# BookShelves eBook Reader vs Leaf

The clearest difference is rating: Leaf at 5.0 against BookShelves eBook Reader's 3.8. Leaf also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 62%). BookShelves eBook Reader's advantage is ratings volume (20 vs 6) and iOS requirement (17.4 vs 26.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BookShelves eBook Reader sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Leaf sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Leaf holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of BookShelves eBook Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of Leaf's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookShelves eBook Reader | Leaf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelves-ebook-reader/id6756848973/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leaf-epub-library/id6771504450/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 61.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 63 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.4** | 26.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 12+ |
| Developer | [CPE Verm. GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1863249600) | [Deadpan, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1521868530) |

## 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 |


### Leaf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leaf-epub-library/id6771504450)

Organize and read your DRM-free EPUB books with customizable reading settings and smart library management. Sync your progress across devices using iCloud and discover new titles through integrated sources.

**Highlights:** Customizable reading experience, Smart library organization, iCloud sync for progress and settings, Offline reading support, Import from various sources, Public domain classics included

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Leaf Pro Annual | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookShelves eBook Reader free?

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

### Is Leaf free?

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

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

Leaf is rated higher. BookShelves eBook Reader averages 3.8 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Leaf averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

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

Neither BookShelves eBook Reader nor Leaf shows ads.

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

BookShelves eBook Reader ships an update every 8 days, and Leaf every 8 days. Most recently, BookShelves eBook Reader was updated on November 5, 2026 and Leaf on November 5, 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.*