# Hardcover.app vs Reading Journey

The clearest difference is rating: Reading Journey at 4.8 against Hardcover.app's 4.2. Reading Journey also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 6 months) and review sentiment (73% vs 52%). Hardcover.app's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Reading Journey holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reading Journey has 389 ratings behind it against 66, 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 73% of Reading Journey's.

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, Reading Journey every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hardcover.app | Reading Journey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hardcoverapp/id1663379893/reviews) | **[4.8 (389 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journey-book-tracker/id6749302195/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 66 | **389** |
| Positive reviews | 52.2% of reviews | **73.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hardcover LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663379895) | [Vinh Dinh](https://appshunter.io/developer/412738005) |

## 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 |


### Reading Journey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journey-book-tracker/id6749302195)

Easily log your reading sessions, track your emotions, and discover your reading habits. Share your reading journey with visually appealing graphics and import your existing libraries. This app makes tracking books enjoyable, not a chore.

**Highlights:** Log reading sessions with photos, Track reading emotions and reactions, Quick book import via scanning, DNF (Did Not Finish) book tracking, Import from Goodreads and Storygraph, Goodreads library synchronization

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading Journey Plus | $4.99 | per month |
| Reading Journey Plus | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🥰 Cute and cozy reading experience
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 📚 Unique features like reading journey and DNF graveyard
- 🤳 Ability to import books from images and social media
- 💻 Responsive developers open to feedback

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Issues with location tracking and map feature
- 📝 Lack of batch import or Goodreads integration

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional bugs and glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Option to edit book page counts
- Additional star rating options (0.25, 0.75)
- Ability to follow other users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hardcover.app free?

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

### Is Reading Journey free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hardcover.app or Reading Journey?

Reading Journey is rated higher. Hardcover.app averages 4.2 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while Reading Journey averages 4.8 from 389 ratings.

### Do Hardcover.app or Reading Journey have ads?

Neither Hardcover.app nor Reading Journey shows ads.

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

Hardcover.app ships an update every 6 months, and Reading Journey every 10 days. Most recently, Hardcover.app was updated on October 30, 2026 and Reading Journey 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.*