# iBOOKLIGHT vs BookBuddy Pro

The clearest difference is price: iBOOKLIGHT at Free against BookBuddy Pro's $9.99. iBOOKLIGHT also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 26.0). BookBuddy Pro's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.5) and review sentiment (87% vs 46%). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

iBOOKLIGHT is free to download; BookBuddy Pro costs $9.99 up front. iBOOKLIGHT sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and BookBuddy Pro sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BookBuddy Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BookBuddy Pro has 6K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of iBOOKLIGHT's written reviews are positive against 87% of BookBuddy Pro's.

iBOOKLIGHT ships an update every 12 months, BookBuddy Pro every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iBOOKLIGHT | BookBuddy Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [3.5 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibooklight/id301861333/reviews) | **[4.8 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-pro-book-tracker/id395149950/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **6K** |
| Positive reviews | 46.0% of reviews | **87.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#3** |
| Size | 14 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [jami becker](https://appshunter.io/developer/300634303) | [Kimico, Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/395149953) |

## What reviewers say

### iBOOKLIGHT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibooklight/id301861333)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a convenient book light for nighttime reading. This app offers a simple, clean interface to illuminate your pages without disturbing others. Position it upright or on a pillow for a fuss-free reading experience.

**Highlights:** Turns device into a book light, Simple and clean interface, Adjustable positioning, Stays on indefinitely, No fussy controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Logo on Light Screen | $0.99 | one-time |
| Change light screen color hue | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Simple and straightforward design
- 📖 Perfect for bedtime reading without disturbing others
- 🔆 Adjustable brightness for comfortable reading
- ⏱️ Stays on indefinitely when configured properly
- 🆓 Free app with no mandatory payments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Screen turns off after 30 seconds to a few minutes without proper settings
- 📱 Just adjusts phone brightness - limited functionality
- 💰 In-app purchases for hue changes that don't work properly
- 📢 Intrusive ads that pop up frequently
- 🔊 Ads with sound can wake sleeping partners

**Reported bugs**

- Screen goes dark after 30 seconds despite claims of indefinite operation
- In-app hue purchase feature non-functional
- Page number saves don't persist after closing app
- Settings button does nothing or is non-functional
- Brightness changes affect phone's system brightness permanently

**Requested features**

- Built-in brightness adjustment within app without phone settings
- Auto-lock settings integrated into app
- Multiple color/hue options that actually work
- Clear in-app instructions for first-time users
- Dark mode or warmer light options for eye comfort


### BookBuddy Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-pro-book-tracker/id395149950)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Paid · Book (US App Store)

Manage your personal book collection with an intuitive library manager. Easily add books via scanning or ISBN, organize them into custom lists, and track borrowed or lent items. Gain insights into your reading habits and sync your library across devices.

**Highlights:** Barcode scanning for book entry, Organize books into custom lists, Track borrowed and lent books, Sync library across multiple devices, Reading habit statistics, Export library to CSV, PDF, HTML, Classroom library management

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Online Sharing Std (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Online Sharing Pro (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Online Sharing Std (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Online Sharing Pro (Yearly) | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient scanning and cataloging
- 🚀 Customizable organization
- 🚀 Helpful customer support
- 🚀 Affordable one-time purchase

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional syncing issues
- 🐛 Limited search functionality
- 🐛 Difficulty adding ebooks and audiobooks
- 🐛 Inability to batch edit or assign multiple categories

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after recent updates
- Incorrect book information pulled from database
- Scanning issues with older or international books

**Requested features**

- Ability to add multiple authors per book
- Option to sort by publication date or series order
- Integration with ebook/audiobook platforms
- Batch editing and multi-select capabilities
- Online/cloud-based access to library


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iBOOKLIGHT free?

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

### Is BookBuddy Pro free?

BookBuddy Pro costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iBOOKLIGHT or BookBuddy Pro?

BookBuddy Pro is rated higher. iBOOKLIGHT averages 3.5 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while BookBuddy Pro averages 4.8 from 6K ratings.

### