Comparison

Microsoft Loop vs Book/Read

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Microsoft Loop

This app facilitates collaborative thinking, planning, and creation across devices. It brings together teams, content, and tasks, allowing users to capture ideas, manage projects, and communicate in real-time. Seamlessly integrate with existing tools for a unified workflow.

Highlights
  • Co-creation experience
  • Content and task management
  • Idea capture and task lists
  • Project workspace
  • Real-time commenting and reactions
  • Customizable notifications
  • Cross-Microsoft 365 component editing
Features
Read full description

Think, plan and create together with Loop on the go. Microsoft Loop is a transformative co-creation experience that brings together teams, content and tasks across your tools and devices. Designed for the way you work, Loop can help you think, plan, and create together. • Capture ideas, create task lists, and insert photos to your Loop pages to express your thoughts. • Bring all your project content into a Loop workspace to help your team focus on what matters. • Comment and react in the app to quickly collaborate on the go. • Get only the notifications you care about and jump right back into what needs the most attention. • Edit and share Loop components across Microsoft 365 to help your team be on the same page in one place. To get started, download Loop, and sign in with your Microsoft Account or the account assigned to you by your work or school. This app is provided by either Microsoft or a third-party app publisher and is subject to a separate privacy statement and terms and conditions. Data provided through the use of this store and this app may be accessible to Microsoft or the third-party app publisher, as applicable, and transferred to, stored and processed in the United States or any other country where Microsoft or the app publisher and their affiliates or service providers maintain facilities. Please refer to the End User License Terms for Microsoft Loop. By installing the app, you agree to these terms and conditions. Privacy terms: https://aka.ms/privacy Please refer to the Microsoft Software License Terms, see “License Agreement” under Information. By installing the app, you agree to these terms and conditions.

About

Book/Read

This app helps users track books they have read. It was created as a personal project and is not intended for a broad audience. The developer has a unique approach to user feedback and app development.

Highlights
  • Track books read
  • Personal project
  • Unique feedback policy
  • Paid application
Read full description

This app is not for you. This app exists because my wife looked at the mountain of professional, multi-million dollar options on the market and decided none of them were quite as good as something I could cobble together in my spare time. So, to mitigate the risk of being replaced by a more compliant AI husband, here we are. What it does: scan a book's barcode, or photograph its cover, and Book/Read looks it up for you using OpenLibrary, Google Books, and Apple Books. Then keep track of what you've read and when, how much you liked it (half stars, even), and who recommended it. Everything syncs between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac through iCloud, and you can export your library as a file whenever you like. Important Notice for the General Public: You are NOT the target audience: This app was built for a user base of exactly one (1) wife, four (4) relatives, and maybe three (3) friends who were too polite to say no. The Entitlement Buffer: This app is not free. This is a deliberate barrier to entry designed to repel the entitled masses who enjoy leaving one-star reviews because an app doesn't predict the weather or validate their life choices. The Trespasser’s Fee: If you ignore this warning and buy it anyway, congratulations—you’ve just donated to my "Tolerating the Internet" fund. Your money will be spent on a beverage to help me cope with your existence. Feedback Policy: Unless we're living together, your opinion is statistically irrelevant. If you find a bug, tell your own partner about it; I’m already busy enough being told what’s wrong with the app by mine. If you aren't on the authorized list of people allowed to eat the 'good' snacks in our pantry, please move along. There are thousands of other apps made by people who actually want your money and input. I am not one of them. Get off my lawn, The Grumpy Old Man who created this.

Screenshots

Microsoft Loop4 screens
Book/Read4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Book/Read at 100% against Microsoft Loop's 21%. Book/Read also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). Microsoft Loop's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Microsoft Loop is free to download; Book/Read costs $4.99 up front. Microsoft Loop sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Book/Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Microsoft Loop ships an update monthly, Book/Read every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Microsoft Loop versus Book/Read: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrosoft LoopBook/Read
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.6 (5.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews21.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5.1K — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size167 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrosoft Corporationciretose

Customer experience

Microsoft Loop

All ratings5,029 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews230 reviews
Positive21.3%
Neutral16.5%
Negative62.2%

Book/Read

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Microsoft Loop

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes on certain workspaces
  • Inability to save new content
  • Formatting issues with code blocks
  • Keyboard issues and cursor jumping
  • Inconsistent theme and UI behavior

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to duplicate pages
  • Improved handwriting and whiteboard support
  • Export/copy to Word or PDF
  • Offline functionality
  • Better access management and guest collaboration

Book/Read

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Microsoft Loop

Subscriptions4
  • Microsoft 365 Personal$9.991 Month
  • Microsoft 365 Family$12.991 Month
  • Microsoft 365 Personal$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Microsoft 365 Family$129.991 Year
None

Book/Read

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Microsoft Loop free?
Microsoft Loop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Book/Read free?
Book/Read costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Microsoft Loop or Book/Read have ads?
Neither Microsoft Loop nor Book/Read shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Loop or Book/Read?
Microsoft Loop ships an update monthly, and Book/Read every 9 days. Most recently, Microsoft Loop was updated on October 26, 2026 and Book/Read on October 24, 2026.

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