Comparison

BookAlchemy vs Skim or Dive

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

Head to head
About

BookAlchemy

Features
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BookAlchemy is an online platform for book enthusiasts who want to manage their books, track their reading progress, and inspire themselves to read. Whether novels, non-fiction, or comics โ€“ this tool brings all your reading experiences together in one place. Key Features: - Personal Book Management: Create your account and build your own library. - Reading Progress Tracking: Track your progress in every book and note where you are. - Multilingual Support: Read and manage your books in your preferred language. - Cross-Device: Manage your books everywhere, whether on tablet, smartphone, or computer. - Secure Management: Full control over your account and your data. BookAlchemy is ideal for avid readers, book lovers, and anyone who wants to organize their reading journey in a structured, motivating, and accessible way.

About

Skim or Dive

Features
Read full description

Skim or Dive is an ebook reader built around one simple idea: you decide how deep you go โ€” so you finish more of the books you start. Not every book earns 400 pages of your time. When a story drags, or you have less time than it needs, ease the detail down and skim to the end instead of abandoning it. When a story grabs you, dive into every word. Same book, your pacing โ€” and far fewer half-read books on the shelf. A single slider โ€” from skim to dive โ€” reshapes any book in real time. Pull it up to glide across a chapter as a short summary. Push it down to sink into the full, unabridged prose. Every level in between gives you more or less detail, so you can race through a slow stretch and savour the part you love, all without ever leaving the page. WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT โ€ข Finish more books โ€” when a book isn't working, bail gracefully to a quick skim instead of adding it to the did-not-finish pile. โ€ข Variable detail slider (1โ€“5) โ€” read every section at the depth you want, from a one-line skim to the complete text. โ€ข One More Chapter โ€” reached the end and not ready to let go? Generate a brand-new continuation in the tone you choose: exciting, silly, mundane, mind-bending, or a whole new genre. โ€ข Ask the book โ€” curious about a character, a plot thread, or what a passage meant? Get instant answers right in the reader, carefully limited to what you've read so far. No spoilers, ever. โ€ข Tap to define โ€” long-press any word to see its dictionary definition right in the page, without losing your place. โ€ข Bring your own books โ€” import your EPUB and TXT files and read them your way. โ€ข A reader that stays out of your way โ€” adjustable font size, light and dark themes, and reading progress that's always saved. โ€ข Bookmarks โ€” mark the moments worth coming back to. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR PRIVACY Your books and your account are yours. There are no ads and no trackers. You can delete your account โ€” and the data tied to it โ€” at any time, right from the app. Read our privacy policy at https://skimordive.com/privacy. Whether you're catching the gist on a busy commute or diving deep on a lazy Sunday, Skim or Dive lets you read at your own pace, at your own depth โ€” and actually reach the end.

Screenshots

BookAlchemy4 screens
Skim or Dive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Skim or Dive at every 2 days against BookAlchemy's every 11 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BookAlchemy ships an update every 11 days, Skim or Dive every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
BookAlchemy versus Skim or Dive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookAlchemySkim or Dive
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac โ€” betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 โ€” better15.1
Further details โ€” not scored
Size27 MB43 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperDominik FuhrmannANDREW IRELAND

In-app purchases

None

BookAlchemy

No in-app purchases

None

Skim or Dive

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BookAlchemy free?
BookAlchemy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Skim or Dive free?
Skim or Dive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BookAlchemy or Skim or Dive have ads?
Neither BookAlchemy nor Skim or Dive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BookAlchemy or Skim or Dive?
BookAlchemy ships an update every 11 days, and Skim or Dive every 2 days. Most recently, BookAlchemy was updated on October 31, 2026 and Skim or Dive on October 31, 2026.

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