# Bookly vs Bookjournal.app

Bookly and Bookjournal.app both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of Bookly's written reviews are positive against 45% of Bookjournal.app's. Bookly also leads on ratings volume (63K vs 250) and chart position (#21 vs unranked). Bookjournal.app's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bookly sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Bookjournal.app sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bookly holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookly has 63K ratings behind it against 250, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Bookly's written reviews are positive against 45% of Bookjournal.app's.

Bookly ships an update monthly, Bookjournal.app weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bookly | Bookjournal.app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (63K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookly-book-tracker/id1085047737/reviews)** | [4.5 (250 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookjournalapp/id6447931333/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **63K** | 250 |
| Positive reviews | **83.7% of reviews** | 44.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 475 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TwoDoor Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/863075057) | [Rowan Trollope](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683047449) |

## What reviewers say

### Bookly

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

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Book, #36 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


### Bookjournal.app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookjournalapp/id6447931333)

Easily log books you've read, record ratings, thoughts, and notes. Enhance your entries with stickers and share your favorite reads with others. This app offers a convenient digital alternative to traditional reading journals.

**Highlights:** Track read books, Record ratings and notes, Add stickers to entries, Share favorite books, Digital reading journal

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Half-star rating option
- 📚 Good for tracking reading progress
- ✨ Customizable features
- 📖 Great for organizing books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Deleted books reappear
- 🐛 Goodreads import issues
- 🐛 Incorrect book info
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App won't open/stay open

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted books reappear
- Goodreads import does not work
- Incorrect book titles/covers after import
- Duplicate books
- App crashes

**Requested features**

- Connect with friends
- Add timer for reading tracking
- More information like a timer
- Audiobooks as a selection
- Add friends


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bookly free?

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

### Is Bookjournal.app free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bookly or Bookjournal.app?

Bookly is rated higher. Bookly averages 4.6 out of 5 from 63K ratings, while Bookjournal.app averages 4.5 from 250 ratings.

### Do Bookly or Bookjournal.app have ads?

Bookly shows ads; Bookjournal.app does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bookly or Bookjournal.app?

Bookly ships an update monthly, and Bookjournal.app weekly. Most recently, Bookly was updated on October 25, 2026 and Bookjournal.app on October 24, 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.*