Lately, I’ve been making an effort to read books outside of my usuals (non-fiction, self improvement, historical romance, lighthearted stories). I came across the Galatea book app and decided to try it out.
The passages of books I read seemed intruiging, but then none of them were available through the Libby app or Audible. The Galatea App by Inkitt has free novels and audiobooks that you can access exclusively through the app. So, to read them, I downloaded the app.
The Galatea app is FREE! When downloading it, I decided not to spend any money on more books. Even though Galatea gives you the option to purchase points or pay for a subscription, this review is from the perspective of using the free version of the app.
I was surprised to see SO many Galatea stories with werewolves, fairies, lycans, dragons, shifters and more from the fantasy genre. The books aren’t all like that though; there are books with cowboys, royalty, football players, millionaires, etc. too. Interestingly, in every Galatea book I’ve read so far, there’s been at least one LGBTQ couple.
From what I’ve gathered, Galatea has its own writers or somehow has the stories exclusively. Galatea is able to pay the writers through its ad placements and subscriptions. So if you use the free version, prepare to watch ads and wait to read chapters.
Its layout is very Netflix-esque.
How I use the Galatea App
The first few chapters of a book area free; that’s how they get you hooked on the book. After that, when you’re done with your chapter, you have to wait a few hours (~6) to read the next one. For some stories, it’s 6 hours until the next chapter, but for others, I’ve had up to 36 hours!
You can bypass waiting for the next chapter by redeeming points. You can earn points through different activities (see below).
At first, I used to set alarms and sit and read the chapter as quickly as I could to start the next timer (at the end after you press “Next Chapter”). Now, I wait for the next chapter time is up, quickly scroll to the bottom and press “Next Chapter.” Then, I return later to read it when I have time.
I wait to redeem points until the next time limit is up, then press “Next Chapter” as many times as it will let me until I am out of points. It’s all about the timing!
This is what works for me. I realized I don’t always have time to read the chapters immediately, but this is the best way to get the next timer started ASAP.
I haven’t used the audiobooks — I thought they were for subscribers only until now. Whoops!
Ways To Get Points
On the Galatea app, you want to earn points to be able to read more chapters than one at a time. Ways you can earn points:
- Reading streaks (1 point every day you complete a chapter, and more points every 7th straight day)
- Refer a friend (see my code below)
- Write a review
- Have a 20-minute phone call with the Galatea team to give feedback on the app
- Follow Galatea on TikTok
- Join their Discord Community
- Download Inkitt
- Watch an ad (up to 10 ads a day)
- Join Galatea’s Facebook group
- Follow Galatea on Instagram
The only ways to get points daily is through reading at least one chapter and watching ads. The rest of the options are mostly one-time use.
If you don’t want to wait for the time, you can purchase points or a subscription. Subscriptions are $70 a year. Or, you can purchase a bunch of points (ex. 40 points = $4 or 550 points are $25). The stories I’ve read are 10-20 points a chapter. I haven’t purchased points yet though.
PROS
What I like about the Galatea app:
- It’s free!
- You can read multiple books at one time
- You can get points for reading
- You can “watch” the ads with the volume off and just wait for it to end
- You can scroll to the end of the chapter and press “Next Chapter” to start the new timer, then go back later and read it
- Galatea offers a large library of books in many genres.
- For those who like books with spice, Galatea has those too (indicated by chili peppers)
- Galatea offers both books and audiobooks
- Because you can only read a chapter at a time, it stops you from losing track of time and spending hours reading.
- If you enable notifications, Galatea will remind you when your new chapter is ready to read so you don’t have to remember.
- Once you’ve unlocked a chapter it’s unlocked for good in your account.
More recently, I’ve been reading one book only but swiping through two other books when the time is up. When I finish this one book, I’ll have 2 other books to read almost all chapters without waiting (fingers crossed!).
CONS
These aren’t really BAD things, but just small nuisances I’ve noticed about the Galatea app:
- Depending on the book, you might have to wait 36 hours for the next chapter. Agony!
- The app freezes often. I have to restart the app a lot, at least once a day to refresh it so I can watch that day’s 10 ads.
- Some of the chapters are very short. So you wait 6+ hours to read a chapter that takes you 5 minutes to read… and I’m not a fast reader.
- While the writing is good, I do find a few grammatical or wording errors in each book (ex. “is is”). I don’t think these are thoroughly edited. #GrammarNerd
- On their Facebook page, I’ve heard that people will start reading a series and find the writer is never going to finish the book, for whatever reason. So they’re left on a cliffhanger.
- It’s not obvious when a book is a part of a series. I started one book on the second of a series, and only knew about its series from Facebook.
- They have an immersive experience which is basically music that plays as you read. I turn it off, but sometimes it gets stuck on. I turn off my volume or just reset the app again.
- The app will often get stuck on the loading screen too. Another reason I reset it.
I probably reset the app 4 to 5 times a day. But again, it’s just a small nuisance considering I’m getting to read these books for free. Ultimately, none of these “cons” are a big deal.
My Galatea App Review
In summary, I’m really glad I tried the Galatea app. This has been a totally new experience for me, and I’ve I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far. I haven’t been able to read as many books because of the time delay per chapter, BUT, it’s all been free.
As of today, I’m on a 63-day reading streak!
If you’re intruiged to try out Galatea, I highly suggest you give it a try. You can download the app, browse the catalogue, perhaps read a few chapters to see what you think. Delete it if you don’t like it.
Just beware, you might get sucked into the stories like I did!
Galatea Refer-a-Friend Promo Code: EUM6F
Interested in trying the Galatea app? Use my refer-a-friend code! Each referral helps me get some more points so I can read my stories faster!
Refer-a-friend promo code: EUM6F
Download the Galatea app using one of the links below to get started:
Have you tried the Galatea app before? Any books you’d recommend I try? Or, do you have another book app that you’d recommend? Comment below!
Thanks for reading!
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