# PocketHinman vs Shelvd

The clearest difference is rating: PocketHinman at 5.0 against Shelvd's 3.9. PocketHinman also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shelvd sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.00 per month. PocketHinman asks for nothing beyond the download.

PocketHinman holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 11 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketHinman | Shelvd |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pockethinman/id1370948590/reviews)** | [3.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelvd-smart-book-tracker/id6759407922/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **11** |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The University of Edinburgh](https://appshunter.io/developer/428517240) | [Platform Thirteen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878497050) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketHinman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pockethinman/id1370948590)

This app simulates the functions of a Hinman Collator using image transparency and flickering. It's designed for users who need to compare images side-by-side with advanced visual tools. Developed with support from the University of Virginia.

**Highlights:** Flickering image comparison, Image transparency overlay, Simulates Hinman Collator functions, Designed for iOS devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shelvd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelvd-smart-book-tracker/id6759407922)

Effortlessly log your reading progress by simply taking a photo of any page. This app organizes your library visually, tracks detailed reading statistics, and syncs with Goodreads. It also facilitates book club participation and helps manage your to-read list.

**Highlights:** Photo-based page logging, Visual book shelves, Goodreads synchronization, Import entire reading history, Detailed reading statistics, Book club features, Add books via cover photo

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus (Monthly) | $6.00 | per month |
| Pro (Monthly) | $12.00 | per month |
| Full Shelfie (Monthly) | $18.00 | per month |
| Plus (Annual) | $58.00 | per year |
| Pro (Annual) | $114.99 | per year |
| Full Shelfie (Annual) | $172.99 | per year |
| Founders (Annual) | $299.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketHinman free?

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

### Is Shelvd free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PocketHinman or Shelvd?

PocketHinman is rated higher. PocketHinman averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Shelvd averages 3.9 from 11 ratings.

### Do PocketHinman or Shelvd have ads?

Neither PocketHinman nor Shelvd shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketHinman or Shelvd?

PocketHinman ships an update fortnightly, and Shelvd fortnightly. Most recently, PocketHinman was updated on November 2, 2026 and Shelvd on October 31, 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.*