Verdict
Wattpad is a community fiction platform, not a clean reading experience: reviewers describe ads persisting even after paying to remove them, plus crashes and freezes that interrupt reading.
Best for
Someone who wants access to a huge library of user-written serialized fiction and community features, and is willing to tolerate ads and occasional instability to get it.
Dealbreaker
Multiple reviewers say they paid for an ad-free subscription and still got ads after every chapter, and several report crashes or freezing mid-read.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand. unverified
Price
Free
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.7★ (706,040)
Version
11.39.0
Last updated
Sep 10, 2026
Released
Mar 8, 2009
Attributes
Native app
Category
Books, Entertainment
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Complained about
Subscription pricing and paywalls8 reviews
Crashes and stability6 reviews
Import and export3 reviews
Battery and performance3 reviews
Shows ads inside the app3 reviews
Too expensive2 reviews
Where this comes from
8 of 200 recent reviews raised: Subscription pricing and paywallsApp Store reviews ›
6 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stabilityApp Store reviews ›
3 of 200 recent reviews raised: Shows ads inside the appApp Store reviews ›
Listed at Free on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
The best reading and ebook apps ›Reading apps that are well rated and still maintained, each with its catch.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is rated 4.2 or better, has been updated in the last eighteen months, and has no significant number of reviewers reporting it broken. Price is not the rule on this list — some are free, some are not. Also with a catch.
Free · 4.9★ (5,833,634) · Updated Sep 8, 2026
Verdict. Kindle is easy to use and works well for people already invested in Amazon's ebook and audiobook ecosystem, but review evidence shows sync between devices and stability can break down for some users.
Best for. Someone already reading through Kindle Unlimited or buying Amazon ebooks who wants one app across phone and tablet for that library.
Dealbreaker. Some reviewers report syncing between devices and Audible no longer working, and a smaller group describes crashes that close books or delete downloaded files.
Free · 4.9★ (4,502,956) · Updated Aug 4, 2026
Verdict. Libby lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library and most reviewers find it easy to use, though a few say managing holds is genuinely confusing.
Best for. Someone with an active public library card who wants to borrow ebooks and audiobooks through the library system rather than buy them.
Dealbreaker. You need a library card and your library's participation in OverDrive's catalog; a handful of users also report the hold-management flow stays confusing even after months of use.
Free · 4.8★ (1,381,438) · Updated Aug 28, 2026
Verdict. Hoopla lets you borrow books, audio, and comics through your library card with no subscription fee, but access depends entirely on whether your library participates and how many monthly borrows it allots.
Best for. Someone whose local library already subscribes to Hoopla and who wants free audiobooks and comics without paying for a separate reading app.
Dealbreaker. Borrows are capped per month (some reviewers mention as few as four), so heavy readers will hit a wall well before the month is over.