# NetGalley Shelf vs Reading Journal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NetGalley Shelf at none against Reading Journal's 2. NetGalley Shelf also leads on chart position (#183 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Reading Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reading Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year. NetGalley Shelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, Reading Journal every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetGalley Shelf | Reading Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.1 (82 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **82** | — |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#183** | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NetGalley, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499581599) | [程辉 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789610048) |

## What reviewers say

### NetGalley Shelf

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

**Currently charting:** #183 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


### Reading Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journal-tabmap/id6796663483)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TabMap Pro Annual | $6.99 | per year |
| TabMap Lifetime Pro | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetGalley Shelf free?

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

### Is Reading Journal free?

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

### Do NetGalley Shelf or Reading Journal have ads?

Neither NetGalley Shelf nor Reading Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NetGalley Shelf or Reading Journal?

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, and Reading Journal every 2 weeks. Most recently, NetGalley Shelf was updated on September 24, 2026 and Reading Journal on September 18, 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.*