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Sight & Sound vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Sight & Sound's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Sight & Sound
This App
iPusnas
Nemesis
iDoyle: Sherlock Holmes
Contender
Noel - Drama Novel & Stories
Contender
FBReader Bookshelf
Contender
Gumroad
Contender
The Cantina Archive
Peer
BookBub
Peer
Moonlite - Storytime Projector
Peer
MovieBuddy Pro: Movie Tracker
Peer
Core Identity
DeveloperThe British Film InstitutePerpustakaan Nasional Republik IndonesiaiClassics Productions, S.L.Dima AnikinFBReader.ORG LimitedGumroadJAMES ANTHONY BOOKERPubmark Inc.Redwood Ventures LLCKimico, Ltd.
CategoryEntertainmentBookBookBooksBooks & ReferenceUtilitiesBooksBookEntertainmentEntertainment
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOSiOS, Android
Store Metrics
Rating1.7 / 53.8 / 54.5 / 54.0 / 54.6 / 54.7 / 54.6 / 54.8 / 53.9 / 54.8 / 5
Ratings Count159863865036,83349920506960
PriceFreeFree$3.99FreeFreeFree$3.99FreeFree$9.99
Release DateAug 8, 2012Sep 9, 2016Jun 22, 2016Oct 15, 2025Jun 9, 2012Sep 30, 2014May 9, 2025Dec 4, 2015Dec 10, 2020Jun 25, 2015
Last UpdatedJan 14, 2026Mar 10, 2025Feb 11, 2020Mar 2, 2026Mar 17, 2026Apr 29, 2026Feb 14, 2026Jan 29, 2026Mar 18, 2026May 11, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentnegative-positiveterrible--positive--positive
Score25/100-75/10025/100--75/100--75/100
Praises--
  • Immersive interactive storytelling blends animation and music to create a highly engaging reading experience
  • Free access to a wide variety of novels without mandatory subscription costs
--
  • Comprehensive tracking of Star Wars book collections across canon and legends timelines
--
  • Barcode scanning functionality allows for rapid cataloging of large physical media collections
Complaints--
  • Technical friction during page navigation makes the reading experience feel unresponsive or broken
  • Frequent application crashes during reading sessions disrupt the user experience
--
  • Incomplete book databases and missing titles frustrate users attempting to log full collections
--
  • Alphabetical sorting logic incorrectly includes the word The when organizing movie titles
Requests--
  • Expansion of the library to include more classic literature titles in the same format
  • Implementation of clear chapter lists and book summaries for better navigation
--
  • Expanded support for comics and junior novels to improve catalogue coverage
--
  • Wishlist feature allows collectors to track desired titles separate from their owned inventory
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • BFI brand authority provides critical prestige
  • 90-year archive functions as a B2B distribution barrier
-
  • Device-native hardware triggers create a non-replicable reading experience
  • High-fidelity 2D animation quality exceeds standard digital book adaptations
  • Offline-first reading architecture sustains session frequency during travel
  • Author portal reduces content acquisition costs via direct creator partnerships
--
  • Niche collection-tracking utility builds high switching costs for Star Wars fans
  • AI-video export mechanism drives organic social discovery
-
  • Proprietary physical-to-digital bridge creates a premium, screen-free family bonding experience
  • Curated storybook content offers a safer environment for young children than general media apps
  • Barcode scanner reduces manual entry friction for large collections
  • One-time purchase model lowers barrier to entry against subscription rivals
  • Cross-device sync increases utility across Apple hardware
Weaknesses
  • 1.73★ iOS rating indicates severe UI regressions
  • Manual authentication flow creates high-friction onboarding
-
  • $4.99 Android price point sits above the $3.99 iOS tier
  • Technical navigation stalls reported in reviews
  • Content-locking post-purchase triggers user distrust
  • High crash frequency during chapter loading
  • Aggressive ad-load triggers negative sentiment
  • Missing chapter metadata hinders navigation
--
  • $3.99 one-time purchase model limits recurring revenue
  • Rigid collection logic prevents logging borrowed or unowned items
-
  • Hardware-dependent model requires physical shipping and inventory management
  • 3.86 rating suggests friction in the setup or activation process
  • Sorting logic incorrectly includes articles in titles
  • Incomplete database coverage requires frequent manual entry
  • Data persistence issues during device upgrades
Pricingsubscriptionfreepaidfreefreemiumfreefreemiumfreefreemiumpaid
MomentumMaintenanceIntenseZombie-Active-IntenseSteadyMaintenanceMaintenance
Update Cadence5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~782d avg5 versions5 versions-5 versions-5 versions5 versions1 versions4 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~36d avg

Compare Sight & Sound head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sight & Sound, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0