Comparison

UniReader vs ReadPDB

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

Head to head
About

UniReader

Features
Read full description

UniReader 1.10.0 UniReader opens what other apps refuse. PDF, EPUB, DjVu, CHM, MOBI, FB2, CBZ/CBR, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, AZW3, PRC, LIT - 14 formats in one unified library. No more juggling between apps. --- READ WITHOUT FRICTION --- The real problem is not reading. It is everything that interrupts it: wrong format, awkward import, lost progress. UniReader exists to remove that friction. Open it, read, and pick up exactly where you left off. --- WHAT CHANGES EVERYTHING --- Absolute privacy Your documents stay on your device. No account required. No server. No tracking, no analytics, no data collection. What you read is your business alone. A real library Grid or list view, covers, folders, collections, integrated search. Filter by format, and import over your local network. Comfortable reading Day, Night, Sepia, and Paper themes; adjustable fonts and margins. Two-column EPUB, full-screen PDF, and it resumes exactly where you left off. Serious annotations Highlights, bookmarks, handwritten notes, PDF/PNG export. Optional cloud sync for reading progress and bookmarks. Catalogs and import OPDS (Gutenberg, Wikisource...), browser import on the same Wi‑Fi. Shortcuts and integrated system search. --- WHO IT IS FOR --- For anyone with hundreds of books in ten different formats who just wants to read them. For the person who annotates technical manuals in the morning and novels at night, and refuses to manage two separate apps. For researchers, students, and compulsive readers - anyone who reads seriously and wants a tool that keeps up. --- ACCESS --- Free plan DRM-free PDF and EPUB reading with essential library tools. Free forever - to explore, with no commitment. Premium All formats, cloud sync, advanced annotations, statistics about your reading, and sync with UniReader on your computer. 14 formats · OPDS · Local network import --- PRIVACY --- Your documents stay on your device. No tracking. No analytics. No data collection. UniReader is built to do one thing very well: to let you actually read. Less friction. More reading time. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ReadPDB

Features
Read full description

Bring your Palm-era ebook library back to life. ReadPDB opens compatible, non-DRM iSilo 3 and PalmDOC ebook documents stored as Palm Database (.pdb) files. Import books directly from the Files app and read them on your iPhone or iPad—no account required. Reading is offline. Features • Import one or more compatible .pdb books from the Files app • Filter your library by book title • Render supported text formatting and internal links • Automatically return to your last reading position • Adjust text size for comfortable reading • Choose Light, Dark, or System appearance • Navigate with Back, Forward, and Home controls • Highlight passages for later reference • Share selected text using the standard iOS share sheet • Remove imported books from your library at any time • Contact us from Settings • Optional lifetime ReadPDB Pro for unlimited imports after three free books Offline reading ReadPDB has no accounts, subscriptions, advertising, or tracking. Your books remain on your device and are never uploaded. Optional ReadPDB Pro is a one-time in-app purchase processed by Apple. Purchase status is recorded with RevenueCat so the unlock can be restored. The bundled sample does not count toward the three-book free library. Compatibility ReadPDB currently supports compatible, non-DRM iSilo 3 documents and PalmDOC-family documents (including TealDoc and AportisDoc). The .pdb extension was shared by many Palm OS applications, so other .pdb files may use formats that ReadPDB cannot open. The following are not currently supported: • Password- or registration-protected books • MOBI and other Palm Database variants • Damaged or corrupted files • Unrelated files that also use the .pdb extension • PDF documents • Embedded images within documents ReadPDB does not include, sell, or download books. Import only documents that you own or have permission to use.

Screenshots

UniReader4 screens
ReadPDB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ReadPDB at none against UniReader's 3. ReadPDB also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. UniReader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. ReadPDB asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

UniReader ships an update every 3 weeks, ReadPDB daily. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
UniReader versus ReadPDB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniReaderReadPDB
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGuglielmo PasaJaime Martin Lozano

In-app purchases

3 purchases

UniReader

Subscriptions2
  • UniReader Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
  • UniReader Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • UniReader Premium Lifetime$34.99
None

ReadPDB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is UniReader free?
UniReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ReadPDB free?
ReadPDB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do UniReader or ReadPDB have ads?
Neither UniReader nor ReadPDB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, UniReader or ReadPDB?
UniReader ships an update every 3 weeks, and ReadPDB daily. Most recently, UniReader was updated on October 11, 2026 and ReadPDB on October 4, 2026.

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