# Reading List vs Bookworm Reads

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Reading List at 30K against Bookworm Reads's 1.1K. Reading List also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 78%). Bookworm Reads's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reading List sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month and Bookworm Reads sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Reading List against 4.8 for Bookworm Reads. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reading List has 30K ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of Reading List's written reviews are positive against 78% of Bookworm Reads's.

Reading List ships an update fortnightly, Bookworm Reads every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reading List | Bookworm Reads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-list-book-tracker/id1217139955/reviews) | [4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookworm-reads/id1574582016/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **30K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | **93.3% of reviews** | 77.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Bennet Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163617089) | [Bookworm Reads CLUB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1574582018) |

## What reviewers say

### Reading List

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

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


### Bookworm Reads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookworm-reads/id1574582016)

Track your reading, connect with friends, and join a vibrant community of book lovers. Organize your library, discover new titles, and participate in reading challenges. Customize your unique worm avatar and share your literary journey.

**Highlights:** Track and categorize books, Create custom bookshelves, See friends' reading activity, Rate, review, and discuss books, Create and join book clubs, Participate in reading challenges, Customize worm avatar

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

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

**What reviewers like**

- 💕 Cute and fun design
- 🤗 Welcoming and supportive community
- 🌈 Vibrant and colorful interface
- 🌟 Inspiring and motivating
- 📚 Great for discovering new books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 💰 Paywall for certain features
- 🙈 Lack of privacy/customization options
- 📚 Missing books and inaccurate library

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to permanently delete user profiles
- Signup process issues with 'Accept' button not working
- Inconsistent display of book covers and information
- Frequent crashes and app freezes
- Syncing issues with imported book data

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track reading progress
- Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
- Introduce more customization options for user profiles
- Expand search capabilities to include more book details
- Integrate with other popular book platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reading List free?

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

### Is Bookworm Reads free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Reading List or Bookworm Reads?

Reading List and Bookworm Reads are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 30K and 1.1K ratings respectively.

### Do Reading List or Bookworm Reads have ads?

Neither Reading List nor Bookworm Reads shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reading List or Bookworm Reads?

Reading List ships an update fortnightly, and Bookworm Reads every 3 weeks. Most recently, Reading List was updated on September 29, 2026 and Bookworm Reads on September 28, 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.*