Comparison

Vela Reader vs GutenbergListen

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

Head to head
About

Vela Reader

Enhance your reading of classic literature with an AI companion that provides instant context, definitions, and historical insights. Visualize scenes from the books you're reading with AI-generated illustrations. Enjoy a distraction-free reading experience with customizable themes and typography.

Highlights
  • AI-powered contextual explanations
  • AI-generated scene illustrations
  • Access to thousands of public-domain books
  • Distraction-free reading modes
  • Adjustable typography
  • Bookmarks and in-book search
Features
Read full description

Always wanted to read Moby-Dick, Ulysses, or War and Peace — and actually enjoy them? Vela is a beautiful reader for the world's great books, with an AI companion that helps you understand every page and bring it to life. Highlight any line and ask. Get the historical context, a character you lost track of, the meaning of an archaic word, or what a dense passage is really saying — in seconds, right beside the text. It's the context you'd otherwise put the book down to go hunt for, without ever leaving the page. And picture what you're reading: illustrate any scene and bring the moment to life. A calm, modern home for the classics: • Thousands of public-domain works from Standard Ebooks and Project Gutenberg • Distraction-free reading — dark, light, and sepia themes • Adjustable typography: font, size, and spacing • Bookmarks, in-book search, and beautiful quote cards to share Vela isn't a summary tool or a shortcut — it helps you read the actual book, and get more out of every page. New accounts include a trial of AI questions. Keep going with Pro ($6.99/month) or Bonfire ($14.99/month) for more questions each month and the most capable model by default. For readers who want to finally get through the great books — and love them. Terms of Use (EULA): https://vela.cool/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://vela.cool/privacy.html

About

GutenbergListen

Features
Read full description

GutenbergListen's raison d'être is to provide simple access to the Project Gutenberg website of 70,000 plus books to blind user or to anyone using a screen reader to by providing a succinct browsing experience (declutered, to use the vernacular) to speed navigation. Everyone is, of course, welcome to use it. It is provided without out charge under the agpl-3.0 license. Selected eBooks and audio books are downloaded to the user's phone or tablet and remain until deleted by the user. Downloaded books can be accessed on or offline. eBooks are spoken in a user select-able voice that can be managed by speed, pitch and other basic controls including a sleep timer. Audio books are played at a user select-able speed and the basic controls also include a sleep timer. No personal data is collected, no account creation is required, no location or device information is collected, your location is not tracked and there are no analytics used.

Screenshots

Vela Reader4 screens
GutenbergListen3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GutenbergListen at none against Vela Reader's 2. Vela Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 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. Vela Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. GutenbergListen asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vela Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, GutenbergListen every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Vela Reader versus GutenbergListen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVela ReaderGutenbergListen
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB2 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperTasio VictoriaFrank D Ducrest

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Vela Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Pro$6.991 Month
  • Bonfire$14.991 Month
None

GutenbergListen

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Vela Reader free?
Vela Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GutenbergListen free?
GutenbergListen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Vela Reader or GutenbergListen have ads?
Neither Vela Reader nor GutenbergListen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vela Reader or GutenbergListen?
Vela Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, and GutenbergListen every 6 weeks. Most recently, Vela Reader was updated on October 13, 2026 and GutenbergListen on October 6, 2026.

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