# EPUB Reader vs Trace

The clearest difference is rating: Trace at 5.0 against EPUB Reader's 4.7. Trace also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 83%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.1). EPUB Reader's advantage is ratings volume (48 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EPUB Reader sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Trace sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Trace holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EPUB Reader has 48 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of EPUB Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of Trace's.

EPUB Reader ships an update every 5 days, Trace every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EPUB Reader | Trace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epub-reader-justread/id6757948605/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-unofficial-ao3-reader/id6791213935/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **48** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 207 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PETR JAHODA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1869867188) | [ZACHARY SAMUEL LAMBERT](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891419670) |

## What reviewers say

### EPUB Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epub-reader-justread/id6757948605)

Customize your reading experience with extensive font and layout options. Effortlessly manage your library, track reading habits, and enjoy eye-care features. Sync your books across devices via cloud storage without proprietary lock-in.

**Highlights:** 200+ built-in fonts and custom font import, Adjustable text and layout settings, Smart dark mode with intelligent image inversion, 20-20-20 eye health reminders, Library management for 5,000+ books, Cloud sync via iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Highlighting, notes, and bookmarking, Reading progress tracking and goal setting

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly – Launch Price | $12.49 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime – Launch Price | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $79.99 | one-time |


### Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-unofficial-ao3-reader/id6791213935)

This app allows users to privately read and organize EPUB files downloaded from AO3 offline. It offers customizable reading settings, library management with personal tags and notes, and robust search and filtering capabilities for fanfiction.

**Highlights:** Offline EPUB reading, AO3 fanfiction organization, Customizable reading themes and fonts, Personalized library management, Advanced search and filtering, Optional cloud sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trace Unlimited Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Trace Unlimited Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EPUB Reader free?

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

### Is Trace free?

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

### Which has better reviews, EPUB Reader or Trace?

Trace is rated higher. EPUB Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while Trace averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do EPUB Reader or Trace have ads?

Neither EPUB Reader nor Trace shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EPUB Reader or Trace?

EPUB Reader ships an update every 5 days, and Trace every 3 days. Most recently, EPUB Reader was updated on October 20, 2026 and Trace on October 11, 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.*