# MCLS vs Reading List

The clearest difference is rating: Reading List at 4.8 against MCLS's 3.5. Reading List also leads on ratings volume (30K vs 2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). MCLS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reading List sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month. MCLS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Reading List holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reading List has 30K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MCLS ships an update every 2 months, Reading List fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MCLS | Reading List |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcls/id1173097069/reviews) | **[4.8 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-list-book-tracker/id1217139955/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **30K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 92.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#195** |
| Size | 50 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Muskingum County Library System](https://appshunter.io/developer/1478424446) | [Andrew Bennet Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163617089) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Reading List

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-list-book-tracker/id1217139955)

**Currently charting:** #195 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

Organize your reading journey by tracking books you've read, are currently reading, or want to read. Log progress, add custom lists, and record notes and ratings. Sync data across devices and export your library.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes to add books, Search online for books, Manual book entry, Track reading progress (start/finish dates), Create custom book lists, Add ratings and notes, View reading statistics, iCloud data sync

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading List Pro (Monthly) | $2.00 | per month |
| Reading List Pro (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Reading List Pro (Yearly) | $14.00 | per year |
| Reading List Pro (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |
| Small Tip | $1.00 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.00 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $3.00 | one-time |
| Very Large Tip | $5.00 | one-time |
| Giant Tip | $10.00 | one-time |
| Reading List Pro (Lifetime) | $38.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very user-friendly
- 🚀 Easy to add and organize books
- 🔒 Private and non-social
- 💡 Barcode scanning feature
- 👍 Clean and simple interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with syncing across devices
- 💡 Lack of ability to track re-reads or put books 'on hold'
- 💡 Limited sorting/organizing options for large book collections
- 💡 No ability to add audiobooks or track reading time

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with date/time tracking when adding books
- Occasional crashes or data loss when using the app

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track re-reads and 'on hold' books
- Improve sorting/organizing options for large collections
- Add support for audiobooks and reading time tracking
- Implement cloud sync and account features to preserve data
- Add more customization options for lists and book display


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MCLS free?

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

### Is Reading List free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MCLS or Reading List?

Reading List is rated higher. MCLS averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Reading List averages 4.8 from 30K ratings.

### Do MCLS or Reading List have ads?

Neither MCLS nor Reading List shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MCLS or Reading List?

MCLS ships an update every 2 months, and Reading List fortnightly. Most recently, MCLS was updated on October 7, 2026 and Reading List on October 22, 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.*