Comparison

PocketBook Reader vs BionRead

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PocketBook Reader

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
Currently charting
Read full description

PocketBook Reader is a free app for reading all formats (books, magazines, textbooks, comic books, etc.) and listening to audiobooks! The application supports 26 book and audio formats, including mobi, epub, fb2, cbz, cbr. Read without ads and with total comfort! Choose any content - any format! • Support of 19 book formats, including the most popular - EPUB, FB2, MOBI, PDF, DJVU, DOCX, RTF, TXT, HTML; • Comic book formats CBR and CBZ; • Open books protected with Adobe DRM (PDF, EPUB); • PDF Reflow function (reflow text in PDF files). Listen to audiobooks! • You can listen to audiobooks and other audio files in MP3, M4B, and take notes in them; • Built-in TTS (Text-to-speech) engine for the voicing of the text files. Download and sync content easily! • Free PocketBook Cloud service for synchronizing all your books, including audiobooks, as well as reading positions, notes and bookmarks on all your devices; • Your files from Dropbox or Google Books services are easily connected to the app to create one consolidated library. You can even connect multiple accounts at the same time; • Support for OPDS catalogs - get access to network libraries; • ISBN scanner, for quick search of electronic versions of books by barcode; • Opportunity to borrow books and periodicals; • If you have a E Ink e-reader PocketBook, you can easily synchronize all your books and accounts just by scanning a QR code. Ready to switch from another app? No problem! Getting started with PocketBook Reader is easy! With an intuitive interface, the application provides you with unprecedented freedom – lots of options for settings and no restrictions. Choose, change, customize, and personalize! • Intuitive interface, easy navigation, and minimalistic design; • Opportunity to choose one of the seven interface color themes, reassign the buttons and display areas; • Two night-reading modes - for better reading comfort anytime; • Adjust the font style, font size, line spacing, and margin size; • Animation of turning pages; • Opportunity to crop margins – make the page look exactly the way you want. Get fast file access and easy search! • All files are quickly found and instantly opened, even with built-in audio and video fragments; • Your books will never be lost in the device’s memory - thanks to the smart search, scanning files on your tablet or smartphone is a matter of seconds. Any file or document can be found in a few clicks! • The app allows you to sort books, create collections, filter and mark files as you like. Your library - your rules; • Convenient managing of audio files - it is easy to sort and play your audiobooks. Make bookmarks, take notes, add comments! • You can quickly find all your notes and share them with friends via email or messengers; • Collect all your notes, bookmarks, and comments into separate files for even greater convenience. PocketBook Reader was created by avid readers for avid readers, and that’s why it’s probably the best e-book reader app.

About

BionRead

Enhance reading comprehension and speed with a unique text formatting method. This EPUB reader helps users stay focused and retain information better, especially beneficial for those with attention difficulties.

Highlights
  • EPUB file import and reading
  • Bionic Reading mode activation
  • Focus-friendly text formatting
  • Reading progress tracking
  • Distraction-free interface
Features
Read full description

This EPUB-only reading app uses Bionic Reading to help you stay engaged, read faster, and better retain what you read. Whether you’re studying, researching, or just trying to focus, this tool enhances how you process text. Especially helpful for users with ADHD or attention difficulties. Features – Import and read EPUB files (only) – Tap to enable Bionic Reading mode – Focus-friendly text formatting – Track reading progress – Minimal interface, distraction-free experience Note: This app only supports .epub files.

Screenshots

PocketBook Reader4 screens
BionRead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BionRead at 5.0 against PocketBook Reader's 4.5. BionRead also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). PocketBook Reader's advantage is ratings volume (9.8K vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PocketBook Reader sells 41 one-off in-app purchases and BionRead sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BionRead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PocketBook Reader has 9.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PocketBook Reader ships an update every 2 months, BionRead every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
PocketBook Reader versus BionRead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPocketBook ReaderBionRead
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (9.8K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings9.8K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#174 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size106 MB17 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperPocketbook International SAsihan wu

Customer experience

PocketBook Reader

All ratings9,831 ratings
Positive87.4%
Neutral3.9%
Negative8.7%
Written reviews1,350 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral11.6%
Negative33.9%

BionRead

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

PocketBook Reader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

BionRead

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

41 purchases

PocketBook Reader

One-time41
  • eBook3 variants$0.99
  • eBook (class A)$0.99
  • eBook2 variants$1.99
Show 38 more
  • eBook (class B)$1.99
  • eBook$2.95
  • eBook2 variants$2.99
  • eBook (class C)$2.99
  • eBook3 variants$3.99
  • eBook: type 4.79$3.99
  • eBook: type 4.19$3.99
  • eBook (class D)$3.99
  • eBook (class Alt5)$4.99
  • eBook: type 5.39$4.99
  • eBook (class F)$4.99
  • eBook: type 5.89$4.99
  • eBook$4.99
  • eBook: type 5.09$4.99
  • eBook (class G)$5.99
  • eBook2 variants$5.99
  • eBook: type 7.09$5.99
  • eBook: type 7.19$5.99
  • eBook: type 8.29$6.99
  • eBook: type 7.59$6.99
  • eBook3 variants$7.99
  • eBook: type 8.89$7.99
  • eBook (class J)$8.99
  • eBook$8.99
  • eBook$9.90
  • eBook2 variants$9.99
  • eBook (class L)$10.99
  • eBook: type 13.9$11.90
  • eBook$11.99
  • eBook: type 12.99$11.99
  • eBook$12.99
  • eBook (class N)$12.99
  • eBook (class O)$13.99
  • eBook: type 17.9$14.90
  • eBook$14.99
  • eBook (class R)$16.99
  • eBook (class T)$18.99
  • eBook (class W)$21.99
3 purchases

BionRead

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$5.99

Questions

Is PocketBook Reader free?
PocketBook Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BionRead free?
BionRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PocketBook Reader or BionRead?
BionRead is rated higher. PocketBook Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while BionRead averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do PocketBook Reader or BionRead have ads?
Neither PocketBook Reader nor BionRead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PocketBook Reader or BionRead?
PocketBook Reader ships an update every 2 months, and BionRead every 7 months. Most recently, PocketBook Reader was updated on October 9, 2026 and BionRead on October 2, 2026.

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