# Hardcover.app vs Bookcase by Astropad

The clearest difference is rating: Bookcase by Astropad at 4.7 against Hardcover.app's 4.2. Bookcase by Astropad also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 months). Hardcover.app's advantage is ratings volume (66 vs 6) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Bookcase by Astropad holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hardcover.app has 66 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Hardcover.app's written reviews are positive against 80% of Bookcase by Astropad's.

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, Bookcase by Astropad every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardcover.app | Bookcase by Astropad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893/reviews) | **[4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookcase-by-astropad/id6736535823/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **66** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 52.2% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hardcover LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663379895) | [Astro HQ](https://appshunter.io/developer/934510729) |

## 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 |


### Bookcase by Astropad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookcase-by-astropad/id6736535823)

This app helps create an ideal reading environment by automatically adjusting phone settings and opening preferred reading apps when connected to a specific accessory. Customize your reading experience for seamless immersion.

**Highlights:** Customizable reading environment, Automatic app launching, Phone setting toggles (Do Not Disturb, Reading Mode), Triggered by accessory connection, Personalized reading experience

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hardcover.app free?

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

### Is Bookcase by Astropad free?

Bookcase by Astropad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hardcover.app or Bookcase by Astropad?

Bookcase by Astropad is rated higher. Hardcover.app averages 4.2 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while Bookcase by Astropad averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do Hardcover.app or Bookcase by Astropad have ads?

Neither Hardcover.app nor Bookcase by Astropad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hardcover.app or Bookcase by Astropad?

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, and Bookcase by Astropad every 5 days. Most recently, Hardcover.app was updated on November 3, 2026 and Bookcase by Astropad on October 30, 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.*