# Lumen Reader vs Aura

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lumen Reader at none against Aura's 3. Lumen Reader also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 10 days). Aura's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Aura sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Lumen Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lumen Reader ships an update every 4 days, Aura every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lumen Reader | Aura |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 10 days |
| Size | 98 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SAMANTH GURRAM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895598745) | [Mohamed Ali Masmoudi](https://appshunter.io/developer/6812039584) |

## What reviewers say

### Lumen Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lumen-reader-audiobooks/id6764013045)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Aura

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aura-text-to-speech-reader/id6814902507)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aura Pro Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Aura Pro Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Aura Pro Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lumen Reader free?

Lumen Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Aura free?

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

### Do Lumen Reader or Aura have ads?

Aura shows ads; Lumen Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lumen Reader or Aura?

Lumen Reader ships an update every 4 days, and Aura every 10 days. Most recently, Lumen Reader was updated on October 31, 2026 and Aura on November 6, 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.*