Comparison

ArcReader vs BookSpoken

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

Head to head
About

ArcReader

Download and read web novels offline with customizable themes, fonts, and scroll modes. Convert novels to audiobooks with on-device narration and build vocabulary with an integrated dictionary. Sync progress across devices and import EPUB files.

Highlights
  • Download and read web novels offline
  • Customizable reader themes and fonts
  • On-device text-to-speech narration
  • EPUB file import
  • Integrated dictionary with flashcards
  • Cross-device reading progress sync
Features
Read full description

Paste any web novel link. Download every chapter. Read offline anywhere — no account, no subscription required to start. ArcReader is the offline-first reader for Royal Road, WTR-Lab, NovelFire, and dozens more sources. Bring your own link, we handle the rest — whether it's progression fantasy, xianxia, cultivation fiction, LitRPG, isekai, romance, or any English web novel and light novel. Loved by readers who wanted something quieter: no crowded feeds, no coin walls, just your books. Built for readers who want full control: pick your theme, your font, your scroll mode, and read offline whenever you want. POPULAR GENRES ON ARCREADER Progression Fantasy · Cultivation · Xianxia · Wuxia · Xuanhuan · LitRPG · GameLit · Isekai · Reincarnation · Fantasy · Romance · Sci-Fi · Fanfiction · Thriller · Horror · Slice of Life · Harem · Adventure WHY READERS LOVE ARCREADER A reader designed for long sessions Choose between four themes (Light, Dark, Sepia, Black AMOLED). Adjust font size, line spacing, font family, and margins to find your perfect setup. Switch between paginated mode with page-turn animation, or smooth continuous scroll. Listen with on-device narration Built-in neural text-to-speech turns any novel into an audiobook — runs entirely on your device. No internet required, no data costs, no monthly fees for the core feature. Adjustable speed from 0.75x to 2x, lock-screen controls, sleep timer, and auto-advance between chapters. Offline-first reading Downloaded content stays on your device in a local library — not a temporary cache. Read on airplanes, in tunnels, or anywhere connectivity is unreliable. Import your own EPUB files Already have books saved as EPUB? Import them straight into your library and read them with the same themes, fonts, and narration as everything else. Look up words and build vocabulary Tap any word for an instant dictionary definition, then save it as a flashcard. Review your flashcards later to lock in new vocabulary as you read. Highlights and notes Long-press to highlight passages in four colors with optional notes. Review all your highlights for any title in one place. Reading position sync Auto-saves your position every few seconds. Open a book on another device and continue exactly where you left off, after signing in. No sign-up wall Open the app and start reading. Account creation is optional — only needed if you want to sync between devices. EVERYTHING ARCREADER OFFERS - Customizable reader (themes, fonts, layout, scroll modes) - On-device neural text-to-speech with voice selection - Background audio with lock-screen controls and sleep timer - Highlights and notes with color coding - Import your own EPUB files into your library - Built-in dictionary with tap-to-define - Vocabulary flashcards to review and remember new words - Reading progress auto-save and cross-device sync - Daily reading goals and streaks - Reading statistics and history ARCREADER PRO (OPTIONAL SUBSCRIPTION) ArcReader Pro adds: - Premium cloud voices for high-quality narration - Unlimited chapter downloads - Ad-free reading experience ArcReader Pro is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. The exact price in your local currency is shown in the app and on the App Store before you confirm. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at purchase confirmation. Subscriptions auto-renew unless turned off in iOS Settings at least 24 hours before the current period ends; renewal is charged within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. PRIVACY ArcReader stores your reading data on your device. Optional account sync uses encrypted cloud storage. We do not sell your data. Full privacy policy available below. Terms of Service: https://arcreaders.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://arcreaders.app/privacy.html

About

BookSpoken

Features
Read full description

BookSpoken turns any printed book into a read-along audiobook, right on your iPhone. Point your camera at the pages. BookSpoken reads them aloud in a natural, human-sounding voice and highlights each word as it speaks, so your eyes and ears stay in the same place. Hearing and seeing a sentence at once is how reading clicks. It is made for anyone who reads better by ear: people with dyslexia, readers learning English, students working through a dense chapter, tired eyes at the end of a long day, or anyone who simply prefers to listen. WHY BOOKSPOKEN A real voice, not a robot. The natural on-device voice sounds nothing like the built-in phone reader. Follow along. Every word is highlighted as it is spoken, so you never lose your place. Works on paper. Scan a physical book, a textbook, a magazine, a printout, anything printed. Completely private. Your photos of the pages and the text never leave your phone. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is tracked. Works offline. The voice runs entirely on your device, so no signal is needed. HOW IT WORKS 1. Snap the cover, then the pages. 2. BookSpoken reads the text and tidies it up. 3. Press play and follow along, word by word. FREE TO TRY Read the first pages of any book for free. A single one-time purchase unlocks every page of every book you scan, forever. No subscription, no account.

Screenshots

ArcReader4 screens
BookSpoken4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: BookSpoken at none against ArcReader's shown. ArcReader's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price and in-app purchases 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. ArcReader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and BookSpoken sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ArcReader versus BookSpoken: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArcReaderBookSpoken
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (36 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews93.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings36 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size135 MB468 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperThien LeJoe Murfin

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ArcReader

Subscriptions2
  • ArcReader VIP — Monthly$5.991 Month
  • ArcReader VIP — Annual$44.991 Year
One-time1
  • ArcReader VIP - Lifetime$79.99
1 purchases

BookSpoken

One-time1
  • BookSpoken Unlimited$9.99

Questions

Is ArcReader free?
ArcReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BookSpoken free?
BookSpoken is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ArcReader or BookSpoken have ads?
ArcReader shows ads; BookSpoken does not.

Other comparisons