# TotalReader vs csBooks

The clearest difference is ads: TotalReader at none against csBooks's shown. TotalReader also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). csBooks's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 69%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TotalReader sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and csBooks sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TotalReader ships an update every 3 weeks, csBooks every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TotalReader | csBooks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (368 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/totalreader-epub-djvu-mobi-fb2-reader/id832489932/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **368** | — |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 130 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LTD DevelSoftware](https://appshunter.io/developer/717594986) | [Ravi Kumar Sharma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1695922963) |

## What reviewers say

### TotalReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/totalreader-epub-djvu-mobi-fb2-reader/id832489932)

This app is a versatile reader supporting a vast array of book, document, comic, and source code formats. It offers advanced customization for reading comfort, cloud integration, and file management tools.

**Highlights:** Wide range of supported formats, Cloud and network service integration, Speech synthesizer, Customizable reading experience, File manager with Wi-Fi transfer, Online book catalogs (OPDS)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Thank the Developer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Appearance Customization | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pro Version | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great reader
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔍 Supports many file formats
- 💡 Integrates with cloud storage
- 📚 Excellent for reading books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 💰 Expensive premium version
- 📢 Intrusive ads in free version
- 🔒 Lacks security/privacy features
- 🔧 Poor file management and organization

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Unable to open certain file formats
- Cloud storage integration not working
- Ads prevent smooth reading experience
- Purchased features not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Add more customization options
- Improve cloud storage integration
- Implement better file organization tools
- Provide better support for older devices
- Add text-to-speech and annotation features


### csBooks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/csbooks-epub-and-pdf-reader/id6477337382)

This app allows users to read and manage ePub and PDF books from their device. It offers features like automatic thumbnail generation, reading progress tracking, customizable text size, and multiple themes for a comfortable reading experience.

**Highlights:** Read ePub and PDF files, Manage book library, Auto book thumbnail generation, Reading progress tracking, Customizable text size and font, 8 stylish reading themes, Cloud storage and desktop sync

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Pro (Monthly) | $6.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Pro (Yearly) | $22.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TotalReader free?

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

### Is csBooks free?

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

### Do TotalReader or csBooks have ads?

csBooks shows ads; TotalReader does not.

### Which is updated more often, TotalReader or csBooks?

TotalReader ships an update every 3 weeks, and csBooks every 10 days. Most recently, TotalReader was updated on October 21, 2026 and csBooks on October 12, 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.*