# ReadInstead vs Gotcha

The clearest difference is ads: ReadInstead at none against Gotcha's shown. ReadInstead also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). Gotcha's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 days). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ReadInstead sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.19 per month and Gotcha sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReadInstead ships an update every 8 days, Gotcha every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadInstead | Gotcha |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.7 (179 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gotcha-animal-identifier/id6778118327/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **179** |
| Positive reviews | — | 85.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 67 MB | 311 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pavlo Kovalchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886402664) | [Jurre de Ruiter](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896366308) |

## What reviewers say

### ReadInstead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readinstead/id6760823296)

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly Sale 20 | $7.19 | per month |
| Pro Monthly Sale 15 | $7.59 | per month |
| Max Monthly Sale 20 | $11.99 | per month |
| Max Monthly Sale 15 | $12.49 | per month |
| ReadInstead Max | $14.99 | per month |
| Pro Annual Sale 20 | $71.99 | per year |
| Pro Annual Sale 15 | $76.00 | per year |
| Max Annual Sale 20 | $119.99 | per year |
| Max Annual Sale 15 | $126.99 | per year |
| ReadInstead Max (Annual) | $149.99 | per year |


### Gotcha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gotcha-animal-identifier/id6778118327)

Turn outdoor adventures into a creature collection game. Snap photos of animals, birds, or bugs to identify species and add them to your personal index as stickers. Discover over 850 species across six rarity tiers, with your best photos becoming collectible stickers.

**Highlights:** Instant animal identification from photos, Automatic creature cutout from images, Collect 850+ real species, Rarity tiers: common to legendary, Personalized sticker collection, Share rare finds with friends

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gotcha+ | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Gotcha+ | $3.99 | per month |
| Gotcha+ | $19.99 | per year |
| Gotcha+ | $29.99 | per year |
| Comeback Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Keeper's Starter Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Keeper Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Sack of Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| Expansion Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Wagon of Gems | $49.99 | one-time |
| Gotcha+ | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadInstead free?

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

### Is Gotcha free?

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

### Do ReadInstead or Gotcha have ads?

Gotcha shows ads; ReadInstead does not.

### Which is updated more often, ReadInstead or Gotcha?

ReadInstead ships an update every 8 days, and Gotcha every 3 days. Most recently, ReadInstead was updated on September 28, 2026 and Gotcha on October 16, 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.*