# Stella* vs ReadKit

The clearest difference is rating: ReadKit at 4.4 against Stella*'s 3.5. ReadKit also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (124 vs 18). Stella*'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ReadKit sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Stella* asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReadKit holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ReadKit has 124 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Stella*'s written reviews are positive against 56% of ReadKit's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Stella* ships an update every 5 weeks, ReadKit every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stella* | ReadKit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stella/id921372048/reviews) | **[4.4 (124 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readkit-reading-hub/id1615798039/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **124** |
| Positive reviews | **64.1% of reviews** | 56.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 70 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OwletLabs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/921372047) | [Balazs Varkonyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/338541078) |

## What reviewers say

### Stella*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stella/id921372048)

This app is a user-oriented information gathering tool that optimizes web content for easy reading on any device. It offers customizable appearance, intuitive navigation, and offline reading capabilities, allowing users to control their information sources without relying on external services.

**Highlights:** Optimized web content rendering, Customizable font sizes and themes, Intuitive and animated UI, Offline article storage, Extensible information sources, One-handed operation support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### ReadKit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readkit-reading-hub/id1615798039)

This app consolidates your favorite news, articles, and feeds into a single, distraction-free reading hub. Save articles to read later, organize content with smart folders, and enjoy offline access. Customize your reading experience with themes and gestures.

**Highlights:** All-in-one reading hub, Cross-platform support, Flexible syncing options, Advanced organization with smart folders, Offline article access, Enhanced reader mode, Customizable interface

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime macOS | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium Lifetime iOS | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium Lifetime Universal | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Stunning modern design with excellent customization options
- 📱 Great iOS platform citizen with robust state restoration
- 🚀 Fast and reliable performance across devices
- ✨ Apple Intelligence AI summary feature implementation
- 🔄 Excellent gesture controls and natural navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Persistent toolbars that cannot be hidden in reading view
- 🔄 Inconsistent sync functionality across devices
- 💾 No iCloud sync support for local feeds
- 🔒 OPML import/export locked behind paywall
- 📊 Mac version feels like iPad port, not native macOS app

**Reported bugs**

- Persistent toolbars blocking distraction-free reading
- Background refresh not working reliably
- Wallabag sync errors and failures
- App crashes when integrating multiple services
- Reading articles not marking as read automatically

**Requested features**

- iCloud sync support for feeds and data
- Raindrop read-later service integration
- Sepia background option for light mode
- Widgets support
- Automatic reader view option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stella* free?

Stella* is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ReadKit free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Stella* or ReadKit?

ReadKit is rated higher. Stella* averages 3.5 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while ReadKit averages 4.4 from 124 ratings.

### Do Stella* or ReadKit have ads?

Neither Stella* nor ReadKit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stella* or ReadKit?

Stella* ships an update every 5 weeks, and ReadKit every 2 weeks. Most recently, Stella* was updated on October 6, 2026 and ReadKit on October 16, 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.*