Comparison

ZRead vs Prose Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ZRead

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
Read full description

Read ebooks, PDFs, and comics with ZRead. ZRead supports EPUB, PDF, TXT, FB2, MOBI, AZW, and comic formats including CBZ, CBR, and CB7. Privacy: https://zread.app/privacy Terms: https://zread.app/terms

About

Prose Reader

Features
Read full description

Prose is a clean, local-first reader for ePub and PDF books. Designed with a focus on speed, privacy, and simplicity, Prose works completely offline to keep your personal library secure on your device. Key Features: - Multi-format support: Read ePub 2, ePub 3, and PDF files. - Offline library: View your books in a custom cover grid or detail list. Search, filter, and sort by title, author, last read, or reading progress. - Tailored reading experience: Customize fonts, font size, margins, and line spacing for reflowable ePub books. Zoom and fit controls are available for PDF files. - Reading themes: Switch between light, dark, and sepia themes to match your environment. Themes apply across the entire application interface. - Local-first sync: Connect your own WebDAV server to sync books, reading positions, bookmarks, highlights, and settings. Sync runs in the background and resolves conflicts by keeping your furthest reading position. - Annotation and reference: Create bookmarks, highlight text, and look up definitions using the built-in offline dictionary. - Privacy and security: Your data is never sent to third-party services. WebDAV credentials are saved securely in your operating system keychain. There is no telemetry, analytics, or tracking.

Screenshots

ZRead4 screens
Prose Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Prose Reader at none against ZRead's 4. Prose Reader also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17). ZRead's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ZRead sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Prose Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZRead ships an update every 9 days, Prose Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
ZRead versus Prose Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZReadProse Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1715.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB125 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer光泽 赖Elia Salerno

In-app purchases

4 purchases

ZRead

Subscriptions2
  • ZRead Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
  • ZRead Pro Yearly$6.991 Year
One-time2
  • Founding Member$6.99
  • ZRead Pro Lifetime$12.99
None

Prose Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZRead free?
ZRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Prose Reader free?
Prose Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ZRead or Prose Reader have ads?
Neither ZRead nor Prose Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZRead or Prose Reader?
ZRead ships an update every 9 days, and Prose Reader every 2 months. Most recently, ZRead was updated on October 1, 2026 and Prose Reader on October 8, 2026.

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