# PocketBook Reader vs TaqReader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TaqReader at none against PocketBook Reader's 56. PocketBook Reader's advantage is ratings volume (9.8K vs 1K). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PocketBook Reader sells 41 one-off in-app purchases. TaqReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for PocketBook Reader against 4.4 for TaqReader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PocketBook Reader has 9.8K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of PocketBook Reader's written reviews are positive against 59% of TaqReader's.

PocketBook Reader ships an update every 2 months, TaqReader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketBook Reader | TaqReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketbook-reader/id805488884/reviews)** | [4.4 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taqreader/id1499478323/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | **58.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #172 | **#96** |
| Size | 106 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pocketbook International SA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536135171) | [Madan Ali Abu Hayzah](https://appshunter.io/developer/1463413369) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketBook Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketbook-reader/id805488884)

**Currently charting:** #172 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

This app is a versatile reader supporting 26 book and audio formats, including EPUB, PDF, and audiobooks. It offers features like PDF reflow, text-to-speech, cloud synchronization, and extensive customization options for a comfortable reading experience.

**Highlights:** Supports 26 book and audio formats, PDF Reflow function, Text-to-speech engine, Cloud synchronization service, Customizable interface and reading settings, Adobe DRM support

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

**In-app purchases (41)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| eBook | $0.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class A) | $0.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $1.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class B) | $1.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $2.95 | one-time |
| eBook | $2.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class C) | $2.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $3.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 4.79 | $3.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 4.19 | $3.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class D) | $3.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class Alt5) | $4.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 5.39 | $4.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class F) | $4.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 5.89 | $4.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $4.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 5.09 | $4.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class G) | $5.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $5.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 7.09 | $5.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 7.19 | $5.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 8.29 | $6.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 7.59 | $6.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $7.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 8.89 | $7.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class J) | $8.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $8.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $9.90 | one-time |
| eBook | $9.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class L) | $10.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 13.9 | $11.90 | one-time |
| eBook | $11.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 12.99 | $11.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $12.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class N) | $12.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class O) | $13.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 17.9 | $14.90 | one-time |
| eBook | $14.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class R) | $16.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class T) | $18.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class W) | $21.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient reading experience
- 🚀 Smooth scrolling
- 💡 Customizable settings (font, margin, etc.)
- 🔒 Supports DRM-protected content
- 👍 Intuitive user interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Unreliable cloud sync
- 🐛 Inconsistent page rendering
- 🐛 Buggy text highlighting and annotation
- 🐛 Slow loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Books disappearing from library after login issues
- Inability to open DRM-protected PDFs
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes
- Text-to-speech voice quality issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to organize books into custom folders
- Option to disable quick action zones
- Improved text-to-speech controls (seek, pause, etc.)
- Support for handwritten annotations with Apple Pencil
- Faster page turning and scrolling


### TaqReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taqreader/id1499478323)

**Currently charting:** #96 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

This application allows users to download and read EPUB files directly from web links. It offers a straightforward and efficient reading experience for digital books.

**Highlights:** EPUB reader, Download from links, Fast performance, Reliable functionality, Free to use

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Enjoyable reading experience
- 💰 Affordable book prices
- 🗂️ Convenient book organization
- 🤖 Helpful in-app commands

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🖥️ Suboptimal iPad/iOS experience
- 🌙 Lack of dark mode
- 📝 Limited annotation/highlighting tools

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Audiobook playback issues
- Inconsistent page/progress tracking
- Subscription/purchase problems

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve iPad/iOS compatibility and features
- Implement annotation and highlighting tools
- Add custom folder organization for books


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketBook Reader free?

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

### Is TaqReader free?

TaqReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PocketBook Reader or TaqReader?

PocketBook Reader is rated higher. PocketBook Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while TaqReader averages 4.4 from 1K ratings.

### Do PocketBook Reader or TaqReader have ads?

Neither PocketBook Reader nor TaqReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketBook Reader or TaqReader?

PocketBook Reader ships an update every 2 months, and TaqReader every 6 weeks. Most recently, PocketBook Reader was updated on September 25, 2026 and TaqReader on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, PocketBook Reader or TaqReader?

PocketBook Reader currently peaks at #172 in the App Store charts, and TaqReader at #96. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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