Comparison

BookWave vs LiBook

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

Head to head
About

BookWave

Features
Read full description

BookWave is a simple, beautiful way to read and listen to EPUBs, PDFs, and scanned book pages—no accounts, no clutter, just your books. IMPORT OR SCAN YOUR BOOKS Add any DRM-free EPUB or PDF to BookWave, and it appears on your shelf in seconds. You can also scan pages from a printed book, turn them into text, and create your own EPUB. Your library is yours: organize books into folders and keep everything in one place. LISTEN TO ANY BOOK BookWave reads your books aloud with natural-sounding voices, entirely on your device. When available, words are highlighted as they’re spoken, so you can follow along or switch between reading and listening anytime. Playback continues in the background, so you can listen while walking, commuting, or with the screen off. EVERYTHING STAYS IN SYNC Your library, reading progress, highlights, and bookmarks sync privately between your iPhone and iPad through iCloud. Start reading a chapter on one device and continue from exactly where you left off on another. No registration, no accounts, no third-party servers. SAVE WHAT MATTERS Save important passages as highlights. Your highlights and bookmarks stay with the book across all your devices. TRACK YOUR READING See how much you read and listen each day, and watch your reading habit grow. 20 CLASSICS INCLUDED Start reading right away with a free built-in library of classic EPUB books—including Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Around the World in Eighty Days, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, and many more. PRIVATE BY DESIGN BookWave has no accounts and no tracking. Your books and reading data live on your device and in your personal iCloud—nowhere else. BOOKWAVE PRO Reading and importing books are free, and you can listen to every built-in classic at no cost. BookWave Pro unlocks listening for your imported EPUB and PDF books, along with detailed reading statistics. Monthly and yearly auto-renewable subscriptions are available. Each includes a one-week free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://minimapps.github.io/bookwave/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: https://minimapps.github.io/bookwave/terms.html

About

LiBook

Consolidate all your digital books, including EPUB, PDF, and TXT files, into a single, customizable reading environment. Enjoy hands-free page turning, text-to-speech functionality, and seamless cloud synchronization across devices. Organize your library with ease and tailor the reading experience to your preferences.

Highlights
  • Import EPUB, TXT, PDF files
  • Custom fonts and themes
  • Volume button page turning
  • Text-to-Speech (TTS) mode
  • iCloud sync and offline downloads
  • Smart library organization
  • Full-text search and bookmarks
Features
Read full description

Tired of having your favorite web novels, study PDFs, and EPUB books scattered across different apps? Wish you could read everything with your favorite custom fonts, soothing colors, and seamless sync across devices? LiBook is a personal eBook reader crafted to bring all your digital books together into one serene, distraction-free space. Import your EPUB, PDF, and TXT files, organize your personal library, and immerse yourself in pure reading comfort. [ Tailored to Your Eyes: Complete Customization ] - Bring Your Own Fonts: Import and select external font files (.ttf / .otf) for EPUB and TXT books to create your ideal typography. - Custom Themes & Contrast Guidance: Design your own reading themes with custom background and text colors, complete with smart contrast guidance to keep your eyes comfortable. - Precision Layout Controls: Fine-tune font size, line spacing, paragraph spacing, and top/bottom/side margins down to the smallest detail. [ Hands-Free Page Turning: Volume Buttons & Bluetooth Remotes ] - Volume Button Navigation: Effortlessly flip pages one-handed using your device's side volume buttons (+/-). Easily toggle this option on or off in Settings. - Bluetooth Remote & Page Turner Support: Prop your iPad or iPhone on a stand and turn pages remotely from under a cozy blanket without ever touching the screen. [ Give Your Eyes a Break with Built-In TTS (Text-to-Speech) ] - Commuting or resting your eyes in bed? Switch seamlessly to TTS mode and listen to your books like an audiobook. - Includes full playback controls: play/pause, skip forward/back, customizable reading speeds, and a convenient Sleep Timer. [ Seamless iCloud Sync & Smart Storage Management ] - Pick up on your iPad at the exact line where you left off on your iPhone. Your books, reading progress, bookmarks, and highlights sync automatically via your Apple Account. - Offline Collection Download: Download entire collections at once so you can read worry-free on flights or subways without internet access. - Smart Space Saver ("Remove Download"): Running low on device storage? Remove the local file from your device while keeping the book and your reading data safely stored in iCloud. [ Optimized Engines for EPUB, TXT, and PDF ] - Smart TXT Chapter Detection: Automatically detects chapter breaks in plain text files to build a clean table of contents. - Flexible PDF Viewing: Customize fit-to-screen options, scroll directions, and page-turn styles for effortless document reading. - Distraction-Free Scroll Mode: Remembers your exact scroll position and prevents accidental chapter jumps by restricting chapter navigation to intentional left/right swipes. [ Organize, Highlight, and Rediscover ] - Effortless Library Management: Import entire folders and organize your books into clean collections with flexible sorting options. - Powerful Reading Tools: Navigate easily with a smart Table of Contents (highlighting your current chapter), full-text search, bookmarks, and highlights. [ 100% Private & Zero Ads ] - No sign-ups, no accounts, and zero ads. - LiBook does not collect or transmit any personal data. Your books and reading notes stay strictly on your device and in your private iCloud. Download LiBook today and enjoy a cleaner, smarter, and more comfortable daily reading experience!

Screenshots

BookWave4 screens
LiBook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LiBook at none against BookWave's 2. On price, update cadence, 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. BookWave sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. LiBook asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BookWave ships an update every 6 days, LiBook every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
BookWave versus LiBook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookWaveLiBook
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.2 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—95.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—6 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB20 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperNazarii StefaniukJOOYOUNG MAENG

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BookWave

Subscriptions2
  • BookWave Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • BookWave Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
None

LiBook

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BookWave free?
BookWave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LiBook free?
LiBook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BookWave or LiBook have ads?
Neither BookWave nor LiBook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BookWave or LiBook?
BookWave ships an update every 6 days, and LiBook every 3 days. Most recently, BookWave was updated on November 9, 2026 and LiBook on November 11, 2026.

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