# NetGalley Shelf vs Between Covers

The clearest difference is rating: Between Covers at 5.0 against NetGalley Shelf's 2.1. Between Covers also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). NetGalley Shelf's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (87 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Between Covers sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. NetGalley Shelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

Between Covers holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetGalley Shelf has 87 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, Between Covers every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetGalley Shelf | Between Covers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/between-covers/id6757622557/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **87** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 19.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#176** | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [NetGalley, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499581599) | [Modern Vision Design LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867887781) |

## What reviewers say

### NetGalley Shelf

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

**Currently charting:** #176 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


### Between Covers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/between-covers/id6757622557)

Discover your next favorite romance novel and connect with a passionate community. Get personalized recommendations, join discussions, and explore curated reading experiences. It's the perfect escape for book lovers.

**Highlights:** Curated book recommendations, Mood-based reading picks, Community discussions and polls, Immersive monthly reading themes, Personalized book bestie assistant, 7-day free trial

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Between Covers Membership | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual Membership | $89.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetGalley Shelf free?

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

### Is Between Covers free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NetGalley Shelf or Between Covers?

Between Covers is rated higher. NetGalley Shelf averages 2.1 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Between Covers averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do NetGalley Shelf or Between Covers have ads?

Neither NetGalley Shelf nor Between Covers shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NetGalley Shelf or Between Covers?

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, and Between Covers every 3 weeks. Most recently, NetGalley Shelf was updated on October 25, 2026 and Between Covers on October 22, 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.*