Comparison

Karatu vs ReadIt

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

Head to head
About

Karatu

Features
Read 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.

About

ReadIt

Features
Read full description

Turn the books you already own into audiobooks. Import any EPUB and ReadIt reads it aloud using the voices already on your iPhone. No streaming, no catalog, no account. Your library stays on your device. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Import any EPUB you own — books you bought, downloaded, or wrote yourself • Listen with your phone's built-in voices, offline, with no network needed • Follow along as each line is highlighted while it's spoken • Pick up exactly where you left off, in every book • Adjust speed, voice, type size, margins, and page colour • Read in Paper, Sepia, or Night, whichever suits the room BUILT FOR LONG READING SESSIONS Playback continues with the screen off, and works from the Lock Screen and Control Center. A daily reading goal and a streak calendar keep the habit visible without nagging. STARTS WITH BOOKS INSIDE A handful of public-domain classics come bundled, so there's something to listen to the moment you open the app. YOUR LIBRARY STAYS YOURS Books, progress, and settings live in the app's own storage on your device. There is no account, and no copy of your library on our servers. Deleting the app deletes all of it. READIT PRO Free includes 2 hours of listening a day, up to 40 hours a month. ReadIt Pro removes both limits: • Unlimited listening, with no daily cap • No monthly hour limit • Every book in your library, start to finish Monthly or yearly. Cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://readit.garcade.in/terms Privacy Policy: https://readit.garcade.in/privacy

Screenshots

Karatu4 screens
ReadIt4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Karatu at none against ReadIt's 2. Karatu also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 10 days). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. ReadIt sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Karatu asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Karatu ships an update daily, ReadIt every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Karatu versus ReadIt: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKaratuReadIt
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB153 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperUmar RufaiOm Sharma

In-app purchases

None

Karatu

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ReadIt

Subscriptions2
  • ReadIt Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • ReadIt Pro Yearly$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Karatu free?
Karatu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ReadIt free?
ReadIt is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Karatu or ReadIt have ads?
Neither Karatu nor ReadIt shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Karatu or ReadIt?
Karatu ships an update daily, and ReadIt every 10 days. Most recently, Karatu was updated on October 25, 2026 and ReadIt on October 26, 2026.

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