# Reading List vs Reading Timer

The clearest difference is ads: Reading List at none against Reading Timer's shown. Reading List also leads on ratings volume (30K vs 13). Reading Timer's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reading List sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month and Reading Timer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 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 Reading Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reading List has 30K ratings behind it against 13, 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 88% of Reading Timer's.

Reading List ships an update fortnightly, Reading Timer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reading List | Reading Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-list-book-tracker/id1217139955/reviews) | [4.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-timer-time-and-pages/id6751752917/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **30K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **93.1% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 50 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Bennet Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163617089) | [Seulki Eom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718927408) |

## 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


### Reading Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-timer-time-and-pages/id6751752917)

Track your reading time and pages with a quick timer. Organize your personal library, view detailed reading statistics, and stay motivated with a visual reading heatmap.

**Highlights:** Quick reading timer, Page tracking, Personal library management, Reading statistics and reports, Reading heatmap for streaks, Track reading pace

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading Timer Pro | $1.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reading List free?

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

### Is Reading Timer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Reading List or Reading Timer?

Reading List and Reading Timer are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 30K and 13 ratings respectively.

### Do Reading List or Reading Timer have ads?

Reading Timer shows ads; Reading List does not.

### Which is updated more often, Reading List or Reading Timer?

Reading List ships an update fortnightly, and Reading Timer every 2 weeks. Most recently, Reading List was updated on September 25, 2026 and Reading Timer on September 20, 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.*