 |
Oyster vs Scribd
Last updated: July 09, 2023
Oyster and Scribd were two prominent digital platforms that offered subscription-based access to a vast library of e-books. However, as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Oyster is no longer in operation. Nevertheless, I can provide a brief comparison based on the differences that existed between the two platforms at the time.
One key difference between Oyster and Scribd was their content selection. Oyster had a more curated library, focusing on quality over quantity. It aimed to provide a collection of hand-picked titles, including popular and critically acclaimed books. On the other hand, Scribd offered a broader range of content, including books from various genres, as well as documents, sheet music, and magazines. Scribd's extensive library catered to a wider range of interests, making it an appealing choice for users who sought diverse reading options.
Another difference was the availability and accessibility of the platforms. Oyster was primarily available in the United States, limiting its reach to users within that region. In contrast, Scribd had a more global presence and was accessible to users from different countries. This wider availability made Scribd a popular choice for readers around the world who wanted to access a broad selection of e-books and other written content.
Lastly, pricing models varied between the two platforms. Oyster operated on a subscription-based model, where users paid a fixed monthly fee for unlimited access to their library. Scribd also offered a subscription model, but it included a limited number of books from their library per month, after which users could still access books but with some restrictions. The pricing models and structures may have influenced users' decisions based on their reading habits and budget.
One key difference between Oyster and Scribd was their content selection. Oyster had a more curated library, focusing on quality over quantity. It aimed to provide a collection of hand-picked titles, including popular and critically acclaimed books. On the other hand, Scribd offered a broader range of content, including books from various genres, as well as documents, sheet music, and magazines. Scribd's extensive library catered to a wider range of interests, making it an appealing choice for users who sought diverse reading options.
Another difference was the availability and accessibility of the platforms. Oyster was primarily available in the United States, limiting its reach to users within that region. In contrast, Scribd had a more global presence and was accessible to users from different countries. This wider availability made Scribd a popular choice for readers around the world who wanted to access a broad selection of e-books and other written content.
Lastly, pricing models varied between the two platforms. Oyster operated on a subscription-based model, where users paid a fixed monthly fee for unlimited access to their library. Scribd also offered a subscription model, but it included a limited number of books from their library per month, after which users could still access books but with some restrictions. The pricing models and structures may have influenced users' decisions based on their reading habits and budget.
20
Oyster offers unlimited access to over 100,000 books for $9.95 a month, with new titles added all the time. We are currently rolling out invitations for iPhone and iPod Touch. We created Oyster to evolve the way people read and to create more of the special moments that only books can offer. From anywhere a mobile device can go—a bustling subway car, a quiet coffee shop, or lost at sea with a Bengal tiger—our mission is to build the best reading experience, one that is both communal and personal, anytime, anywhere.
28
Scribd is the world's largest digital library, where readers can discover books and written works of all kinds on the Web or any mobile device and publishers and authors can find a voracious audience for their work. Launched in March of 2007 and based in San Francisco California, more than 40 million books and documents have been contributed to Scribd by the community. Scribd content reaches and audience of 80 million people around the world every month.
Oyster vs Scribd in our news:
2024. Scribd rebrands as Everand
Scribd, the platform known for file-sharing, e-books, and audiobooks, has undergone a significant transformation, now operating under the name Everand. Previously, users had access to three distinct entities - Everand, Scribd, and SlideShare - each confined to their respective domains. However, with the rebranding, all services now fall under the Everand umbrella. Despite the change, the company assures users that from their perspective, everything remains unchanged. Login credentials and billing information used for Scribd are still valid for Everand, ensuring a seamless transition. Users can continue to access the platform as usual, with all content consolidated under a single identity.
2018. Scribd reintroduced unlimited audiobooks and eBooks
Scribd has reintroduced its unlimited subscription system for audiobooks and ebooks. This system allows subscribers to enjoy unlimited access to a wide range of content, including ebooks, magazines, newspapers, sheet music, and audiobooks. For casual readers who typically read a few books a month from well-known publishers, Scribd's service is highly appealing. However, avid readers may encounter limitations. Once a certain number of titles have been read, access to the entire Scribd catalog is restricted, and readers can only choose from a limited selection. The exact threshold for this limitation remains unknown. Scribd's main competitor is Amazon Kindle Unlimited, but it is only available in specific countries and offers fewer titles from major publishers.
