# ReadWave vs Booksie

The clearest difference is monetization model: ReadWave at free with in-app purchases against Booksie's subscription. ReadWave also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). Booksie's advantage is ratings volume (37 vs 2). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ReadWave sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Booksie sells 5 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 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Booksie has 37 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ReadWave ships an update weekly, Booksie every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadWave | Booksie |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwave/id6758969190/reviews)** | [4.6 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/booksie-the-visual-reader/id6759985619/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **37** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | — |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 130 MB | 191 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | — |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [BitVisual Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876099363) | [MapleSoft LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882089073) |

## 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 |


### Booksie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/booksie-the-visual-reader/id6759985619)

Experience stories like never before with stunning scene visualizations and exclusive content. Turn passages into images and short videos, discover new authors, and explore curated romance, fantasy, and fiction stories. Share your creations and connect with a community of readers.

**Highlights:** Visualize any scene from text, Create short video clips, Discover exclusive content, Immersive reading experience, Explore community visualizations, Browse by genre

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Booksie Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Booksie Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| 10 Sparks | $0.99 | one-time |
| 55 Sparks | $3.99 | one-time |
| 125 Sparks | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadWave free?

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

### Is Booksie free?

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

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

ReadWave is rated higher. ReadWave averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Booksie averages 4.6 from 37 ratings.

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

ReadWave ships an update weekly, and Booksie every 5 weeks. Most recently, ReadWave was updated on October 14, 2026 and Booksie on October 13, 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.*