# SocialZen vs Read First

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Read First at 16.4 against SocialZen's 18.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SocialZen sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month and Read First sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SocialZen ships an update every 3 days, Read First every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SocialZen | Read First |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 4 days |
| Size | 17 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Brown](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896708359) | [Matt Lamborne](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894724703) |

## What reviewers say

### SocialZen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialzen-stop-doomscrolling/id6798124251)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $10.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $74.99 | per year |
| Pro Yearly | $74.99 | per year |


### Read First

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-first/id6809058128)

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SocialZen free?

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

### Is Read First free?

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

### Do SocialZen or Read First have ads?

Neither SocialZen nor Read First shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SocialZen or Read First?

SocialZen ships an update every 3 days, and Read First every 4 days. Most recently, SocialZen was updated on October 4, 2026 and Read First on October 12, 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.*