# Understory vs Readerly

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Understory at 65 against Readerly's 2. Understory also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). Readerly's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Understory sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Readerly sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Readerly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Understory has 65 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Understory's written reviews are positive against 100% of Readerly's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Understory | Readerly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/understory-reading-tracker/id6767701983/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readerly-book-tracker/id6805789090/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **65** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 88.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 213 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Understory Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896501166) | [Jovanne Villarino](https://appshunter.io/developer/6805789092) |

## What reviewers say

### Understory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/understory-reading-tracker/id6767701983)

This app helps you track your reading progress, set goals, and build a consistent reading habit. It features a unique plant aesthetic and allows you to grow real-world trees by meeting reading objectives. Connect with friends, share recommendations, and view insightful reading statistics.

**Highlights:** Log reading progress and books, Set reading goals and streaks, Grow real-world trees by meeting objectives, Connect with friends and join book groups, Share book recommendations, View reading statistics and insights, Organize custom reading lists

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Understory Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Understory Premium - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Understory Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Understory Premium - Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Streak Freeze | $0.99 | one-time |
| Streak Restore | $0.99 | one-time |


### Readerly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readerly-book-tracker/id6805789090)

Track your reading habits with detailed statistics and insights. Log books, notes, and quotes, and visualize your reading life over time. Offers advanced analytics for a deeper understanding of your literary journey.

**Highlights:** Detailed reading statistics, Private notes and quotes, Book pace and projection, Barcode scanning, Import from various file types, Advanced charts and insights (Pro), Customizable library themes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Readerly Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Readerly Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Understory free?

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

### Is Readerly free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Understory or Readerly?

Readerly is rated higher. Understory averages 4.8 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Readerly averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Understory or Readerly have ads?

Neither Understory nor Readerly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Understory or Readerly?

Understory ships an update every 8 days, and Readerly every 8 days. Most recently, Understory was updated on November 13, 2026 and Readerly on November 6, 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.*