# Rootread vs Dear Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dear Reader at none against Rootread's 3. Dear Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Rootread sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Dear Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rootread ships an update every 2 months, Dear Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rootread | Dear Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Size | 19 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Nephia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882027802) | [Moonsun Yang](https://appshunter.io/developer/6779434903) |

## What reviewers say

### Rootread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootread/id6759971607)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RootRead Pro (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| RootRead Pro (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| RootRead Pro (Lifetime) | $49.99 | one-time |


### Dear Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dear-reader-reading-journal/id6779434901)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rootread free?

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

### Is Dear Reader free?

Dear Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Rootread or Dear Reader have ads?

Both Rootread and Dear Reader show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rootread or Dear Reader?

Rootread ships an update every 2 months, and Dear Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Rootread was updated on October 1, 2026 and Dear Reader on October 2, 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.*