# Hardcover.app vs Wordshelf

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Wordshelf at 100% against Hardcover.app's 52%. Wordshelf also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Hardcover.app's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hardcover.app sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Wordshelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

Wordshelf holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 97 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Hardcover.app's written reviews are positive against 100% of Wordshelf's.

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, Wordshelf every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardcover.app | Wordshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893/reviews) | **[4.8 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordshelf/id6444873974/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 60 | **97** |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Hardcover LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663379895) | [Sourse Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1535336712) |

## What reviewers say

### Hardcover.app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893)

This app helps you organize and discover books. Track what you've read, create custom lists, and see what friends are reading. Set reading goals and share your thoughts on books.

**Highlights:** Track read and to-read books, Organize with lists and tags, See friends' reading activity, Discover trending books, Rate and review books, Set reading goals, Track reading statistics

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Supporter - Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


### Wordshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordshelf/id6444873974)

Effortlessly capture, understand, and remember new words encountered while reading or studying. Utilize AI-powered mnemonics and visual aids to enhance retention. Track your vocabulary growth and organize learned words by the book you're reading.

**Highlights:** Scan pages or type words to look up, Definitions, pronunciation, examples, synonyms, etymology, Personalized AI mnemonics and memory images, Words organized by book, Vocabulary progress tracking, Supports 20+ languages

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hardcover.app free?

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

### Is Wordshelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hardcover.app or Wordshelf?

Wordshelf is rated higher. Hardcover.app averages 4.2 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Wordshelf averages 4.8 from 97 ratings.

### Do Hardcover.app or Wordshelf have ads?

Neither Hardcover.app nor Wordshelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hardcover.app or Wordshelf?

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, and Wordshelf every 3 days. Most recently, Hardcover.app was updated on September 28, 2026 and Wordshelf on September 23, 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.*