# Common Reader vs Island Reader

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Common Reader | Island Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-reader-epub-azw3-pdf/id6770067434/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/island-reader-text-to-speech/id6788645279/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 72.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 119 MB | 177 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [天宇 高](https://appshunter.io/developer/1851416147) | [ZHENGZHOU CREATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1696030576) |

## What reviewers say

### Common Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-reader-epub-azw3-pdf/id6770067434)

This app offers a peaceful reading experience across multiple ebook formats, including EPUB and PDF. It features AI-powered book analysis, cloud synchronization, and a high-performance page-turn engine for a seamless visual experience. Enjoy reading without ads and with advanced library organization tools.

**Highlights:** Supports EPUB, AZW3, MOBI, TXT, PDF, AI book analysis and library organization, Cloud sync (iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive), High-performance page-turn engine, Built-in text-to-speech, Fast full-library search

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Cup of Coffee | $4.00 | one-time |
| 2 Cups of Coffee | $8.00 | one-time |
| Lifetime Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |
| 4 Cups of Coffee | $16.00 | one-time |
| Many coffees | $32.00 | one-time |


### Island Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/island-reader-text-to-speech/id6788645279)

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:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Offer | $14.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*