# NetGalley Shelf vs SmarText

The clearest difference is rating: SmarText at 5.0 against NetGalley Shelf's 2.1. SmarText also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). NetGalley Shelf's advantage is ratings volume (85 vs 2) and chart position (#126 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

SmarText holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetGalley Shelf has 85 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, SmarText every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetGalley Shelf | SmarText |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (85 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartext/id6757114026/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **85** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 19.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#126** | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | — |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [NetGalley, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499581599) | [Joseph Bellegarde](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759769779) |

## What reviewers say

### NetGalley Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600)

**Currently charting:** #126 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access and review digital books and audiobooks provided by publishers and authors. Discover new titles, download them for offline reading, or stream audiobooks directly within the app. This platform is designed for book advocates and industry professionals to provide valuable feedback.

**Highlights:** Access digital review copies, Listen to audiobooks, Download books for offline reading, Stream audiobooks, Discover new titles, Request and review books

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works fine for some users
- 👍 Keeps user logged in
- 👍 Audiobooks work well
- 🚀 Able to read ebooks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Narration speed issues
- 🐛 Confusing interface
- 🔒 Login issues
- 🐛 Bookmarks and positions don't sync
- 🐛 No built-in dictionary

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Downloading issues with audiobooks
- Books disappearing from shelf
- Inability to remove expired books
- Inconsistent behavior when opening books

**Requested features**

- Add ability to write reviews within the app
- Improve audiobook playback controls
- Add font size adjustment
- Implement dark mode
- Sync reading progress across devices


### SmarText

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartext/id6757114026)

This platform connects authors and readers, allowing writers to publish and monetize their work while readers can discover and purchase unique stories. It offers tools for content creation, sales tracking, and building a personal digital library.

**Highlights:** Publish and monetize literary content, Discover unique stories from independent authors, Build a personal digital library, Track sales and receive secure payments, Download books for offline reading, Personalized recommendations

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetGalley Shelf free?

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

### Is SmarText free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NetGalley Shelf or SmarText?

SmarText is rated higher. NetGalley Shelf averages 2.1 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while SmarText averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Which is updated more often, NetGalley Shelf or SmarText?

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, and SmarText every 3 months. Most recently, NetGalley Shelf was updated on October 24, 2026 and SmarText on October 3, 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.*