Comparison

Common Reader vs Island Reader

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

Head to head
About

Common Reader

This app offers a unified reading and AI-powered analysis experience for various ebook formats. It allows users to ask questions about book content, automatically organize their library, and sync across multiple devices. Privacy is a core focus, with no proactive data collection.

Highlights
  • Supports multiple ebook formats (epub, azw3, mobi, txt, md, pdf)
  • AI-powered questions about book content
  • Automatic library organization with generative AI
  • Cloud sync (iCloud, OneDrive, WebDAV)
  • Fast full-library search
  • Unified cross-platform interface
Features
Read full description

- UI and interactions follow a carefully unified cross-platform logic and are built with native technologies for iOS and iPadOS. - Supports many ebook formats, including epub, azw3, mobi, txt, markdown, and pdf. - Supports nearly every ebook rendering feature, including vertical writing and RTL. - Listen with built-in system voices or AI voice models. - A high-performance, Metal-powered simulated page-turn engine offers an unparalleled visual experience. - Deeply integrates AI features for asking questions about books and automatically organizing your library with generative AI. - Supports cloud sync through iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, WebDAV, and more. - Provides fast full-library search across books, authors, tags, notes, highlights, and original text. - The app does not proactively collect any of your information. Your data is only processed by the model and cloud storage providers you trust.

About

Island Reader

Transform your personal library into an audiobook experience with AI-powered narration. Organize your EPUB, PDF, and TXT files, track reading progress, and capture key insights with notes and highlights.

Highlights
  • AI read aloud with customizable voices and speed
  • Import EPUB, PDF, and TXT files
  • Personal library organization
  • Reading progress tracking and goals
  • Highlighting, note-taking, and quote cards
  • Cross-device syncing via iCloud
Features
Read full description

Read your own books, listen with AI voices, and keep your reading goals and ideas together in Island Reader. 1. AI READ ALOUD Listen while commuting, running, or relaxing. Choose a voice, adjust the speed, and follow sentence highlighting as you switch between reading and listening. Online AI voices require an internet connection. 2. YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY Import EPUB, PDF, and TXT files from your device or over local Wi-Fi. Organize books into groups, check each book's progress, and pick up where you left off. 3. READING STATISTICS AND GOALS Track reading and listening time, set daily reading and annual book goals, and monitor your progress over time. 4. HIGHLIGHTS, NOTES, AND QUOTE CARDS Turn favorite sentences into shareable text cards. Revisit highlights at random, or review one book's highlights and notes together. 5. A SHORTCUT BACK TO YOUR BOOK On iPhone and iPad, use widgets to return to your recent reading. Tap Apple Watch to open your last-read book on the paired iPhone. Watch features require that iPhone; audio plays through it or its connected audio device. CONTINUE ACROSS IPHONE, IPAD, AND MAC iCloud syncs supported reading progress, highlights, and notes. Book files are not synced by iCloud; import the same book on each device. ISLAND READER PRO Island Reader is free to download and includes core reading features. Optional Island Reader Pro purchases unlock additional benefits, including unlimited book imports and note export. Available plans, benefits, durations, trial eligibility, and localized prices are shown in the app before purchase. Auto-renewable subscriptions renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. Manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. A lifetime purchase, when offered, is a one-time purchase and does not renew. Voice availability and AI speech features may vary by language, device, region, and network connection. Privacy Policy: https://fancy-crop-f2c.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-730a85c63d7b829eb47201e27f655995 Terms of Use: https://fancy-crop-f2c.notion.site/Terms-of-Service-feda85c63d7b82d5aebd011068fe1bf6

Screenshots

Common Reader4 screens
Island Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Island Reader at 5.0 against Common Reader's 3.0. Island Reader also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Common Reader's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 72%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Common Reader sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Island Reader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Island Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Common Reader's written reviews are positive against 72% of Island Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Common Reader ships an update every 3 days, Island Reader every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Common Reader versus Island Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCommon ReaderIsland Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better72.0% of reviews
Number of ratings24 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size119 MB177 MB
Age rating4+9+
Developer天宇 高ZHENGZHOU CREATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

Customer experience

Common Reader

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Island Reader

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Common Reader

One-time5
  • 1 Cup of Coffee$4.00
  • 2 Cups of Coffee$8.00
  • Lifetime Unlock$9.99
Show 2 more
  • 4 Cups of Coffee$16.00
  • Many coffees$32.00
4 purchases

Island Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Annual$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Offer$14.99
  • Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is Common Reader free?
Common Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Island Reader free?
Island Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Common Reader or Island Reader?
Island Reader is rated higher. Common Reader averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Island Reader averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Common Reader or Island Reader have ads?
Neither Common Reader nor Island Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Common Reader or Island Reader?
Common Reader ships an update every 3 days, and Island Reader every 4 days. Most recently, Common Reader was updated on November 7, 2026 and Island Reader on November 8, 2026.

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