# ZRead vs Reader Alive

The clearest difference is ads: ZRead at none against Reader Alive's shown. Reader Alive's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 9 days). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

ZRead ships an update every 9 days, Reader Alive every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZRead | Reader Alive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zread-epub-reader/id6758880626/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 15 MB | 289 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [光泽 赖](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873981179) | [Nocoly.com Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1766222288) |

## What reviewers say

### ZRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zread-epub-reader/id6758880626)

A versatile reader for ebooks, PDFs, and comics. Supports numerous file formats including EPUB, MOBI, and CBZ. Offers a clean reading experience with privacy in mind.

**Highlights:** EPUB, PDF, TXT, FB2, MOBI, AZW support, CBZ, CBR, CB7 comic format support, Custom source integration, Privacy-focused design, Clean reading interface

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZRead Pro Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| ZRead Pro Yearly | $6.99 | per year |
| Founding Member | $6.99 | one-time |
| ZRead Pro Lifetime | $12.99 | one-time |


### Reader Alive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader-alive/id6766441925)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ZRead free?

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

### Is Reader Alive free?

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

### Do ZRead or Reader Alive have ads?

Reader Alive shows ads; ZRead does not.

### Which is updated more often, ZRead or Reader Alive?

ZRead ships an update every 9 days, and Reader Alive every 5 days. Most recently, ZRead was updated on October 1, 2026 and Reader Alive on September 9, 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.*