Karatu vs Litora
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Karatu
Read full descriptionHide full description
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 — 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 — library, history, bookmarks, downloads, stats — 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.
Litora
Read full descriptionHide full description
Finish a book with your ears. Litora turns the books you already own into natural-sounding audiobooks. Import an EPUB or text file and Litora reads it aloud with lifelike cloud voices — including voices that handle Chinese and English in the same book. Listen while you walk, commute, work out, or rest your eyes. WHY LITORA • Your own books — Import EPUB or plain-text files. Litora parses chapters and paragraphs so playback follows the book, sentence by sentence. • Natural cloud voices — Lifelike voices read your book aloud. Pick a different voice per book, including multilingual voices that read Chinese and English without switching apps. • Background & lock screen — Keep listening with the screen off. Control playback from the lock screen and your headphones. • Offline download — Prepare a whole book ahead of time and listen with no signal — on a flight, on the subway, anywhere. • Always in your place — Your position is saved sentence by sentence and synced to your account, so you resume exactly where you left off across devices. • Ask about what you hear — Pause and ask for a plain explanation of a passage, with context that doesn't spoil what's coming next. HOW IT WORKS 1. Import an EPUB or text file. 2. Pick a voice for the book. 3. Press play and listen — lock the screen and go. PRICING New accounts get a free trial allowance. Listening and AI features use credits; top up anytime with credit packs. Sign in with email, Google, or Apple to unlock the full welcome allowance. Questions? Email litora@codeblog.net
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Karatu at none against Litora's 3. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Litora sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Karatu asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Karatu | Litora |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Daily | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Umar Rufai | 晓俊 王 |
In-app purchases
Karatu
No in-app purchases
Litora
- Small pack · 200K reading + 40K AI$4.99
- Medium pack· 420K reading + 100K AI$9.99
- Large pack · 850K reading + 250K AI$19.99









