# Hardcover.app vs Italic Type

The clearest difference is rating: Italic Type at 4.8 against Hardcover.app's 4.2. Italic Type also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (86% vs 52%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Italic Type holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Hardcover.app's written reviews are positive against 86% of Italic Type's.

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, Italic Type every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardcover.app | Italic Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893/reviews) | **[4.8 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italic-type-easy-book-tracker/id6462011660/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **60** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | **86.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hardcover LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663379895) | [Italic Type LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1494246792) |

## 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 |


### Italic Type

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italic-type-easy-book-tracker/id6462011660)

Organize your reading life with this book tracker. Import data, manage your reading queue, and take private notes on books, quotes, and new words. Share recommendations and create virtual book clubs.

**Highlights:** Import Goodreads data, Manage reading queue, Add context labels, Private book board for notes, Track quotes and new words, Recommend books to friends, Create virtual book clubs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hardcover.app free?

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

### Is Italic Type free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hardcover.app or Italic Type?

Italic Type is rated higher. Hardcover.app averages 4.2 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Italic Type averages 4.8 from 30 ratings.

### Do Hardcover.app or Italic Type have ads?

Neither Hardcover.app nor Italic Type shows ads.

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

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, and Italic Type every 3 months. Most recently, Hardcover.app was updated on September 23, 2026 and Italic Type on September 19, 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.*