# BookShelves eBook Reader vs Reader Alive

The clearest difference is ads: BookShelves eBook Reader at none against Reader Alive's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BookShelves eBook Reader sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Reader Alive sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BookShelves eBook Reader ships an update weekly, Reader Alive every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookShelves eBook Reader | Reader Alive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelves-ebook-reader/id6756848973/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **15** | — |
| Positive reviews | 65.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 56 MB | 289 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CPE Verm. GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1863249600) | [Nocoly.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/1766222288) |

## 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 |


### Reader Alive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader-alive/id6766441925)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookShelves eBook Reader free?

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

### Is Reader Alive free?

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

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

Reader Alive shows ads; BookShelves eBook Reader does not.

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

BookShelves eBook Reader ships an update weekly, and Reader Alive every 5 days. Most recently, BookShelves eBook Reader was updated on October 14, 2026 and Reader Alive on September 26, 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.*