

Readup3 screens
Prose Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Prose Reader at 15.0 against Readup's 17.6. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Readup versus Prose Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReadupProse Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequency—Every 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB125 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGabriel MaraisElia Salerno

In-app purchases

None

Readup

No in-app purchases

None

Prose Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Readup free?
Readup is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Prose Reader free?
Prose Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Readup or Prose Reader have ads?
Neither Readup nor Prose Reader shows ads.

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