# Readtide vs Better Bookshelf

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Readtide at 100% against Better Bookshelf's 50%. Readtide also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4). Better Bookshelf's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Readtide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Better Bookshelf sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Readtide holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Readtide's written reviews are positive against 50% of Better Bookshelf's.

## The numbers

| Metric | Readtide | Better Bookshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readtide/id6777393943/reviews)** | [4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/better-bookshelf/id6791765002/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | — | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 49 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Readtide, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777393945) | [Matthew Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791765004) |

## What reviewers say

### Readtide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readtide/id6777393943)

Immerse yourself in reading with this ad-free app. It offers customizable reading experiences, including dynamic themes, note-taking, and vocabulary building. Track your reading habits and visualize your literary journey.

**Highlights:** Import EPUBs and public domain classics, Customizable typeface and size, Focus Mode for distraction-free reading, Dynamic 'Tide' themes for ambient lighting, Highlighting and vocabulary definition, Note-taking and quote sharing, Reading Constellations for theme correlation

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ocean | $19.99 | one-time |


### Better Bookshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/better-bookshelf/id6791765002)

Consolidate all your books from physical shelves, Kindle, and Audible into a single, private digital library. Easily add books by scanning barcodes, taking photos, or importing existing libraries. Revisit your favorite highlighted passages and track your reading progress.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes or covers to add books, Import Kindle and Audible libraries, Consolidate books across multiple formats, Save and revisit highlighted passages, Track reading status and personal ratings, Mark books as lent

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium — Unlimited Library | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Readtide free?

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

### Is Better Bookshelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Readtide or Better Bookshelf?

Readtide is rated higher. Readtide averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Better Bookshelf averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do Readtide or Better Bookshelf have ads?

Neither Readtide nor Better Bookshelf shows ads.

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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.*