# Reader Alive vs Actually Read

The clearest difference is ads: Actually Read at none against Reader Alive's shown. Actually Read also leads on chart position (#129 vs unranked). Reader Alive's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reader Alive sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Actually Read sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Reader Alive ships an update every 5 days, Actually Read every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reader Alive | Actually Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/actually-read-focus-reader/id6796197302/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **47** |
| Positive reviews | — | 90.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#129** |
| Size | 289 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nocoly.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/1766222288) | [Prism32 LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1591711559) |

## What reviewers say

### Reader Alive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reader-alive/id6766441925)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |


### Actually Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/actually-read-focus-reader/id6796197302)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Enhance your reading experience by tracking books, blocking distractions, and engaging with content through AI-powered summaries and passage retrieval. Import your own EPUBs and PDFs, or discover public-domain books within a customizable reading environment.

**Highlights:** Book tracking and reading lists, Deep Focus app and website blocking, EPUB and PDF import, AI-powered book engagement, On-device AI processing, Customizable reading space

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Actually Read Plus | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reader Alive free?

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

### Is Actually Read free?

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

### Do Reader Alive or Actually Read have ads?

Reader Alive shows ads; Actually Read does not.

### Which is updated more often, Reader Alive or Actually Read?

Reader Alive ships an update every 5 days, and Actually Read every 2 days. Most recently, Reader Alive was updated on October 12, 2026 and Actually Read on November 1, 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.*