# MediaShelf — Never buy it twice

> Digital organizer for books, music, movies, and games with barcode scanning. (iPhone/iPad app by Steven Robineau.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mediashelf/id6787226058 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Steven Robineau](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787226060)
- Category: Reference, Books
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.6 · 12 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-07-28
- Data updated: 2026-09-08
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mediashelf/id6787226058/reviews.md

## What is MediaShelf?

Your whole collection, beautifully catalogued — books, vinyl, CDs, movies, and games in one place. Scan a barcode, or just photograph a cover, and MediaShelf fills in the rest: cover art, creators, publishers, release dates, and more, in seconds. No account. No subscription. No spreadsheet.

SCAN. COLLECT. DONE.

Point your camera at any barcode — EAN, UPC, or ISBN — and the details fill in instantly
Titles, creators, cover art, and year, pulled from online catalogues
Works while you shop: scan in the store and know at a glance if you already own it

NO BARCODE? MEET THE AI SCANNER

Photograph the cover and AI image recognition, powered by Google Gemini, identifies the exact edition in your hand
Old paperbacks, printed sleeves, imports, box sets, magazines — no barcode needed
Details verified against online catalogues: credits, runtimes, labels, and more
Captures what's on your actual copy: the edition, pressing, issue, or series
Keep your photo as the cover, or use the official art — your choice
Three free scans included so you can try it

ONE LIBRARY FOR EVERYTHING

Books, music, movies, and games together — not four separate apps
Browse everything at once or focus on a single collection
Every detail is editable, and your corrections always win

ORGANIZE YOUR WAY

Collections for what you collect; Locations for where it lives
Group your shelves by collection, location, rating, or type
Combine collections with a tap; filter by rating or status; sort any way you like
Three browsing styles, from cover-art shelves to rich, detailed cards

NEVER BUY IT TWICE

Duplicate warnings the moment you scan something already on your shelf or Wishlist
Smart matching catches the same title even when the edition differs

A REAL WISHLIST

Keep the titles you're still hunting for
Spot one in the wild, check your list, and move it to your shelf when it's finally yours

DISCOVER WHAT'S NEXT

Bestseller lists, new releases, and curated Staff Picks
Personalized picks drawn from your own collection — private by design

A LIBRARY YOU'LL LOVE OPENING

Six beautiful themes, light and dark, with typography worth lingering on
Cover-first layouts made for iPhone and iPad

YOURS. PRIVATE. NO SUBSCRIPTION.

No account required — your library lives on your device
iCloud Sync keeps your own private iCloud in step across your devices
Export everything as JSON whenever you like
MediaShelf Pro is a one-time purchase: no ads, unlimited items, iCloud Sync, 50 AI scans, and more
Pro — Family shares everything with your Family Sharing group, including 150 AI scans

The free version has everything you need to catalogue your shelves — up to 100 items, with three AI scans to try.

For collectors, cataloguers, and anyone who loves their shelves: give your collection the home it deserves.

NO ACCOUNT · NO SUBSCRIPTION · PRIVATE BY DESIGN

## Key features

- Barcode scanning for automatic item addition
- Organize books, music, movies, and games
- Duplicate purchase warnings
- Wishlist functionality
- Discover new releases and staff picks
- Customizable themes and appearance


## Frequently asked questions about MediaShelf

### What types of items can MediaShelf organize?

MediaShelf can organize books, music, movies, and video games. It allows you to create a unified digital library for all your media formats.

### How does MediaShelf prevent duplicate purchases?

MediaShelf provides automatic duplicate warnings. Before you add an item or when you are shopping, it can alert you if you already own the title, helping you avoid buying the same thing twice.

### Does MediaShelf require an account or subscription?

No, MediaShelf does not require an account or a monthly subscription. Your library stays on your device, and iCloud sync is optional for Apple users.

### Can I customize the look of my MediaShelf library?

Yes, you can personalize MediaShelf with six different themes, two typefaces, and light or dark mode. This allows you to create a visually appealing library experience.

### How often is MediaShelf updated?

The latest version, 1.2.1, was released on August 1, 2026, indicating a recent update. The app is generally updated to improve features and reliability.

### What devices does MediaShelf support?

MediaShelf is available on iPhone and iPad, making it accessible for users within the Apple ecosystem.

### What is the age rating for MediaShelf?

MediaShelf has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### Does MediaShelf have ads?

No, MediaShelf is ad-free. The app is completely free to use without any advertisements.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.1 — 2026-09-07

New in Version 3.1 

NEW: WIDGETS
Discover comes to your Home Screen — a rotating pick from this week's features, your library and wishlist counts, and one-tap search and scan buttons. Plus a Lock Screen scanner button, so checking a barcode while you shop is one tap from your pocket.

BETTER MUSIC SCANNING
Music barcodes now match against a dedicated music catalog — CDs, vinyl, and cassettes identify more accurately, with the artist, format, and official cover art filled in."),


CLEARER DUPLICATE WARNINGS
One consistent, quieter banner everywhere you add or browse — tap it to see exactly which copy you already have, without interrupting your save.


