# Hardcover.app vs Softgoods

The clearest difference is update cadence: Softgoods at fortnightly against Hardcover.app's every 6 months. Softgoods also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 52%) and rating (4.4 vs 4.2). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hardcover.app sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Softgoods sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Softgoods holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 66 and 74 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Hardcover.app's written reviews are positive against 74% of Softgoods's.

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, Softgoods fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardcover.app | Softgoods |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893/reviews) | **[4.4 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softgoods/id6450132477/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 66 | **74** |
| Positive reviews | 52.2% of reviews | **74.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hardcover LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663379895) | [Jordan Wagner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571989636) |

## 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 |


### Softgoods

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softgoods/id6450132477)

Organize and journal your favorite fan fiction. Create custom shelves, add notes to stories, and track your reading habits. Share your discoveries and thoughts with friends.

**Highlights:** Store and bookmark fan fiction, Create custom shelves, Add notes to stories, Track reading statistics, Share shelves and notes publicly, Tag stories for easy searching

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hardcover.app free?

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

### Is Softgoods free?

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

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

Softgoods is rated higher. Hardcover.app averages 4.2 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while Softgoods averages 4.4 from 74 ratings.

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

Neither Hardcover.app nor Softgoods shows ads.

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

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, and Softgoods fortnightly. Most recently, Hardcover.app was updated on October 15, 2026 and Softgoods on October 14, 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.*