# SlowRead vs Reading Journal

The clearest difference is ads: Reading Journal at none against SlowRead's shown. SlowRead's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly) and chart position (#35 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SlowRead sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $8.39 per 7 days and Reading Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SlowRead ships an update every 3 days, Reading Journal fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SlowRead | Reading Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (793 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slowread-book-tracker-and-tbr/id6763293288/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **793** | — |
| Positive reviews | 21.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#35** | — |
| Size | 117 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adrian Martinez Moreno](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864939018) | [程辉 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789610048) |

## What reviewers say

### SlowRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slowread-book-tracker-and-tbr/id6763293288)

**Currently charting:** #35 Top Free · Book, #54 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

This app helps you build a visually appealing digital bookshelf and encourages focused reading sessions by blocking distracting apps. Track your reading progress, organize your library, and create a personalized reading ritual.

**Highlights:** Customizable 2.5D digital bookshelf, Distraction-blocking focus sessions, Reading streak tracking, TBR and library organization, Effortless book addition (scan, search, photo), Import from Goodreads (CSV), Private, local-first library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $8.39 | per 7 days |
| Premium Annual Offer | $32.99 | per year |
| Premium Annual | $44.99 | per year |
| Lifetime access to Slowread | $149.99 | one-time |


### Reading Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journal-tabmap/id6796663483)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TabMap Pro Annual | $6.99 | per year |
| TabMap Lifetime Pro | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SlowRead free?

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

### Is Reading Journal free?

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

### Do SlowRead or Reading Journal have ads?

SlowRead shows ads; Reading Journal does not.

### Which is updated more often, SlowRead or Reading Journal?

SlowRead ships an update every 3 days, and Reading Journal fortnightly. Most recently, SlowRead was updated on November 4, 2026 and Reading Journal on October 31, 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.*