Rousd vs Sumi Book
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Rousd
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Reading doesnβt need to become another task to optimize. Rousd is a calm reading companion designed to help you make space for books and build a gentler relationship with reading. When youβre ready, begin a quiet session and put your phone down. Rousd keeps track without displaying elapsed time, countdowns, or goals. When you finish, you can see how long you read, choose the book, leave a note, or simply move on. Over time, your Diary becomes a personal record of time spent with books, while The Shelf gives finished books and reflections a home. Rousd doesnβt replace the book in your hands: it helps you return to it. Features: β’ A hidden reading timer that stays out of sight while you read β’ A calm reading ritual designed to reduce distraction β’ Book search and attribution after each session β’ Optional notes and reflections β’ A Diary of past reading sessions β’ A Shelf for finished books and reviews β’ Manual logging for reading completed outside Rousd β’ No account required No streaks. No badges. No pressure to read faster or more. Whether you read one page or one chapter, it still counts. Read without the rush.
Sumi Book
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Sumi is a beautifully crafted, native reader for the books, manga and comics you already own or have the right to read. Sumi comes empty by design. It includes no catalog, no content, and no built-in sources β you decide what to read. Import your own files, or add a source by pasting the web address of a site you are entitled to access. Sumi is the elegant reading experience on top; the library is yours. A READER, NOT A LIBRARY β’ Ships with zero content and zero pre-loaded sources β’ Import your own files (.cbz / .zip) straight from the Files app β’ Add your own source β nothing is bundled DESIGNED FOR READING β’ A refined dark interface made for long sessions β’ Smooth paged and continuous (webtoon) reading modes β’ Right-to-left support for manga β’ Remembers your place across your whole collection NO ADS, EVER Sumi shows no advertising. The reading view is just the page β nothing between you and your story. PREMIUM Unlock the full experience: β’ Incognito mode β read without saving history or progress β’ App Lock β guard your library with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode β’ Backup & restore β export and recover your entire collection β’ Premium themes β including the dusk-rose Sakura palette β’ Offline downloads β keep what you're reading with you YOUR RESPONSIBILITY Sumi is a neutral reading tool. It is not affiliated with any website, publisher, or content, and cannot guarantee the availability of any third-party source. You are responsible for ensuring you have the right to access whatever you add. Please support the authors and publishers you love. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rousd at none against Sumi Book's 3. Sumi Book's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Sumi Book sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Rousd asks for nothing beyond the download.
Rousd ships an update every 10 days, Sumi Book every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Rousd | Sumi Book |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 4 days β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 49 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Gordon Brown | Oktay Demir |
In-app purchases
Rousd
No in-app purchases
Sumi Book
- The Fine Press β Monthly$3.991 Month
- The Fine Press β Annual$24.991 Year
- The Fine Press β Lifetime$49.99









