Karatu vs Make Sense Reading
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Karatu
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Karatu is a native iOS reader where you bring your own sources. The app does not ship with a built-in catalog or library. Instead, you install small JavaScript source plug-ins from public repositories โ exactly the same model as a media-server client like Plex or Jellyfin. The app is the reader; the content backend is up to you. WHAT KARATU GIVES YOU - A native iOS reader. Vertical (webtoon) and horizontal (paged) modes, pinch-zoom, double-tap to reset, tap-to-toggle full-screen, auto-advance to the next chapter. - Per-page bookmarks, grouped by series. - Offline downloads. Background URLSession keeps fetches running when the app is suspended; per-chapter status lives on the manga detail screen with a one-tap "Download all chapters." - A real library. Sort by recently-read, recently-added, title, or chapters-read. Filter by currently-reading, has-downloads, unread-chapters-available, or by source. - Reading history with per-chapter resume. Pick up exactly where you left off. - Reading-time stats. Daily totals, current streak, longest streak, total time. Stored locally; nothing is sent anywhere. - A clean settings screen with storage usage, per-source breakdown, and one-tap reset. WHAT KARATU DOES NOT DO - Ship sources. You provide them. - Send any data anywhere. Karatu has no accounts, no telemetry, no third-party SDKs, no ads. The privacy manifest declares zero data collection. - Verify, host, distribute, or endorse any source or repository. You are solely responsible for the content you choose to load. FOR DEVELOPERS Karatu's source SDK is a tiny JavaScript runtime: fetch, console.log, and registerSource. Sources implement four async methods (getPopular, search, getMangaDetails, getChapterPages) and return ordinary JSON. Anyone can write a source and host the manifest as a public file. See the project documentation for the full SDK contract. PRIVACY All app state โ library, history, bookmarks, downloads, stats โ is stored locally on your device. Karatu makes network requests only to URLs you have explicitly configured. There are no analytics, no tracking pixels, no third-party libraries that phone home. Uninstalling the app removes every byte. REQUIREMENTS iOS 17 or later. iPhone only.
Make Sense Reading
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"Make Sense Reading turns every reading session into a calm, focused ritual. Build a quiet sanctuary around your books, track everything you finish, and let a thoughtful AI companion help you choose what to read next. Whether you have ten minutes before bed or a full evening to lose yourself in a story, Make Sense Reading gives you the atmosphere and structure to actually finish books you start. WHAT YOU CAN DO โข Focus Reading Sessions โ pick a 10, 20, 30, or 45 minute timer and read without distractions, with gentle reminders when your session ends. โข Atmospheric Backgrounds โ curate your mood with Warm Gradient, Cozy Room, Night Sky, or Minimal Dark scenes designed for deep focus. โข Personal Library โ add every book you read with cover, author, and an editorial summary, and watch your shelf grow over the months. โข AI Reading Companion โ discuss any page, get plot recaps, ask for recommendations based on what you already love. โข Reading Recommendations โ curated articles on speed reading, choosing your next book, building a daily reading habit, and getting more from each page. โข Daily Inspiration โ a fresh literary quote each morning to set the tone for your reading time. Reading should feel like a refuge, not another task on your list. Make Sense Reading is built for people who want to read more deeply, finish more books, and rediscover why they fell in love with reading in the first place. Download now and turn your next chapter into a sanctuary."
Screenshots
Verdict
Karatu and Make Sense Reading are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters โ price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them โ neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Karatu | Make Sense Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Daily | โ |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 โ better | 17.6 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Umar Rufai | VALTER DONA |
In-app purchases
Karatu
No in-app purchases
Make Sense Reading
No in-app purchases









