# Bookly vs MCLS

The clearest difference is rating: Bookly at 4.6 against MCLS's 3.5. Bookly also leads on ratings volume (63K vs 2) and chart position (#20 vs unranked). MCLS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 17) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bookly sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. MCLS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bookly holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookly has 63K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Bookly ships an update monthly, MCLS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bookly | MCLS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (63K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookly-book-tracker/id1085047737/reviews)** | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcls/id1173097069/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **63K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 83.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#20** | — |
| Size | 475 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [TwoDoor Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/863075057) | [Muskingum County Library System](https://appshunter.io/developer/1478424446) |

## What reviewers say

### Bookly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookly-book-tracker/id1085047737)

**Currently charting:** #20 Top Free · Book, #34 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

This app helps you track your reading habits in real-time, manage your library, and set reading goals. It offers detailed statistics, custom ratings, and ambient sounds to enhance your reading experience and build a consistent reading habit.

**Highlights:** Real-time reading timer, Detailed reading statistics, Custom book ratings, Book library management, Reading goals and reminders, Character tracking, Readathon tracking

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Pro Family Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro 50% OFF | $14.99 | per year |
| Six Months of Pro | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Pro 30% OFF | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro (50% OFF 1st year trial) | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro 20% OFF | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro Family Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| 10 extra reading days | $0.99 | one-time |
| A handful of Diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| A big bag of Diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| A chest of Diamonds | $5.99 | one-time |
| Bookly Pro | $79.99 | one-time |
| Bookly Pro Lifetime | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for tracking reading progress
- 🚀 Motivates users to read more
- 📊 Provides detailed reading statistics
- 💡 Allows adding quotes, thoughts, and new words
- 👍 User-friendly interface and design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for many features
- 🔒 Limited functionality in free version
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/adding some books
- 🔢 Limit on number of books that can be added

**Reported bugs**

- Reading sessions not always accurately recorded
- Inconsistencies in page count/progress tracking
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete/edit books
- Option to track audiobook progress
- Sync reading progress across devices
- More customization options
- Integration with other reading apps


### MCLS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcls/id1173097069)

Access library resources from your mobile device. Search the catalog for books, audiobooks, movies, and more. Manage your account, renew items, and view event calendars.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Place holds on items, Manage library account, Renew borrowed materials, View event calendar, Download ebooks and audiobooks, Get branch directions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bookly free?

Bookly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MCLS free?

MCLS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bookly or MCLS?

Bookly is rated higher. Bookly averages 4.6 out of 5 from 63K ratings, while MCLS averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Bookly or MCLS have ads?

Bookly shows ads; MCLS does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bookly or MCLS?

Bookly ships an update monthly, and MCLS every 2 months. Most recently, Bookly was updated on October 24, 2026 and MCLS on October 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*