# ReadWave vs ARC

The clearest difference is rating: ReadWave at 5.0 against ARC's 4.0. ReadWave also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%) and iOS requirement (15 vs 26.0). ARC's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (8 vs 2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ReadWave sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and ARC sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReadWave holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of ReadWave's written reviews are positive against 75% of ARC's.

ReadWave ships an update weekly, ARC every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadWave | ARC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwave/id6758969190/reviews)** | [4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-interactive-stories/id6759538973/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 130 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [BitVisual Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876099363) | [Fishybear LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/386484263) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### ARC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-interactive-stories/id6759538973)

Engage with stories by making choices that shape the narrative and lead to unique endings. Explore various genres, from romance to fantasy, with both short reads and full-length books. An AI companion can help guide your decisions.

**Highlights:** Interactive stories with branching paths, Short stories for quick reads, Full-length books with multiple endings, AI companion for decision guidance, Audio narration for chapters, Regularly added new stories

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ARC Reader | $9.99 | per month |
| ARC Reader Plus | $24.99 | per month |
| ARC Reader | $99.99 | per year |
| ARC Reader Plus | $199.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadWave free?

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

### Is ARC free?

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

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

ReadWave is rated higher. ReadWave averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while ARC averages 4.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do ReadWave or ARC have ads?

ReadWave shows ads; ARC does not.

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

ReadWave ships an update weekly, and ARC every 2 weeks. Most recently, ReadWave was updated on October 14, 2026 and ARC on October 8, 2026.

---

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