# MapleRead SE vs Epub Reader

The clearest difference is price: Epub Reader at Free against MapleRead SE's $8.99. Epub Reader also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (11K vs 125). MapleRead SE's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (68% vs 55%). On in-app purchases, chart position, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Epub Reader is free to download; MapleRead SE costs $8.99 up front. MapleRead SE sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Epub Reader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Epub Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Epub Reader has 11K ratings behind it against 125, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of MapleRead SE's written reviews are positive against 55% of Epub Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MapleRead SE ships an update every 2 months, Epub Reader every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapleRead SE | Epub Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (125 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapleread-se/id860169741/reviews) | **[4.5 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epub-reader-read-epubchmtxt/id1296870631/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 125 | **11K** |
| Positive reviews | **68.3% of reviews** | 55.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #197 | **#128** |
| Size | 30 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Maplepop LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/798017700) | [俐 马](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896144174) |

## What reviewers say

### MapleRead SE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapleread-se/id860169741)

**Currently charting:** #197 Top Paid · Book (US App Store)

This app offers a unique audio-visual reading experience for EPUB and PDF files. It allows for extensive customization of book styles, instant audiobook generation, and immersive reading that syncs audio and text. It also functions as an effective library management tool with cross-device syncing.

**Highlights:** Audio-visual reading experience, EPUB and PDF reader, Pseudo audiobook generation, Immersion reading (audio/text sync), Library management and organization, Cross-device syncing, User-defined customization

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gratuity Level 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gratuity Level 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gratuity Level 5 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Highly customizable reading experience
- 🔒 Robust library management features
- 👍 Seamless integration with Calibre
- 👍 Excellent organization and tagging options
- 👍 Wide range of font and layout customization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues between devices
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance problems
- 🔍 Complicated interface and setup process
- 🔍 Difficult to import large book libraries
- 🔍 Limited annotation and highlighting options

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues, especially on iOS 14
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes
- Unreliable OPDS server integration and book downloads

**Requested features**

- Automatic reading progress sync across devices
- Improved PDF handling and annotation support
- Expanded highlighting and note-taking capabilities
- Streamlined library import and management
- Cleaner and more intuitive user interface


### Epub Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epub-reader-read-epubchmtxt/id1296870631)

**Currently charting:** #128 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

This app offers a seamless reading experience for various ebook formats including EPUB, PDF, and CHM. It supports multiple compression formats and provides features like table of contents, note-taking, and bookmarking. Customize your reading with adjustable font sizes.

**Highlights:** Supports EPUB, PDF, CHM, RTF formats, Opens compressed files (ZIP, RAR, 7Zip), Table of Contents navigation, Note-taking functionality, Bookmark management, Customizable font size

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual professional version | $3.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Passcode Lock | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pro Version | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Convenient file transfer via WiFi
- 🤩 Great for casual reading

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Loses bookmarks and reading progress
- 🔍 Lacks search functionality
- 🌗 No dark mode option
- 📏 Limited customization options
- 💤 Doesn't remember last read position

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening certain files
- Distorts images in some ebooks
- Fails to open ePub files consistently

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode
- Improve bookmark and progress tracking
- Implement search feature
- Increase customization options
- Allow variable screen timeout


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapleRead SE free?

MapleRead SE costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Epub Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MapleRead SE or Epub Reader?

Epub Reader is rated higher. MapleRead SE averages 4.1 out of 5 from 125 ratings, while Epub Reader averages 4.5 from 11K ratings.

### Do MapleRead SE or Epub Reader have ads?

Epub Reader shows ads; MapleRead SE does not.

### Which is updated more often, MapleRead SE or Epub Reader?

MapleRead SE ships an update every 2 months, and Epub Reader every 11 days. Most recently, MapleRead SE was updated on September 23, 2026 and Epub Reader on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, MapleRead SE or Epub Reader?

MapleRead SE currently peaks at #197 in the App Store charts, and Epub Reader at #128. 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.*