----

MediaShelf 3.0 is our biggest update yet — headlined by something we've wanted to build from the start: a scanner for everything that doesn't have a barcode.

MEET THE AI SCANNER
Plenty of what's on a real shelf has no barcode: older books, vinyl in printed sleeves, imports, box sets, magazines. Now you can just photograph the cover.

AI image recognition, powered by Google Gemini, identifies the exact edition in your hand — from the artwork and design of the cover itself
Details are verified against online catalogues: credits, runtimes, labels, publishers, and more
It sees your actual copy, capturing what a barcode never carries: the edition, pressing, issue, volume, or series
When official cover art is found, choose between it and your own photo, right on the result card
If a barcode won't read, the scanner now offers the AI Scanner as a fallback
Honest by design: you're only ever charged a scan when the AI answers, never for technical failures
Three free scans are included for everyone. MediaShelf Pro includes 50, with 100-scan top-up packs available in Settings

NEW: MEDIASHELF PRO — FAMILY

Share Pro with your whole Family Sharing group: no ads, unlimited items, and iCloud Sync for everyone
Includes 150 AI scans to use together

ORGANIZE YOUR WAY

Group your Library and Wishlist by collection, location, rating, or type — with collapsible sections
Tap multiple collection pills to browse them together; tap again to deselect
Empty collections tidy themselves away until they're needed
A new Other collection gives a home to everything unusual — and items now follow you when you change their type
The Wishlist gets its own filter settings, independent of the Library

COVERS IN THEIR TRUE SHAPE — AND A CLEANER LOOK

A streamlined toolbar: add, search, and settings, right where you need them
A redesigned filter panel — Sort, Order, Filter, and Group in one place, with a clear indicator when a filter is active
Cover art in its true shape: album sleeves draw square, movie cases tall — no more uniform cropping, with every cover balanced to carry equal visual weight
A smarter cover camera: automatic cropping and photo enhancement, every time
Refreshed icons, a better photo review screen, and a small scanning robot to keep you company

RICHER ITEM DETAILS

Catalog-verified credits: directors, casts, and runtimes for films; labels for music; publishers and languages for books
Cover choices that are never lost: switch any item between your own photo and the online art, any time, from the edit screen

FIXES & POLISH

Your cover photos now always win over downloaded art
Smarter duplicate warnings for short titles
Discover artwork loads more reliably
More accurate cached-image counts, better sync merging, and dozens of smaller improvements

Early Pro supporters: thank you — your AI scans are already credited to your account.

If MediaShelf has earned a place on your Home Screen, a rating or review genuinely helps a small app get found. And if something's not right, we'd love to hear first: hello@mediashelfapp.com

### 3.0 — 2026-08-31

MediaShelf 3.0 is our biggest update yet — headlined by something we've wanted to build from the start: a scanner for everything that doesn't have a barcode.

MEET THE AI SCANNER
Plenty of what's on a real shelf has no barcode: older books, vinyl in printed sleeves, imports, box sets, magazines. Now you can just photograph the cover.

AI image recognition, powered by Google Gemini, identifies the exact edition in your hand — from the artwork and design of the cover itself
Details are verified against online catalogues: credits, runtimes, labels, publishers, and more
It sees your actual copy, capturing what a barcode never carries: the edition, pressing, issue, volume, or series
When official cover art is found, choose between it and your own photo, right on the result card
If a barcode won't read, the scanner now offers the AI Scanner as a fallback
Honest by design: you're only ever charged a scan when the AI answers, never for technical failures
Three free scans are included for everyone. MediaShelf Pro includes 50, with 100-scan top-up packs available in Settings

NEW: MEDIASHELF PRO — FAMILY

Share Pro with your whole Family Sharing group: no ads, unlimited items, and iCloud Sync for everyone
Includes 150 AI scans to use together

ORGANIZE YOUR WAY

Group your Library and Wishlist by collection, location, rating, or type — with collapsible sections
Tap multiple collection pills to browse them together; tap again to deselect
Empty collections tidy themselves away until they're needed
A new Other collection gives a home to everything unusual — and items now follow you when you change their type
The Wishlist gets its own filter settings, independent of the Library

COVERS IN THEIR TRUE SHAPE — AND A CLEANER LOOK

A streamlined toolbar: add, search, and settings, right where you need them
A redesigned filter panel — Sort, Order, Filter, and Group in one place, with a clear indicator when a filter is active
Cover art in its true shape: album sleeves draw square, movie cases tall — no more uniform cropping, with every cover balanced to carry equal visual weight
A smarter cover camera: automatic cropping and photo enhancement, every time
Refreshed icons, a better photo review screen, and a small scanning robot to keep you company

RICHER ITEM DETAILS

Catalog-verified credits: directors, casts, and runtimes for films; labels for music; publishers and languages for books
Cover choices that are never lost: switch any item between your own photo and the online art, any time, from the edit screen

FIXES & POLISH

Your cover photos now always win over downloaded art
Smarter duplicate warnings for short titles
Discover artwork loads more reliably
More accurate cached-image counts, better sync merging, and dozens of smaller improvements

Early Pro supporters: thank you — your AI scans are already credited to your account.

