Comparison

iRead vs Tingwen Reader

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

Head to head
About

iRead

This app reads your EPUB, TXT, and MOBI books aloud using natural-sounding voices. It works offline, supports background playback with screen lock, and offers multi-language support. You can also import your own books and customize the reading experience.

Highlights
  • Offline text-to-speech
  • Natural neural voices
  • Background playback
  • Multi-language support
  • Import books from Files/Wi-Fi
  • Customizable reading themes
  • Library management
Features
Read full description

iRead reads the books you already own out loud — natural voices, fully offline, no subscription. LISTEN TO YOUR OWN BOOKS • Natural neural voices read EPUB, TXT and MOBI aloud • Keeps playing in the background, with the screen locked • Lock screen and headphone controls, like a podcast • Voices in nine languages: English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and Korean — each chapter is read in its own language automatically • Runs entirely on your phone — your text is never uploaded READ THEM TOO • Import from Files, the share sheet, or your computer over Wi-Fi • Light and dark themes, adjustable size and spacing • Shelf with covers, categories and reading progress • One backup file carries your library, progress and settings between devices GOOD TO KNOW • PDF opens for reading but cannot be read aloud — convert it to EPUB first (free converter at iread.gaiya.cc) • DRM-protected books, including Kindle and Apple Books purchases, cannot be opened • There is no store inside iRead. It never sells or ships books; it opens the ones you already have FREE AND PRO • Free: the whole reader, plus your device's built-in system voice • Pro: unlocks the natural neural voices. One-time purchase, yours forever • No subscription, no account, no ads, no tracking

About

Tingwen Reader

Import your own e-books in various formats and have them read aloud with customizable AI voices. Enjoy background playback and synchronized reading/listening progress for a personalized audio-book experience.

Highlights
  • Import various e-book formats (TXT, PDF, EPUB, MOBI, AZW3)
  • Customizable AI voices with emotional tones
  • Synchronized reading and listening progress
  • Background and lock screen playback
  • Local data processing for privacy
  • Free daily advanced model usage
Features
Read full description

[Multi-Format Import·Free Upload] Supports TXT, PDF, EPUB, MOBI, AZW3 and more. One-tap upload turns your personal collection into audiobooks—listen anytime, anywhere! [Subscribe·Unlock All Benefits] Get instant access to all high-quality emotional voices and richer reading styles. Flexible monthly plan (¥9.9/mo), cost-effective quarterly (¥27/quarter), or best-value yearly (¥99/yr)—less than ¥0.30 per day for year-round warm companionship! Tingwen Reader is a local reading tool designed for long-form text reading and listening. Import your own e-books, flip pages while reading, or let the app read aloud continuously. Key Features: Local Import: Supports common e-book and text formats, with content saved locally by default. Synced Progress: Listening updates your reading progress automatically; start listening right from where you left off in reading. Local AI Reading: Choose between Balanced and High-Quality modes, or switch to a power-saving basic model. Custom Voices: Record or import voice samples to create your own local timbre. Background & Lock-Screen Playback: Perfect for commutes, bedtime, and extended reading sessions. Daily Free Usage: Non-subscribers get 30 minutes of advanced model use per day, after which the basic model remains available. Share a book to earn 30 bonus minutes; subscribers enjoy unlimited advanced model time. Tingwen Reader prioritizes local processing and content privacy. Your book texts, reading progress, and custom voice samples stay on your device—no ad tracking, no cloud sync. First-time use requires a one-time online device authorization, but no book content or voice recordings are uploaded. 【Auto-Renewal Subscription Details】 Plans: Monthly (1 mo), Quarterly (3 mo), Yearly (12 mo) auto-renewing subscriptions. Pricing: ¥9.9/mo, ¥27/quarter, ¥99/yr. Auto-Renewal: Your iTunes account will be charged within 24 hours before each renewal date. To cancel, manually turn off auto-renewal in iPhone/iPad "Settings" > "Apple ID" > "Subscriptions" at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://tingwen.kevincai.space/privacy

Screenshots

iRead4 screens
Tingwen Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tingwen Reader at none against iRead's 1. iRead's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. iRead sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Tingwen Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for iRead against 5.0 for Tingwen Reader. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iRead ships an update every 2 days, Tingwen Reader every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
iRead versus Tingwen Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriReadTingwen Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB354 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShuhui Sheng蕾 王

Customer experience

iRead

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Tingwen Reader

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

iRead

One-time1
  • iRead Pro$11.99
None

Tingwen Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iRead free?
iRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tingwen Reader free?
Tingwen Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iRead or Tingwen Reader?
iRead and Tingwen Reader are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do iRead or Tingwen Reader have ads?
Neither iRead nor Tingwen Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iRead or Tingwen Reader?
iRead ships an update every 2 days, and Tingwen Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, iRead was updated on November 10, 2026 and Tingwen Reader on November 10, 2026.

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