# Bookly vs Margins

The clearest difference is ads: Margins at none against Bookly's shown. Margins also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Bookly's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and ratings volume (63K vs 20K). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bookly sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Margins sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Margins holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 63K and 20K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Bookly's written reviews are positive against 95% of Margins's.

Bookly ships an update monthly, Margins every 4 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bookly | Margins |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (63K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookly-book-tracker/id1085047737/reviews) | **[4.9 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/margins-book-tracker/id6737528718/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **63K** | 20K |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews | **95.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#17** | #61 |
| Size | 475 MB | 115 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [TwoDoor Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/863075057) | [Paratext Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1724586882) |

## What reviewers say

### Bookly

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

**Currently charting:** #17 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 (10)**

| 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 |
| Bookly Pro | $79.99 | 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


### Margins

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/margins-book-tracker/id6737528718)

**Currently charting:** #61 Top Free · Book, #187 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

This app helps you discover, track, and share your reading journey. It offers detailed tracking options, customizable features, and powerful search capabilities. Stay focused on your reading goals with built-in tools to minimize distractions.

**Highlights:** Half-star ratings, Track recommendations, Customizable book covers, Fuzzy date tracking, Advanced book search, Reading goals, Reading timer, Distraction blocking

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
- 🔍 Helpful search and recommendation features
- 📚 Comprehensive book tracking capabilities
- 🔄 Smooth import from Goodreads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Missing books in the database
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🔒 Concerns about using phone number for sign-up
- 🔢 Lack of social features and community

**Reported bugs**

- Reading time not saving correctly
- Inability to delete or edit books from lists
- Inconsistent behavior when importing data from Goodreads

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track page progress and percentage read
- Implement a profile system with custom avatars and bios
- Introduce a social feed to share reading activity with friends
- Add more advanced statistics and reading analytics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bookly free?

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

### Is Margins free?

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

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

Margins is rated higher. Bookly averages 4.6 out of 5 from 63K ratings, while Margins averages 4.9 from 20K ratings.

### Do Bookly or Margins have ads?

Bookly shows ads; Margins does not.

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

Bookly ships an update monthly, and Margins every 4 days. Most recently, Bookly was updated on November 5, 2026 and Margins on November 5, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Bookly or Margins?

Bookly currently peaks at #17 in the App Store charts, and Margins at #61. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*