# Reading List vs Bookjournal.app

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.

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.

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.

Reading List ships an update fortnightly, Bookjournal.app weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reading List | Bookjournal.app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-list-book-tracker/id1217139955/reviews)** | [4.4 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookjournalapp/id6447931333/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **30K** | 242 |
| Positive reviews | **93.1% of reviews** | 44.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Bennet Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163617089) | [Rowan Trollope](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683047449) |

## 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


### 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 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 25, 2026 and Bookjournal.app on September 21, 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.*