# Papers by ReadCube vs Lab.Hacks

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lab.Hacks at 96% against Papers by ReadCube's 41%. Lab.Hacks also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.7). Papers by ReadCube's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lab.Hacks sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Papers by ReadCube asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lab.Hacks holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 551 and 136 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Papers by ReadCube's written reviews are positive against 96% of Lab.Hacks's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Papers by ReadCube | Lab.Hacks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (551 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papers-by-readcube/id864042981/reviews) | **[4.9 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labhacks/id1462593060/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **551** | 136 |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews | **96.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 77 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Digital Science & Research Solutions Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/864042984) | [Lab.hacks GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1746977613) |

## What reviewers say

### Papers by ReadCube

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papers-by-readcube/id864042981)

Manage, read, and discover research literature on your mobile devices. Annotate PDFs, organize your library with custom lists and tags, and receive personalized recommendations for new papers. Syncs seamlessly with desktop and web applications.

**Highlights:** Read and manage research papers, Annotate PDFs with notes and highlights, Organize library with custom lists and tags, Discover new research with personalized recommendations, Search and download articles, Sync across devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices
- 📚 Excellent for organizing and managing research papers
- 🔍 Helpful search and discovery features
- 💻 Good integration with desktop and web versions
- 📝 Useful annotation and highlighting tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy annotation and handwriting tools
- 🔍 Inconsistent search and metadata retrieval
- 💾 Unreliable cloud sync and data loss issues
- 🖍️ Limited annotation features compared to competitors
- 🕰️ Slow development and lack of updates

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Sync issues causing data loss and duplication
- Unreliable PDF downloads and access
- Inconsistent behavior of annotation tools
- Compatibility problems with newer devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- Add eraser tool for handwritten annotations
- Improve PDF viewing and navigation experience
- Implement better organization and folder management
- Integrate citation and bibliography tools
- Provide more customization options


### Lab.Hacks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labhacks/id1462593060)

This app serves as a laboratory assistant, offering a collection of essential tools, calculators, and guides for students, researchers, and technicians. It simplifies everyday lab tasks with features like dilution calculators, timers, and protocols, all accessible offline.

**Highlights:** Dilution, molarity, and unit conversion calculators, Smart lab timers, Quick reference tables, Step-by-step protocols and guides, Offline access, Minimalist design

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lab.hacks Ad-free monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Lab.hacks Ad-free annual | $28.99 | per year |
| Donate 1$ | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donate 5$ | $3.99 | one-time |
| Donate 10$ | $8.99 | one-time |
| Donate 20$ | $17.99 | one-time |
| Donate 50$ | $44.99 | one-time |
| Donate 100$ | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Papers by ReadCube free?

Papers by ReadCube is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lab.Hacks free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Papers by ReadCube or Lab.Hacks?

Lab.Hacks is rated higher. Papers by ReadCube averages 3.7 out of 5 from 551 ratings, while Lab.Hacks averages 4.9 from 136 ratings.

### Do Papers by ReadCube or Lab.Hacks have ads?

Lab.Hacks shows ads; Papers by ReadCube does not.

### Which is updated more often, Papers by ReadCube or Lab.Hacks?

Papers by ReadCube ships an update every 2 months, and Lab.Hacks every 2 months. Most recently, Papers by ReadCube was updated on October 3, 2026 and Lab.Hacks 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.*