2017. Scribd removes digital comics
Scribd has made the decision to discontinue the availability of digital comics on their platform, resulting in the removal of over one thousand single issues and graphic novels. The company cited the high royalties associated with comic reading as economically unviable, leading them to suspend the service instead of pursuing alternative solutions. Scribd has encountered several challenges in recent years, despite many of their competitors exiting the market. They initially removed over 225,000 romance and self-published e-books from their platform, followed by announcing cuts to their audiobook system due to financial losses. Consequently, they eliminated their unlimited audiobook package and restricted subscribers to listening to a single title per month. In 2016, Scribd transitioned from an unlimited service model to a credit-based system.
2016. Scribd is limiting the number of e-books you can read
Commencing in March, Scribd subscribers will receive Monthly Read credits, granting them the ability to enjoy three e-books and one audiobook per month from Scribd's extensive library. Moreover, subscribers will still have unlimited access to books from Scribd Selects, a curated collection of titles that rotates regularly. Scribd highlights that approximately 97% of its customers read fewer than three books monthly, implying that this change will likely have minimal impact on the majority of users. The unsustainable nature of the unlimited e-book subscription model is evident, as numerous companies in this space have ultimately closed down. Despite raising significant amounts of funding, such as Entitle and Oyster's hundred-million-dollar investments, these companies were unable to establish a sustainable model for this concept.
2015. E-Book subscription service Oyster to shut down
In a recent blog post, Oyster, the app known as the "Netflix for books" that debuted two years ago, has announced its impending closure in early 2016. Users who have purchased books or subscribed to Oyster Unlimited will receive an email concerning their accounts within the next few weeks. Purchased books will remain accessible and readable indefinitely. Oyster Unlimited, priced at $9.95 per month, initially competed with Scribd upon its launch in September 2013. The competition intensified when Amazon introduced its own e-book subscription service in July 2014. Despite facing the challenge of a dominant player in the industry, Oyster's app stood out from Kindle due to its distinctive features such as user-friendly interface, curated book lists, engaging essays, and an extensive selection.
2015. Scribd acquired social reading app Librify
Ebook subscription startup Scribd has recently announced its acquisition of Librify, a social reading app. The companies highlighted Librify's emphasis on the social reading experience as a compelling factor behind the deal. This news comes at a time of intense competition in the publishing industry, with Amazon, Oyster, and others vying to establish themselves as the leading "Netflix for books," offering similar products. Scribd intends to leverage Librify's social features to enhance its own platform, aiming to create a more comprehensive and engaging social e-reading experience. Scribd's co-founder and CEO, Trip Adler, expressed appreciation for Librify's focus on the social reading experience and their significant contributions to reading communities. The acquisition aligns with Scribd's existing product and reflects their commitment to further explore and develop this aspect of their platform, in response to the desires of both the company and its readers.
2015. Oyster adds light-adjusting technology for easier e-reading
Ebook subscription service Oyster has introduced a new feature called Lumin to its e-reading platform, which enhances the reading experience for mobile users by adjusting the color and brightness of their screens. This software specifically targets the reduction of blue light emitted by LED screens, as recent research suggests that excessive exposure to blue light can potentially harm readers' eyes in dimly lit environments and disrupt sleep patterns. Lumin aims to alleviate strain during nighttime reading sessions for Oyster users by replacing blue light with a gentler, amber light. While it is commonly believed that backlit e-ink screens are less harsh than those found on smartphones or tablets, Oyster's technology claims to reduce the amount of blue light emitted by both types of devices by at least 50%.
2015. Oyster launches own e-book store
Oyster, often referred to as the "Netflix For Books," is expanding its offerings by launching its own e-book store. This move allows Oyster to provide its readers with a truly extensive selection of books. The interface will undergo minimal changes, but users will notice a significantly wider range of titles. Subscription-based books will be displayed alongside those available for individual purchase. The e-book store is launching with the participation of all the major publishers in the United States, including Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster. It's worth mentioning that Oyster's competitor, Scribd, also offers individual e-book sales but maintains a primary focus on the subscription model.
