# BookShelves eBook Reader vs Lex Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Lex Reader at 4.9 against BookShelves eBook Reader's 3.8. Lex Reader also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 64%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BookShelves eBook Reader sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Lex Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lex Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of BookShelves eBook Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lex Reader's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookShelves eBook Reader | Lex Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelves-ebook-reader/id6756848973/reviews) | **[4.9 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lex-reader/id6757875402/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 63.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [CPE Verm. GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1863249600) | [LexBooks, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869433764) |

## What reviewers say

### BookShelves eBook Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelves-ebook-reader/id6756848973)

This app allows you to read EPUB, PDF, and comic books with access to over 1.5 million free public domain books. Organize your library, customize your reading experience with multiple themes and fonts, and sync your progress across devices.

**Highlights:** 1.5 million+ free books, EPUB, PDF, and comic reader, Customizable themes and fonts, iCloud sync across devices, Smart library management, Highlighting and note-taking, Export highlights

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $8.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


### Lex Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lex-reader/id6757875402)

This app offers a versatile reading experience for books and audiobooks with customizable modes, extensive library access, and social features. It allows users to import their own content, sync progress across devices, and discover new reads through personalized recommendations and curated shelves.

**Highlights:** Customizable reading modes (scroll, paginated, blitz, bilingual), EPUB, PDF, and MP3 reader/player, Text-to-audio synchronization, Ambient audiobook listening with custom sounds, Extensive library search and personalized recommendations, Import reading data from Goodreads/Storygraph, Create and share custom book shelves, Sync reading progress across devices

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lex Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Lex Premium | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookShelves eBook Reader free?

BookShelves eBook Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lex Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BookShelves eBook Reader or Lex Reader?

Lex Reader is rated higher. BookShelves eBook Reader averages 3.8 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Lex Reader averages 4.9 from 12 ratings.

### Do BookShelves eBook Reader or Lex Reader have ads?

Neither BookShelves eBook Reader nor Lex Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BookShelves eBook Reader or Lex Reader?

BookShelves eBook Reader ships an update weekly, and Lex Reader weekly. Most recently, BookShelves eBook Reader was updated on October 19, 2026 and Lex Reader on October 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*