Comparison

Reading List vs Bookjournal.app

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Reading List

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Easily track books you’ve read, books you’re reading, and books you want to read. Record your progress by adding the start and finish date of your books. ADD NEW BOOKS • Scan the barcode of a book to quickly add it to your list • Search online to find and add books • Alternatively, add a book manually by typing in its details • Sync your data between all devices via iCloud TRACK YOUR READING • Quickly log the dates you start and finish each book with a tap or swipe • Order the books, to help plan what to read next • Create your own custom lists, like "Wishlist", "Favourites", etc • Record the current page of books you're reading • Add your own rating and notes to each book • View your reading statistics PRIVATE & PERSONAL • No online account or signup needed • All data is private, stored on-device or in your iCloud account • Export and import all your data Some premium features require Reading List Pro, which can be purchased in the app. The app remains fully-featured when used without Reading List Pro. Terms of Use: https://readinglist.app/termsofservice Privacy Policy: https://readinglist.app/privacypolicy

About

Bookjournal.app

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
Read full description

Keep track of all the books you've read, capture your ratings, thoughts and notes, add stickers and more. Share your favorite books with family, friends and colleagues. As avid readers, we craved a seamless way to journal, track, and share our literary experiences. Traditional journaling, though enjoyable, can be tedious and time-consuming. We wanted our journals accessible anytime, anywhere - from waiting rooms to school pick-ups. That's why we built BookJournal.app. Join us for an effortless and enjoyable reading journey! Link to our End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Reading List4 screens
Bookjournal.app4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reading List at 93% against Bookjournal.app's 44%. Reading List also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (30K vs 242). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Reading List sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reading List holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reading List has 30K ratings behind it against 242, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Reading List's written reviews are positive against 44% of Bookjournal.app's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading List ships an update fortnightly, Bookjournal.app weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Reading List versus Bookjournal.app: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading ListBookjournal.app
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (30K ratings) — better4.4 (242 ratings)
Positive reviews93.1% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings30K — better242
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#200 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew Bennet LtdRowan Trollope

Customer experience

Reading List

All ratings29,868 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral2.4%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews606 reviews
Positive93.1%
Neutral3.1%
Negative3.8%

Bookjournal.app

All ratings242 ratings
Positive83.9%
Neutral8.7%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral22.2%
Negative33.3%

User reviews

Reading List

From 30K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Bookjournal.app

From 242 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Bugs and requests

Reading List

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Bookjournal.app

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • Deleted books reappear
  • Goodreads import does not work
  • Incorrect book titles/covers after import
  • Duplicate books
  • App crashes
Show 13 more
  • App won't open or stay open
  • Error message when trying to cancel
  • Messages marked as undeliverable on Discord
  • Journal entries not saving or updating
  • App refuses to open since update
  • Books disappear after adding
  • App not working after transfer
  • Cannot add and save books read
  • Reading goal reverts to 50
  • No connection on home screen
  • No results for searches
  • App crashes immediately on opening
  • Unable to access rating and date options

Requested features

13 requests
  • Connect with friends
  • Add timer for reading tracking
  • More information like a timer
  • Audiobooks as a selection
  • Add friends
Show 8 more
  • Integrate Goodreads list without re-adding
  • Fix journal saving/updating
  • Fix series organization
  • One-time payment option for premium
  • More premium features for the price
  • Dark mode option
  • Improve search functionality
  • Fix connection issues

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Reading List

Subscriptions4
  • Reading List Pro (Monthly)$2.001 Month
  • Reading List Pro (Monthly)$3.991 Month
  • Reading List Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$14.001 Year
Show 1 more
  • Reading List Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time6
  • Small Tip$1.00
  • Medium Tip$2.00
  • Large Tip$3.00
Show 3 more
  • Very Large Tip$5.00
  • Giant Tip$10.00
  • Reading List Pro (Lifetime)$38.00
2 purchases

Bookjournal.app

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Reading List free?
Reading List 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, Reading List or Bookjournal.app?
Reading List is rated higher. Reading List averages 4.8 out of 5 from 30K ratings, while Bookjournal.app averages 4.4 from 242 ratings.
Do Reading List or Bookjournal.app have ads?
Neither Reading List nor Bookjournal.app shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading List or Bookjournal.app?
Reading List ships an update fortnightly, and Bookjournal.app weekly. Most recently, Reading List was updated on September 24, 2026 and Bookjournal.app on September 21, 2026.

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