# Beanstack Tracker vs Sunshine State Reader

The clearest difference is monetization model: Sunshine State Reader at free against Beanstack Tracker's free with in-app purchases. Sunshine State Reader also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Beanstack Tracker's advantage is ratings volume (102K vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sunshine State Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beanstack Tracker has 102K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Beanstack Tracker ships an update every 3 weeks, Sunshine State Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beanstack Tracker | Sunshine State Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (102K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beanstack-tracker/id1360324277/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunshine-state-reader/id6761107134/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **102K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 60 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zoobean, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1360324276) | [Embay, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1730783354) |

## What reviewers say

### Beanstack Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beanstack-tracker/id1360324277)

This app encourages reading for all ages through engaging challenges and easy progress tracking. It allows family profiles, individual logging, and offers features like barcode scanning and reading timers. It prioritizes user privacy by not selling data or showing ads.

**Highlights:** Motivating reading challenges, Easy reading progress tracking, Barcode scanner for titles, Reading timer and logging, Streaks and badges, Reading recommendations, Friend leaderboards, Reading fundraisers

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for tracking reading
- 🚀 Barcode scanning feature
- 👍 Ability to track multiple readers
- 👍 Motivating with achievements and badges

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent logging and tracking issues
- 🤔 Confusing user interface and navigation
- 🤔 Limited customization and personalization options
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches, especially with timers and syncing
- 🤔 Cumbersome process for logging books and reading

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect logging of reading sessions and progress
- Inability to edit or remove previously logged books
- Compatibility issues on tablets and iPads
- Timezone-related bugs causing lost reading streaks

**Requested features**

- Ability to backdate reading sessions
- Calendar view to easily see monthly reading progress
- Option to log quantity of books read instead of just time
- Personalized book recommendations based on reading history
- Improved syncing and data management across devices


### Sunshine State Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunshine-state-reader/id6761107134)

This app helps K-8 students in Florida track their reading for the Sunshine State Young Readers Award program. Log books, earn badges, and contribute to your school's leaderboard. It's free, ad-free, and designed for easy use by students and families.

**Highlights:** Track all 45 SSYRA titles for 2026-2027, Log reading progress with timer, Earn achievement badges, Contribute to school leaderboard, Offline tracking, Parental gates for external links, Spanish language translation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beanstack Tracker free?

Beanstack Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sunshine State Reader free?

Sunshine State Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Beanstack Tracker or Sunshine State Reader?

Sunshine State Reader is rated higher. Beanstack Tracker averages 4.8 out of 5 from 102K ratings, while Sunshine State Reader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Beanstack Tracker or Sunshine State Reader have ads?

Neither Beanstack Tracker nor Sunshine State Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Beanstack Tracker or Sunshine State Reader?

Beanstack Tracker ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sunshine State Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Beanstack Tracker was updated on October 18, 2026 and Sunshine State Reader on October 15, 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.*