Reading List vs Simple Book Recommendations
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Simple Book Recommendations
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This app allows simple book recommendations to be entered, shared with other users, and reviewed by other users. It provides an ISBN Scanner to scan images for ISBN numbers. The App uses an ISBN number to look up information about a book. A book can have multiple recommendations from different users. It attempts to focus on recent recommendations by providing lists that show recommendations recently, but the user can off course opt to view all recommendations. Users can choose to keep their recommendations and books private if they so desire, but that is not really why the App exists. Shared Data is stored in the iCloud, and users need a iCloud account to access it, you can elect to keep the data to your device, but again that is not really the point of the App.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Simple Book Recommendations at every 4 days against Reading List's fortnightly. Reading List's advantage is chart position (#171 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Reading List sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month and Simple Book Recommendations sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 6 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Reading List ships an update fortnightly, Simple Book Recommendations every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Reading List | Simple Book Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (30K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 30K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #171 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrew Bennet Ltd | Peter Shevill |
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
Simple Book Recommendations
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Reading List
- Reading List Pro (Monthly)$2.001 Month
- Reading List Pro (Monthly)$3.991 Month
- Reading List Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$14.001 Year
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- Reading List Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Small Tip$1.00
- Medium Tip$2.00
- Large Tip$3.00
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Very Large Tip$5.00
- Giant Tip$10.00
- Reading List Pro (Lifetime)$38.00
Simple Book Recommendations
- 6 Month Editing Subscription$0.996 Months
- 1 Year Editing Subscription$1.991 Year
Questions
Is Reading List free?
Is Simple Book Recommendations free?
Do Reading List or Simple Book Recommendations have ads?
Which is updated more often, Reading List or Simple Book Recommendations?
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