# BookShelves eBook Reader vs GemReader

The clearest difference is rating: GemReader at 5.0 against BookShelves eBook Reader's 3.8. GemReader also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days). BookShelves eBook Reader's advantage is ratings volume (21 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BookShelves eBook Reader sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. GemReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

GemReader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BookShelves eBook Reader has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

BookShelves eBook Reader ships an update every 8 days, GemReader every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookShelves eBook Reader | GemReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelves-ebook-reader/id6756848973/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gemreader-ebook-study-reader/id6814832827/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 61.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 64 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CPE Verm. GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1863249600) | [Johan Christopher Nohall](https://appshunter.io/developer/6814832829) |

## 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 |


### GemReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gemreader-ebook-study-reader/id6814832827)

This app is designed for learning through reading, allowing users to save form answers, highlights, notes, and flashcards within EPUB and PDF files. It offers study tools like flashcard creation and spaced repetition, with an encrypted, offline-first library and text-to-speech functionality.

**Highlights:** Save form answers in interactive ebooks, Highlighting with 6 colors and notes, Create flashcards from highlights, Spaced repetition review deck, Offline EPUB and PDF reading, Encrypted library with optional backups, Text-to-speech for books

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookShelves eBook Reader free?

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

### Is GemReader free?

GemReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

GemReader is rated higher. BookShelves eBook Reader averages 3.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while GemReader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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

Neither BookShelves eBook Reader nor GemReader shows ads.

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

BookShelves eBook Reader ships an update every 8 days, and GemReader every 2 days. Most recently, BookShelves eBook Reader was updated on November 11, 2026 and GemReader on November 12, 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.*