# Staread vs ReadWave

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ReadWave at 100% against Staread's 52%. ReadWave also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.5). Staread's advantage is ratings volume (71 vs 2) and chart position (#93 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Staread sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and ReadWave sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReadWave holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Staread has 71 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Staread's written reviews are positive against 100% of ReadWave's.

Staread ships an update fortnightly, ReadWave weekly. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Staread | ReadWave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staread/id6758330296/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwave/id6758969190/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **71** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 51.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#93** | — |
| Size | 72 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [JIN FAN TECHNOLOGY CO.LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872316191) | [BitVisual Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876099363) |

## What reviewers say

### Staread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staread/id6758330296)

**Currently charting:** #93 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Discover an extensive library of stories across popular genres like Billionaire, Werewolf, and LGBTQ+. Enjoy an immersive reading experience with customizable display options and support for authors worldwide. Upgrade for unlimited access and an ad-free environment.

**Highlights:** Vast library of diverse genres, Customizable reading experience, Author support and publishing platform, Premium subscription for unlimited access, Weekly new book additions

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly VIP | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Pack | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP10 | $24.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $24.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly VIP | $99.99 | per year |


### ReadWave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwave/id6758969190)

Immerse yourself in captivating stories with this premium novel reading app. Discover a vast library of serialized and complete fiction across various genres, with personalized recommendations and a comfortable, distraction-free reading experience. Unlock exclusive content through membership.

**Highlights:** Wide collection of novels, Smooth reading experience, Smart content recommendations, Bookmark and history management, Regular content updates, Exclusive membership content

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly VIP | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly VIP | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly VIP | $199.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Staread free?

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

### Is ReadWave free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Staread or ReadWave?

ReadWave is rated higher. Staread averages 2.5 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while ReadWave averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Staread or ReadWave have ads?

Both Staread and ReadWave show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Staread or ReadWave?

Staread ships an update fortnightly, and ReadWave weekly. Most recently, Staread was updated on October 14, 2026 and ReadWave on October 14, 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.*