Comparison

Reading List vs BAR Publishing

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

BAR Publishing

Access and read your purchased ebooks securely and easily. Log in with your email to find your library, download content for offline reading, and enjoy your books without a password.

Highlights
  • Secure ebook access
  • Email login
  • Purchased content library
  • Offline reading
  • No password required
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the BAR Publishing app. We are delighted to offer you an easy and secure way to enjoy our ebooks. No password required — simply log in with the email address you used to buy the book on the BAR Publishing website and enter the verification code sent to your email, or use the social sign on with Apple or Google. Your purchased content can be found in the “My Books” area of the app. An internet connection is required to download the content. Once content has been downloaded, you can access and enjoy it offline.

Screenshots

Reading List4 screens
BAR Publishing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reading List at 93% against BAR Publishing's 0%. Reading List also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and chart position (#177 vs unranked). BAR Publishing's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. BAR Publishing asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading List ships an update fortnightly, BAR Publishing every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Reading List versus BAR Publishing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading ListBAR Publishing
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (30K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.9% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings30K — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#177 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew Bennet LtdGlassboxx Limited

Customer experience

Reading List

All ratings30,064 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews618 reviews
Positive92.9%
Neutral3.1%
Negative4.0%

BAR Publishing

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

BAR Publishing

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
None

BAR Publishing

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Reading List free?
Reading List is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BAR Publishing free?
BAR Publishing is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Reading List or BAR Publishing have ads?
Neither Reading List nor BAR Publishing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading List or BAR Publishing?
Reading List ships an update fortnightly, and BAR Publishing every 4 months. Most recently, Reading List was updated on October 21, 2026 and BAR Publishing on October 12, 2026.

Other comparisons