# Handy Reader vs Barely Notes

The clearest difference is device support: Handy Reader at 3 against Barely Notes's 1. Handy Reader also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Handy Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Barely Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Handy Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, Barely Notes every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handy Reader | Barely Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-reader-speed-reading/id822214888/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ihor Prysiazhniuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/822214891) | [Ashley Cornette](https://appshunter.io/developer/6796440920) |

## What reviewers say

### Handy Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-reader-speed-reading/id822214888)

Enhance your reading speed with this app, designed for efficient comprehension of digital texts. It supports various file formats and offers a distraction-free interface with customizable display options to suit your reading style.

**Highlights:** Speed reading functionality, Supports PDF, FB2, EPUB, DOCX, TXT, ODT, HTML, Word-focused display, Customizable fonts and themes, Adjustable reading speeds, Distraction-free interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Handy Reader Pro | $7.99 | one-time |


### Barely Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barely-notes/id6796440918)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bokashi Themes | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handy Reader free?

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

### Is Barely Notes free?

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

### Do Handy Reader or Barely Notes have ads?

Neither Handy Reader nor Barely Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handy Reader or Barely Notes?

Handy Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, and Barely Notes every 11 days. Most recently, Handy Reader was updated on October 23, 2026 and Barely Notes on October 8, 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.*