Comparison

CalibReader vs AO3 Companion

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

Head to head
About

CalibReader

This app offers a reading experience for EPUB and PDF files, featuring dual-page spreads and realistic page curls. It integrates with your existing calibre library and supports various cloud storage options. Enjoy a customizable reading environment and seamless syncing across devices.

Highlights
  • Dual-page spread and page curl effect
  • Calibre library integration
  • Cloud storage support (iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive)
  • Cross-device reading position sync
  • Customizable themes and fonts
  • Built-in dictionary
  • PDF reader with two-page spreads
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Read your EPUBs like a real book: two pages side by side on iPad and iPhone Duo, with real page curls. PDFs open as two-page spreads too. Open your ebook files straight from Files, Safari, Mail or AirDrop, or bring your whole calibre library: CalibReader shelves them with covers and series, and keeps your place on every device. BUILT FOR IPHONE DUO Open iPhone Duo and your book becomes a two-page spread, with real page curls. Close it and the book closes: the cover screen shows its cover, leather-bound with the title in gold or the original art. Tap to keep reading, one page at a time. Your place holds through every fold, and turning the open phone to portrait gives you a single page. YOUR EPUB AND PDF FILES Any folder of EPUB or PDF files becomes a library with covers, sorting and search. WORKS WITH YOUR CALIBRE LIBRARY Point CalibReader at your calibre library folder and every book, cover, series, tag and synopsis appears as you organised it. Nothing to convert, no lock-in. YOUR STORAGE, YOUR CHOICE • A folder on your device or in iCloud Drive • Dropbox and OneDrive • Your own server or NAS over SMB • Other apps that share a folder in Files A READER BUILT FOR LONG SESSIONS • Two-page spread, single page or continuous scroll, with page curl or flip • Opens on a title page that turns over like a real one • Parchment, sepia, black and navy themes, or your own colour • Font, size, spacing, margins and justification, applied live • Table of contents, chapter navigation, clock and progress footer • Built-in dictionary • A PDF reader with two-page spreads on iPad and iPhone Duo that remembers your page PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF Reading positions and read status sync across your devices through a tiny file in your library folder. Put down the iPad, pick up the iPhone. A free calibre plugin writes read status, % read and last-read date back to your desktop library. A LIBRARY THAT LOOKS LIKE A LIBRARY Home with continue reading and recently added; grid, list and series views; filters and search; cover art found automatically when a book has none, and Choose Cover to swap in another edition's cover or bind any book in leather. 3 BOOKS FREE, THEN ONE PURCHASE Read any 3 books free, and bring in, sync and browse as many as you like. Then unlock your whole library with one purchase. No subscription, no account, no ads, no tracking, and no data collected. Formats: EPUB and PDF in the built-in reader; other formats open in the app of your choice. Note: CalibReader opens EPUB and PDF files without copy protection (DRM). Books bought in other apps' stores stay in those apps. CalibReader is an independent app, not affiliated with or endorsed by the calibre project. calibre is a trademark of Kovid Goyal. Support: hello@calibreader.com · https://calibreader.com

About

AO3 Companion

Features
Read full description

Keep your reading in one place with AO3 Companion, an independent reader for Archive of Our Own. FIND YOUR NEXT READ Search public works by title, author, fandom and tags. Filter by content rating and completion, and sort by kudos, update date or length. YOUR LIBRARY Save works, return to recent reads and keep your chapter and scroll position on this device. READ YOUR WAY Adjust font size, line spacing and typeface. Choose White, Paper or Night mode and move between chapters from the contents menu. COMPANION PLUS Browse and read the first chapter for free. Companion Plus unlocks subsequent chapters in the app, offline downloads and the Rose reading theme. Original works remain freely available on the AO3 website. Prices, renewal periods and any eligible free trial are shown before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically until canceled through your App Store account. No AO3 account is required for public works. Restricted works may require access on AO3 itself. Kudos, comments and author interactions open the original AO3 website. AO3 Companion is not affiliated with Archive of Our Own or the Organization for Transformative Works. Fanworks belong to their authors. Apple standard license: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Support: https://ao3-companion-reader.web.app/support.html Privacy: https://ao3-companion-reader.web.app/privacy.html Browse public AO3 works across all ratings. Choose ratings, archive warnings and tags with search filters.

Screenshots

CalibReader4 screens
AO3 Companion4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: CalibReader at #144 against AO3 Companion's unranked. AO3 Companion's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. CalibReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and AO3 Companion sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
CalibReader versus AO3 Companion: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalibReaderAO3 Companion
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#144 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.213.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB36 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperGram 1ilyas inajjar

In-app purchases

1 purchases

CalibReader

One-time1
  • Unlock All Books Forever$9.99
2 purchases

AO3 Companion

Subscriptions2
  • Companion Plus Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Companion Plus Annual3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is CalibReader free?
CalibReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AO3 Companion free?
AO3 Companion is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CalibReader or AO3 Companion have ads?
Neither CalibReader nor AO3 Companion shows ads.

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