2015. Scribd adds 10,000 comic books for unlimited subscription
For those who already enjoy unlimited access to a vast library of e-books and audiobooks for $8.99 a month, Scribd has exciting news to share today—it is expanding into the world of comic books. The service is introducing over 10,000 comics and graphic novels from renowned publishers such as Marvel, Archie, Boom! Studios, Dynamite, IDW/Top Shelf, and Valiant. Available on iOS, Android, and the web, the subscription service now offers readers the opportunity to explore comic books and graphic novels through various categories, publishers, and even key characters. To enhance the user experience, Scribd employs a dedicated team of marketing and editorial professionals who curate collections on the platform. With this expansion, Scribd continues to provide a diverse and engaging reading experience to its subscribers.
2014. Oyster created author board and online literary magazine
Ebook subscription service Oyster has unveiled two new programs to enhance its offerings. The first program is the Author Advisory Board, which brings together top authors to provide input and feedback on Oyster's business operations. These board members will contribute to product and content decisions, ensuring that the streaming services for books benefit writers, readers, and publishers in the long run. The second program focuses on expanding Oyster's discovery efforts by launching a digital magazine called The Oyster Review. This online publication is accessible to everyone, even non-subscribers of Oyster's ebook platform, and features original writing related to the ebooks available in Oyster's catalog. Many of these contributions come from various authors. While Oyster subscribers won't have exclusive access to additional content, they will enjoy the unique advantage of seamlessly transitioning from The Oyster Review to the books they wish to read within Oyster's platform.
2014. Scribd adds 30K audiobooks to its $8.99/month ebook subscription
As of today, Scribd has introduced a new section for audiobooks, granting its subscribers access to 30,000 titles. This addition allows users to seamlessly switch between reading and listening experiences for books that have both text and audio versions. For instance, you can begin reading a book at home and continue listening to the story in your car while driving. Notably, Scribd has expanded its audiobook collection without increasing its $8.99 monthly subscription fee. Furthermore, the platform boasts over 500,000 e-book titles, and its subscriber base has been growing steadily, averaging a 52 percent monthly increase since the quiet launch of the subscription service in January 2013.
2014. Oyster adds social Book Lists to drive discovery
Ebook subscription service Oyster has introduced a new feature called Book Lists, which enables users to create and share personalized collections of titles. This feature is now available to all Oyster subscribers without any additional charges, and it can be accessed through each user's profile page. Users have the flexibility to create lists of any size and selectively share them with other Oyster subscribers or on social media platforms outside of the e-reading platform. The introduction of user-generated recommendations adds a third avenue for Oyster readers to discover new titles, complementing the platform's existing recommendation system, which combines input from an editorial team and an algorithm, as well as the freedom to browse the Oyster catalog. This new feature aligns with the current trend of ebook subscription services refining their discovery mechanisms and emphasizing them as significant advantages for readers. For instance, Entitle, another subscription ebook provider, recently enhanced its recommendation system to enhance users' ability to explore new content.
2014. Scribd builds new discovery experience
Subscription ebook service Scribd is set to introduce an innovative book discovery engine. This new technology combines editor tagging, curation, and a novel book categorization system that diverges from the widely used BISAC classification scheme. With the aid of algorithms, these elements work harmoniously to enhance the surfacing of fresh and improved book recommendations for users. Scribd aims to amplify the number of serendipitous discoveries, which currently accounts for over half of its titles. The company recognizes that increasing this proportion is crucial for retaining subscribers. In the realm of subscription services, recommendation engines play a vital role, as customer engagement is pivotal for sustaining retention.
2014. Oyster launches cross-platform web reader
Oyster, the popular unlimited ebook subscription service, has recently introduced its web and mobile web reader, expanding its accessibility to a wider audience of readers. With the launch of this new platform, Oyster now allows users to enjoy their ebooks on web and mobile web browsers, providing a seamless reading experience. Similar to reading a beloved blog, the web reader enables smooth vertical scrolling of pages. Additionally, users can personalize their reading experience by selecting from five reader themes, which have been well-received by Oyster users on Android and Apple platforms.
