Comparison

LudyRead vs CroReader

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

Head to head
About

LudyRead

This app allows you to import and play your own audiobooks in various formats, offering a private and offline listening experience. Organize your library, customize playback, and sync across Apple devices without any subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Import M4B, MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC
  • Offline playback
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Sleep timer
  • Bookmarks with notes
  • CarPlay and Apple Watch support
  • iCloud sync
Features
Read full description

Your audiobooks. Your library. No subscription required. LudyRead is a premium audiobook player designed for Apple users who own their own books. Import M4B, MP3, M4A, AAC, and FLAC files and enjoy a beautifully crafted listening experience — completely offline, completely private. POWERFUL PLAYBACK - Chapter navigation with visual progress - Adjustable playback speed (0.5x to 3.0x) - Smart rewind when resuming - Sleep timer with shake-to-extend - Bookmarks with notes and export YOUR LIBRARY, ORGANIZED - Beautiful cover art display - Sort by title, author, or progress - Listening / Finished / Unfinished sections - Full-text search across titles, authors, and chapters IMPORT FROM ANYWHERE - Files app and AirDrop - Share Sheet from any app - WiFi Web Upload from your computer - Cloud storage (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive) - Audiobookshelf server connection APPLE ECOSYSTEM - CarPlay with 3 custom tabs and chapter navigation - Apple Watch remote control - iCloud sync across all your devices - Widgets and Live Activities - Siri Shortcuts support BUILT FOR PRIVACY - All files stored locally on your device - No account required - No tracking, no ads - Your listening habits stay yours PRICING - Free: 3 books with full playback features - Pro Lifetime: One-time purchase, unlock unlimited books - Watch Pack: One-time purchase for Apple Watch features - Family Sharing enabled — buy once, share with family - No subscriptions. Ever. LudyRead is built with iOS 26 and Liquid Glass design. It's the audiobook player Apple would make if they cared about your own library.

About

CroReader

A minimalist local eBook reader for iPhone that offers a distraction-free reading experience. Import your books in various formats and customize your reading layout with adjustable fonts, themes, and spacing. Enjoy realistic page-turning animations for a comfortable, immersive session.

Highlights
  • Supports TXT, MOBI, EPUB formats
  • Customizable background themes
  • Multiple reading fonts (custom import)
  • Adjustable font size, line spacing, margins
  • Immersive reading mode
  • Realistic page-turning animation
Features
Read full description

CroReader is a local eBook reading app designed for iPhone, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world of words without any online distractions. No sign-up required, no internet needed — just import your books and start reading. * Supports importing mainstream eBook formats such as TXT, MOBI, and EPUB, making it easy to manage your local library. * A variety of carefully designed background themes * Multiple reading fonts available, with support for importing custom fonts * Freely adjust font size, line spacing, and page margins to create the most comfortable reading layout * Tap the screen to enter immersive mode, hiding navigation and toolbars; only time, battery, and reading progress remain visible in the status bar to minimize visual distractions * Realistic page-turning animation that recreates the feel of reading a physical book

Screenshots

LudyRead4 screens
CroReader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LudyRead at Free against CroReader's $1.99. CroReader's advantage is review sentiment (55% vs 14%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On 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

LudyRead is free to download; CroReader costs $1.99 up front. LudyRead sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CroReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LudyRead ships an update every 2 weeks, CroReader every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
LudyRead versus CroReader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLudyReadCroReader
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating3.3 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews54.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLudy Ankas, LLC健 陆

Customer experience

LudyRead

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral28.6%
Negative57.1%

CroReader

Written reviews11 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative36.4%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

LudyRead

One-time1
  • LudyRead Pro$4.99
None

CroReader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LudyRead free?
LudyRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CroReader free?
CroReader costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do LudyRead or CroReader have ads?
Neither LudyRead nor CroReader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LudyRead or CroReader?
LudyRead ships an update every 2 weeks, and CroReader every 5 days. Most recently, LudyRead was updated on October 18, 2026 and CroReader on October 20, 2026.

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