# PocketBook Reader vs iRead

The clearest difference is rating: PocketBook Reader at 4.5 against iRead's 3.0. PocketBook Reader also leads on ratings volume (10K vs 2) and chart position (#161 vs unranked). iRead's advantage is review sentiment (70% vs 55%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PocketBook Reader sells 42 one-off in-app purchases and iRead sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PocketBook Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PocketBook Reader has 10K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of PocketBook Reader's written reviews are positive against 70% of iRead's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PocketBook Reader ships an update every 2 months, iRead every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketBook Reader | iRead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketbook-reader/id805488884/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iread-minimalist-pdf-reader/id6736560524/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#161** | — |
| Size | 106 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pocketbook International SA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536135171) | [Oguz Doruk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1378383070) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketBook Reader

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

**Currently charting:** #161 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 (42)**

| 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: type 10.9 | $9.90 | 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


### iRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iread-minimalist-pdf-reader/id6736560524)

A minimalist PDF reader offering a distraction-free reading experience with customizable fonts and themes. Easily import and navigate documents for study, work, or leisure.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free reading, Customizable font size, Light and dark modes, Intuitive page navigation, Effortless PDF import

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iRead Premium (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| iRead Premium (Annual) | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketBook Reader free?

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

### Is iRead free?

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

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

PocketBook Reader is rated higher. PocketBook Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while iRead averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do PocketBook Reader or iRead have ads?

Neither PocketBook Reader nor iRead shows ads.

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

PocketBook Reader ships an update every 2 months, and iRead every 5 months. Most recently, PocketBook Reader was updated on October 27, 2026 and iRead 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.*