# BookShelves eBook Reader vs Sutra

The clearest difference is rating: Sutra at 4.3 against BookShelves eBook Reader's 3.8. Sutra also leads on review sentiment (73% vs 60%). 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 Sutra sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sutra holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of BookShelves eBook Reader's written reviews are positive against 73% of Sutra's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookShelves eBook Reader | Sutra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelves-ebook-reader/id6756848973/reviews) | **[4.3 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sutra-ebook-and-comic-reader/id6780096864/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **73.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 64 MB | 42 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) | [Koustav Dasgupta](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772577121) |

## 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, iPhone Duo 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 |


### Sutra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sutra-ebook-and-comic-reader/id6780096864)

Organize and read all your eBooks and comics in one beautiful, calm reader. Connect to self-hosted libraries, explore online catalogs, and customize your reading experience with various display options. Enjoy seamless progress syncing across devices.

**Highlights:** Unified reader for EPUB, PDF, CBZ, MOBI, comics, and manga, Connect to Kavita, Komga, Calibre, and OPDS servers, Customizable reading experience (fonts, themes, layout), Organized library with Series and Collection views, Progress and finished-book sync across devices, Offline reading support for comics

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sutra Pro | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookShelves eBook Reader free?

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

### Is Sutra free?

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

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

Sutra is rated higher. BookShelves eBook Reader averages 3.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Sutra averages 4.3 from 18 ratings.

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

Neither BookShelves eBook Reader nor Sutra shows ads.

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

BookShelves eBook Reader ships an update every 8 days, and Sutra every 8 days. Most recently, BookShelves eBook Reader was updated on November 9, 2026 and Sutra on November 10, 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.*