If MediaShelf has earned a place on your Home Screen, a rating or review genuinely helps a small app get found. And if something's not right, we'd love to hear first: hello@mediashelfapp.com

### 2.2.1 — 2026-08-21

MediaShelf 2.2 adds a new premium theme (Plain Parchment), along with better details for your media, and the usual little bug fixes.

Also, in MediaShelf 2:

INTRODUCING MEDIASHELF PRO
One purchase, yours forever — no subscription. Pro unlocks:
Unlimited Library — collect past the free 100-item limit
iCloud Sync — keep your library in step across all your devices, stored securely in your private iCloud
Golden Honey — an exclusive premium theme
Launch Tab — choose whether MediaShelf opens to Discover, Library, or Wishlist
Ad-Free — browse Discover without banners

PERSONALIZED PICKS
An engine that recommends books, movies, music, and games picked for you, based on what's on your shelf. The more you collect, the sharper it gets. No account, no tracking — your recommendations are built from your own library.

SMARTER SCANNING
Scanned books now include a synopsis pulled from the edition you scanned — not a lookalike edition. Subtitles, publishers, page counts, and languages are captured more reliably. Better duplicate detection when scanning items you already own

iCLOUD SYNC, DONE RIGHT
Sync your library across your Apple devices. Automatic, private, turn it on with a simple switch. Available as part of Pro.

DISCOVER, POLISHED
Pull down to refresh for the latest bestsellers, staff picks, and recommendations. A refreshed look with flowing ribbon backdrops and cleaner sections. Items now carousel and scroll with a satisfying click.

AN EVEN BETTER USER EXPERIENCE
Two new browse style options - Library, a shelf-based view for your cover art, and Leisurely, a spacious view built around rich, detailed cards. Choose unique styles for for your Library or Wishlist. Library settings reorganized: view options, collections, and locations in one place.

### 2.2 — 2026-08-19

MediaShelf 2.2 adds a new premium theme (Plain Parchment), along with better details for your media, and the usual little bug fixes.

Also, in MediaShelf 2:

INTRODUCING MEDIASHELF PRO
One purchase, yours forever — no subscription. Pro unlocks:
Unlimited Library — collect past the free 100-item limit
iCloud Sync — keep your library in step across all your devices, stored securely in your private iCloud
Golden Honey — an exclusive premium theme
Launch Tab — choose whether MediaShelf opens to Discover, Library, or Wishlist
Ad-Free — browse Discover without banners

PERSONALIZED PICKS
An engine that recommends books, movies, music, and games picked for you, based on what's on your shelf. The more you collect, the sharper it gets. No account, no tracking — your recommendations are built from your own library.

SMARTER SCANNING
Scanned books now include a synopsis pulled from the edition you scanned — not a lookalike edition. Subtitles, publishers, page counts, and languages are captured more reliably. Better duplicate detection when scanning items you already own

iCLOUD SYNC, DONE RIGHT
Sync your library across your Apple devices. Automatic, private, turn it on with a simple switch. Available as part of Pro.

DISCOVER, POLISHED
Pull down to refresh for the latest bestsellers, staff picks, and recommendations. A refreshed look with flowing ribbon backdrops and cleaner sections. Items now carousel and scroll with a satisfying click.

AN EVEN BETTER USER EXPERIENCE
Two new browse style options - Library, a shelf-based view for your cover art, and Leisurely, a spacious view built around rich, detailed cards. Choose unique styles for for your Library or Wishlist. Library settings reorganized: view options, collections, and locations in one place.

### 2.1 — 2026-08-14

MediaShelf 2.1 adds two new browse style options - Library, a shelf-based view for your cover art, and Leisurely, a spacious view built around rich, detailed cards. Choose unique styles for for your Library or Wishlist.

Also, in MediaShelf 2.0:

INTRODUCING MEDIASHELF PRO
One purchase, yours forever — no subscription. Pro unlocks:
Unlimited Library — collect past the free 100-item limit
iCloud Sync — keep your library in step across all your devices, stored securely in your private iCloud
Golden Honey — an exclusive premium theme
Launch Tab — choose whether MediaShelf opens to Discover, Library, or Wishlist
Ad-Free — browse Discover without banners

PERSONALIZED PICKS
An engine that recommends books, movies, music, and games picked for you, based on what's on your shelf. The more you collect, the sharper it gets. No account, no tracking — your recommendations are built from your own library.

SMARTER SCANNING
Scanned books now include a synopsis pulled from the edition you scanned — not a lookalike edition. Subtitles, publishers, page counts, and languages are captured more reliably. Better duplicate detection when scanning items you already own

iCLOUD SYNC, DONE RIGHT
Sync your library across your Apple devices. Automatic, private, turn it on with a simple switch.

DISCOVER, POLISHED
Pull down to refresh for the latest bestsellers, staff picks, and recommendations. A refreshed look with flowing ribbon backdrops and cleaner sections. Items now carousel and scroll with a satisfying click.

AND MORE
Library settings reorganized: view options, collections, and locations in one place. More reliable online data sources. Many fixes and performance improvements throughout.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*
