Comparison

Fanfic reader vs AO3X

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

Head to head
About

Fanfic reader

Features
Read full description

Unofficial fanfic reader Fanfic Reader is an unofficial personal reading app for iPhone and iPad. Keep your books, documents, and fanfiction in one library — and pick up right where you left off. NOT AFFILIATED with Archive of Our Own, authors, or publishers. You add and read your own content. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR FILES • Import from Files, Share sheet, iCloud Drive, or Wi‑Fi transfer on your local network • EPUB, FB2, MOBI, PDF, DJVU, CHM, Markdown, Office docs, comics (CBZ/CBR), and more • Open archives (ZIP, RAR, 7Z) and read supported files inside • Collections, tags, favorites, reading stats, and full‑text search across your library A COMFORTABLE READER • Per‑book font, theme, and brightness • Bookmarks, highlights, and annotations • In‑book search • Text‑to‑speech with background audio AO3 DISCOVERY (optional) • Search works on Archive of Our Own • Browse in an in‑app browser, save a reading queue, and import EPUB to your library • Content on AO3 is provided by AO3/OTW under their own terms SYNC & EXTRAS • Optional iCloud sync for progress, annotations, and library data via Apple CloudKit • Home Screen widget: continue your last book • Share extension: send files straight into the app Fanfic Reader does not show ads, sell your data, or require an account with us. Internet is used only for features you choose (such as AO3 or Wi‑Fi transfer). Requires iOS 18.6 or later.

About

AO3X

This app provides a streamlined mobile reading experience for fanfiction from Archive of Our Own. It offers features like search, library management, reading history, and customizable themes for offline access.

Highlights
  • Fanfiction discovery and search
  • Local library management
  • Reading history tracking
  • Adjustable reader themes
  • Offline fallback samples
Features
Read full description

Block a tag once and it stays blocked — in Discover, in Search, and on every tag page you open after that. AO3X is an independent reader for Archive of Our Own. Same archive you already read on, in an app that's actually built for reading it. Follow authors and series in one place. Browse author catalogs and read each series in its original order. Save chapters or complete works for offline reading. When AO3 offers an original EPUB download, save it and share it with other reading apps. Follow fandoms as Interests for a balanced Discover feed. When a search is worth keeping — one fandom, complete works only, 50k and up, sorted by kudos — save it as a Custom Feed and return in one tap. Connect your AO3 account to read works available to signed-in users and access your AO3 History, Bookmarks, Marked for Later, and Collections. This connection is separate from your AO3X account. Imported AO3 lists stay separate from your local library, and AO3X does not write changes back to AO3. Read across languages with chapter translation. Switch between original text, translation, and bilingual reading. Translation requires an AO3X account and uses translation credits; additional credits are available through in-app purchases. Chapter text is sent to the translation service only when you request a translation. A reader worth spending three hours in. The font catalog adapts its recommendations to the script you are reading and can use fonts already on your device. Verified Chinese font packs are available on demand and stay on this device. Choose from four themes, then tune size, line spacing, and page margins. Close the app mid-chapter, come back next week, land on the same paragraph. Before you commit to a 200k WIP, the Reader's work menu shows the rating, every archive warning, the full tag list, the summary and the stats — so nothing catches you off guard on chapter 14. Read public works without an account. Your library, history and progress stay on this device by default. No ads and no cross-app tracking. Reading on more than one phone? Sign in to AO3X and choose whether to back up your library and progress for restoration on another device. Cloud backup is off by default on each device. Signing in alone does not turn it on or upload your reading data. Downloaded chapter text is excluded from cloud backup, and imported AO3 lists stay on this device. AO3X is unofficial. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Archive of Our Own or the Organization for Transformative Works. Works remain subject to AO3's own policies.

Screenshots

Fanfic reader4 screens
AO3X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Fanfic reader at none against AO3X's 3. AO3X's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.6). On price, ads 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. AO3X sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Fanfic reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Fanfic reader versus AO3X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFanfic readerAO3X
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—13 — better
Update frequency—Every 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB43 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperDaniil Zolotarev凡 吴

In-app purchases

None

Fanfic reader

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

AO3X

One-time3
  • 10 Translation Credits$0.99
  • 50 Translation Credits$3.99
  • 200 Translation Credits$12.99

Questions

Is Fanfic reader free?
Fanfic reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AO3X free?
AO3X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Fanfic reader or AO3X have ads?
Neither Fanfic reader nor AO3X shows ads.

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