Comparison

Vela Reader vs TellAria

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 experience of classic literature with an AI companion. Get instant context, definitions, and historical information without leaving the page. Visualize scenes with AI-generated illustrations.

Highlights
  • AI-powered contextual explanations
  • Historical context and definitions
  • AI-generated scene illustrations
  • 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 — light, sepia, dark and bedtime 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. 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

TellAria

Features
Read full description

A story you can change. TellAria brings interactive stories to readers who want a say in what happens next. Read a chapter, reach a fork, and choose between two paths. Your decision leads to the next chapter along your own route through the story. FIND YOUR NEXT WORLD Explore original fiction across adventure, fantasy, romance, mystery, thriller, horror, science fiction, and more. Preview a story’s genre, length, reading level, and chapter count before you begin. CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Follow the plot one chapter at a time. Two choices at each fork let you explore different paths and discover where the story can lead. Your choices and reading progress are saved when you sign in. MAKE READING FEEL RIGHT Choose a reading theme, switch between serif and sans-serif type, and adjust text size and line spacing. Settle into a focused reading experience that suits you. FIND FICTION THAT FITS Use story-language and reading-level filters to explore the catalog. CEFR levels from A1 to C2 help you select a suitable reading challenge; story availability varies by language and level. READ OR LISTEN Optional chapter narration is available on supported English and Simplified Chinese stories. Audio availability and unlock requirements are shown in the app. START WITH THE FIRST CHAPTER Browse stories and read opening chapters as a guest. Sign in to choose a branch and save your progress. Branch choices use tokens; additional tokens are available through in-app purchases. The app shows your balance and any unlock cost before you continue. Stories and illustrations are AI-generated. TellAria is a fiction reader with branching choices; it does not offer user-authored story generation. Where will your story go? Privacy Policy: https://tellaria.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://tellaria.com/terms

Screenshots

Vela Reader4 screens
TellAria4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Vela Reader at none against TellAria's shown. TellAria's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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 and TellAria sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vela Reader ships an update every 2 months, TellAria every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Vela Reader versus TellAria: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVela ReaderTellAria
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB11 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperTasio VictoriaSuphaphon Dachoengkhao

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Vela Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Pro$6.991 Month
  • Bonfire$14.991 Month
2 purchases

TellAria

One-time2
  • Starter$2.99
  • Value Bundle$19.99

Questions

Is Vela Reader free?
Vela Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TellAria free?
TellAria is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Vela Reader or TellAria have ads?
TellAria shows ads; Vela Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, Vela Reader or TellAria?
Vela Reader ships an update every 2 months, and TellAria every 2 days. Most recently, Vela Reader was updated on October 31, 2026 and TellAria on October 31, 2026.

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