# PocketBook Reader vs Watch Reader

The clearest difference is price: PocketBook Reader at Free against Watch Reader's $3.99. PocketBook Reader also leads on ratings volume (10K vs 3) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Watch Reader's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). On update cadence, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

PocketBook Reader is free to download; Watch Reader costs $3.99 up front. PocketBook Reader sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Watch Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Watch Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PocketBook Reader has 10K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of PocketBook Reader's written reviews are positive against 71% of Watch Reader's.

PocketBook Reader ships an update every 2 months, Watch Reader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketBook Reader | Watch Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketbook-reader/id805488884/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-reader-txt-file/id6447301850/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | **70.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #146 | **#64** |
| Size | 106 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pocketbook International SA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536135171) | [kim juyoung](https://appshunter.io/developer/918406157) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketBook Reader

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

**Currently charting:** #146 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 (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| eBook | $0.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class A) | $0.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class B) | $1.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $2.99 | one-time |
| eBook (class D) | $3.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 7.09 | $5.99 | one-time |
| eBook | $6.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 10.9 | $9.90 | one-time |
| eBook | $9.99 | one-time |
| eBook: type 12.99 | $11.99 | 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


### Watch Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-reader-txt-file/id6447301850)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Paid · Book (US App Store)

This app allows you to view text files on your smartwatch. It supports various customization options for text display and offers TTS playback. A companion phone app is required to import files.

**Highlights:** View TXT and EPUB files, Customizable font, spacing, and colors, Text-to-Speech (TTS) playback, iCloud sync for reading progress, File management via companion phone app, Support for external font files

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketBook Reader free?

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

### Is Watch Reader free?

Watch Reader costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

Watch Reader is rated higher. PocketBook Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Watch Reader averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do PocketBook Reader or Watch Reader have ads?

Neither PocketBook Reader nor Watch Reader shows ads.

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

PocketBook Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Watch Reader every 6 weeks. Most recently, PocketBook Reader was updated on November 6, 2026 and Watch Reader on November 3, 2026.

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

PocketBook Reader currently peaks at #146 in the App Store charts, and Watch Reader at #64. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*