# Skald vs Analects Reader

The clearest difference is monetization model: Analects Reader at free against Skald's free with in-app purchases. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Skald sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Analects Reader sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

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

Skald ships an update weekly, Analects Reader every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Skald | Analects Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skald-odyssey/id6790579937/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/analects-reader/id6801033467/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 183 MB | 276 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MannaMila LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6790579939) | [Elliott Bernstein](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830879141) |

## What reviewers say

### Skald

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skald-odyssey/id6790579937)

Explore Homer's Odyssey with multiple reading lengths and translations. Dive deeper with integrated art, maps, and historical context. Offers a unique, ad-free reading experience for adults and parents.

**Highlights:** Multiple reading lengths (1, 5, 20 min), Prose and verse translations, Integrated art, maps, and objects, Offline reading content, Homeric glossary, Ad-free and no subscription

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Educational unlock | $5.99 | one-time |
| Full Library Unlock | $7.99 | one-time |


### Analects Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/analects-reader/id6801033467)

Explore Confucius's Analects with interactive features. Read in original Chinese and English, with tappable characters for detailed meanings, readings, and usage. Offers multiple reading modes and integrated podcast commentary.

**Highlights:** Original Chinese and English text, Tappable characters with detailed meanings, Multiple reading modes (Study, Translation, Chinese, Classical), Integrated podcast commentary with episode guides, Notes saved as Markdown in iCloud Drive, Offline access to Chinese text

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Through the Gate | $3.00 | one-time |
| Up to the Hall | $10.00 | one-time |
| Into the Chamber | $30.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Skald free?

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

### Is Analects Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Skald or Analects Reader?

Skald and Analects Reader are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Skald or Analects Reader have ads?

Neither Skald nor Analects Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Skald or Analects Reader?

Skald ships an update weekly, and Analects Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Skald was updated on October 24, 2026 and Analects Reader on October 24, 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.*