# Manamo vs Plain Reader

The clearest difference is ads: Manamo at none against Plain Reader's shown. Manamo also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). Plain Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Manamo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Plain Reader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Manamo ships an update weekly, Plain Reader every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Manamo | Plain Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manamo-epub-and-ebook-reader/id6757413702/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 116 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Krisan Murugendran](https://appshunter.io/developer/1866777159) | [OurBeom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571312317) |

## What reviewers say

### Manamo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manamo-epub-and-ebook-reader/id6757413702)

This app helps you understand and remember what you read by explaining passages and turning them into reviewable flashcards. It supports various file formats and offers spaced repetition for effective learning. You can also import and export study decks.

**Highlights:** In-context explanations of text, Flashcard creation from reading, Spaced repetition scheduling (FSRS), Import/export Anki, Quizlet decks, Library management for EPUB, PDF, MOBI, AZW3, AI-powered comprehension assistance, Cross-device sync with Pro subscription

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Manamo Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Manamo Pro | $59.99 | per year |


### Plain Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plain-reader/id6818729882)

This app provides a distraction-free reading experience for various file formats including EPUB, TXT, PDF, and comics. It allows direct access to files from cloud storage or external drives without importing or creating copies, offering customizable reading settings and text-to-speech functionality.

**Highlights:** Read directly from Files, iCloud Drive, USB, Customizable text and theme settings, Text-to-speech in 31 languages, Supports ZIP and CBZ archives, Right-to-left reading for manga, PDF text selection and search, Distraction-free reading interface

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plain Reader Pro (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Plain Reader Pro (Yearly) | $6.99 | per year |
| Plain Reader Pro | $2.99 | one-time |
| Plain Reader Pro (Lifetime) | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Manamo free?

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

### Is Plain Reader free?

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

### Do Manamo or Plain Reader have ads?

Plain Reader shows ads; Manamo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Manamo or Plain Reader?

Manamo ships an update weekly, and Plain Reader every 3 days. Most recently, Manamo was updated on October 31, 2026 and Plain Reader on November 1, 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.*