# Merit. vs ReadUp

The clearest difference is update cadence: Merit. at every 3 days against ReadUp's every 10 days. ReadUp's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merit. sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and ReadUp sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Merit. ships an update every 3 days, ReadUp every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merit. | ReadUp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readup-read-for-screen-time/id6790545729/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **11** |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Size | 9 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Merit Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885067510) | [Nedas Mikucionis](https://appshunter.io/developer/6790545731) |

## What reviewers say

### Merit.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merit/id6760570469)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Merit Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Merit Pro Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Merit Pro Lifetime | $149.99 | one-time |


### ReadUp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readup-read-for-screen-time/id6790545729)

This app encourages reading by temporarily blocking distracting applications. Users set reading goals and unlock their apps only after completing their reading sessions, promoting focused engagement with content.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Set reading goals, Unlock apps after reading, Curated book library, Focused reading experience, Track reading progress

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access (Weekly) | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Full Access (Discounted Yearly) | $24.99 | per year |
| Full Access (Yearly) | $39.99 | per year |
| Full Access (YearlyNT) | $49.99 | per year |
| Full Access (Yearly) | $50.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merit. free?

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

### Is ReadUp free?

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

### Do Merit. or ReadUp have ads?

Neither Merit. nor ReadUp shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Merit. or ReadUp?

Merit. ships an update every 3 days, and ReadUp every 10 days. Most recently, Merit. was updated on October 25, 2026 and ReadUp on October 31, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*