# Hoshi Reader vs Aya Reader

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Hoshi Reader at 20 against Aya Reader's 1. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hoshi Reader against 5.0 for Aya Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hoshi Reader has 20 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hoshi Reader | Aya Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoshi-reader/id6758244332/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aya-reader/id6760296420/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Manh-Hao Steffen Pham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871502447) | [晓阳 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883571515) |

## What reviewers say

### Hoshi Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoshi-reader/id6758244332)

This app is a lightweight Japanese EPUB reader designed for immersion learning. It features a pop-up dictionary with deinflection and supports Anki integration for vocabulary mining. Organize your library with bookshelves and track your reading progress.

**Highlights:** Vertical and horizontal reading modes, Yomitan-like pop-up dictionary, Anki mining support, Customizable Anki card format, Reading statistics, Bookshelves for library organization, Customizable themes and fonts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Aya Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aya-reader/id6760296420)

This app breaks down language barriers in reading by offering instant translations and natural-sounding text-to-speech narration. It supports multiple file formats and integrates seamlessly with your device for a focused reading experience.

**Highlights:** Cross-language translation, Text-to-speech narration, EPUB, PDF, TXT support, Background audio playback, System file integration, Adjustable speech rate

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hoshi Reader free?

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

### Is Aya Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hoshi Reader or Aya Reader?

Hoshi Reader and Aya Reader are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 20 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Hoshi Reader or Aya Reader have ads?

Neither Hoshi Reader nor Aya Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hoshi Reader or Aya Reader?

Hoshi Reader ships an update weekly, and Aya Reader weekly. Most recently, Hoshi Reader was updated on October 5, 2026 and Aya Reader on October 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*