2014. Scribd launches Windows Phone app, updates Android, iOS apps
The popular ebook subscription service, Scribd, has made significant updates to its iOS and Android apps, while also introducing a new app specifically designed for Windows phones and tablets. Existing users of the iOS and Android apps will enjoy a fresh browsing and book page experience, along with new fonts and color palettes. Windows phone and tablet users can now access unlimited reading anytime and anywhere, with all the features available to mobile web users. By launching the Windows app in addition to existing apps for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Nook tablets, Scribd has achieved over 6 million downloads, surpassing other subscription book services in terms of device presence across various countries. This latest development further exemplifies the company's global commitment to fostering a love for reading. For further information, you can also explore: How to read Google Books on Windows Phone?
2014. Oyster comes to Android, Kindle Fire and Nook tablets
Ebook subscription service Oyster, previously exclusive to iOS, has now expanded its availability to include Android, Kindle Fire, and Nook HD tablets. The new platform enhancements offer additional features such as "read time" for books, similar to the feature found on Kindle e-readers, and the ability to turn book pages using the volume buttons on Android devices. Oyster's subscription model provides unlimited access to over 500,000 book titles from major publishers like HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, as well as a wide range of smaller and medium-sized publishers. This positions Oyster on par with Scribd, another popular e-book subscription service available on iOS, Android, and the web. Both services offer readers unlimited reading for a monthly fee of $9.95.
2014. Scribd adds notes and highlights to its reading app
The leading ebook subscription platform, Scribd, has enhanced the reading experience by introducing exciting new features to its iOS and Android mobile reader apps. Firstly, users now have the ability to highlight their favorite passages, paragraphs, and quotes, as well as share them with friends. Additionally, the apps allow users to add notes, annotations, and ideas while reading. The second new feature is Image Zoom, enabling users to zoom in on maps and other illustrations for a closer examination. Furthermore, all notes, highlights, and bookmarks seamlessly synchronize across all mobile devices, and users can conveniently access them on a per-book basis.
2014. Oyster Teams up With Spritz to Bring Faster Reading Experience
In an unprecedented collaboration, the ebook subscription service Oyster and text streaming startup Spritz have joined forces to offer a truly unique reading experience. Leveraging the cutting-edge capabilities of Spritz, Oyster is proud to present the first platform that allows the public to read a complete, copyrighted book using Spritz's speed-reading technology. Interested readers can access this groundbreaking experience at OysterBooks.com/Spritz, where they will find "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," a renowned business title by Stephen Covey that has sold over 20 million copies to date, available for free reading utilizing Spritz technology. Remarkably, this 432-page book can be read in under 2 hours using Spritz's rapid reading method. This collaboration represents an unprecedented venture, and both Oyster and Spritz eagerly anticipate receiving feedback from users regarding this extraordinary reading encounter. Based on the response received, they will evaluate the possibility of bringing additional full-length, copyrighted books to the public in collaboration once again in the future.
2014. Oyster partners with Disney to provide books for kids
Ebook subscription service Oyster has expanded its collection by incorporating approximately 100 titles from Disney and introducing a dedicated section for children featuring an impressive selection of around 10,000 ebooks. In addition to beloved Disney properties like Toy Story, Cars, and the Disney Princesses, this new vertical includes previously available titles on Oyster that were either categorized under "Young Adult" or lacked specific categorization. The introduction of these Disney books and the focused children's section caters to the growing market of children's ebook subscriptions. One such offering is Amazon's Kindle FreeTime Unlimited, which provides unlimited access to a library of children's ebooks, apps, movies, and games on Kindle Fire tablets starting at $2.99 per month. Kindle FreeTime Unlimited boasts a collection of 1,600 ebooks, including approximately 100 Disney titles. It is worth noting that Disney had previously operated its own ebook subscription service but decided to discontinue it.
2014. Scribd takes on Amazon - launches app for Kindle Fire
Scribd, the e-book subscription service, has introduced a new app specifically designed for Kindle Fire tablets, providing users with an alternative to Amazon's Kindle e-book store. While Scribd is already accessible on iOS and Android devices, as well as through web browsers, this expansion into specialized e-readers marks their first foray into the dedicated book reading market. Trip Adler, CEO and co-founder of Scribd, acknowledged the demand from their global readership for a Kindle Fire-compatible app. Recognizing the popularity of Kindle Fire as one of the leading reading devices available today, Scribd aims to enable their readers to enjoy the Scribd experience seamlessly across all their devices.