# DarkScreenReader vs Athena Reader

The clearest difference is update cadence: Athena Reader at every 2 days against DarkScreenReader's every 5 weeks. Athena Reader also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DarkScreenReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Athena Reader sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DarkScreenReader ships an update every 5 weeks, Athena Reader every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DarkScreenReader | Athena Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkscreenreader/id6790046139/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [兴雨 蔡](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775318889) | [祥 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/6802489561) |

## What reviewers say

### DarkScreenReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkscreenreader/id6790046139)

This tool allows discreet reading of local novel files by displaying text only in a small, user-defined area against a black screen. It mimics a locked phone to avoid drawing attention in public spaces. Features include customizable display, tap-to-hide functionality, and automatic page turning.

**Highlights:** Selected display area on black screen, Tap to hide/resume text, Automatic page turning, Swipe navigation, Customizable display area, Local file support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DarkScreenReader Pro LifeTime | $1.99 | one-time |


### Athena Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/athena-reader-ai-notebook/id6802726804)

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Athena Pro Monthly | $10.99 | per month |
| Athena Pro Quarterly | $27.99 | per 3 months |
| Athena Pro Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| 200 AI Chats | $5.99 | one-time |
| +10GB (about 3,000 books) | $5.99 | one-time |
| OCR 10 Books | $6.99 | one-time |
| 500 AI Chats | $11.99 | one-time |
| OCR 30 Books | $16.99 | one-time |
| 1200 AI Chats | $23.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DarkScreenReader free?

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

### Is Athena Reader free?

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

### Do DarkScreenReader or Athena Reader have ads?

Neither DarkScreenReader nor Athena Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DarkScreenReader or Athena Reader?

DarkScreenReader ships an update every 5 weeks, and Athena Reader every 2 days. Most recently, DarkScreenReader was updated on October 22, 2026 and Athena Reader on October 7, 2026.

---

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