Comparison

Abra vs BionRead

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Abra

This app transforms text into a dynamic, interactive experience. Explore and manipulate words with touch gestures, cast spells to alter their form, and create your own poetic compositions. It offers a unique blend of digital art and literature, allowing users to engage with language in a novel way.

Highlights
  • Interactive text manipulation
  • Word mutation spells
  • Create and add own words
  • Digital artist's book
  • Analog and digital integration
  • Poetry experimentation
Features
Read full description

Abra is a magical poetry instrument/spellbook for iOS. Touch words and watch them shift under your fingers. Cast dozens of spells to mutate the text and set it into motion. Write your own words into Abra and see them become part of her vocabulary. Read, write, and experiment to discover Abra's secrets and make her poems your own. * * * This app was created as a born-digital artist’s book, funded in part by an NEA-sponsored Expanded Artists’ Books grant from The Center for Book and Paper Arts at Columbia College Chicago. Available in parallel is a limited-edition clothbound artist’s book that treats the printed page itself as a touch-screen interface. An iPad running the Abra app can be inserted into the book, conjoining the analog and digital into a unified reading experience. Abra was created by Amaranth Borsuk, Kate Durbin, and Ian Hatcher. Available free for iPad and iPhone. Requires iOS 15+. * * * A-B-R-A.com Twitter: @AbraApp

About

BionRead

Enhance reading comprehension and speed with a unique text formatting method. This EPUB reader helps users stay focused and retain information better, especially beneficial for those with attention difficulties.

Highlights
  • EPUB file import and reading
  • Bionic Reading mode activation
  • Focus-friendly text formatting
  • Reading progress tracking
  • Distraction-free interface
Features
Read full description

This EPUB-only reading app uses Bionic Reading to help you stay engaged, read faster, and better retain what you read. Whether you’re studying, researching, or just trying to focus, this tool enhances how you process text. Especially helpful for users with ADHD or attention difficulties. Features – Import and read EPUB files (only) – Tap to enable Bionic Reading mode – Focus-friendly text formatting – Track reading progress – Minimal interface, distraction-free experience Note: This app only supports .epub files.

Screenshots

Abra4 screens
BionRead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BionRead at 5.0 against Abra's 4.0. BionRead also leads on update cadence (every 7 months vs every 15 months). Abra's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BionRead sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Abra asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BionRead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Abra ships an update every 15 months, BionRead every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Abra versus BionRead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAbraBionRead
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 7 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB17 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperIan Hatchersihan wu

Customer experience

Abra

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

BionRead

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Abra

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

BionRead

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$5.99

Questions

Is Abra free?
Abra is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BionRead free?
BionRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Abra or BionRead?
BionRead is rated higher. Abra averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while BionRead averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Abra or BionRead have ads?
Neither Abra nor BionRead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Abra or BionRead?
Abra ships an update every 15 months, and BionRead every 7 months. Most recently, Abra was updated on November 1, 2026 and BionRead on October 30, 2026.

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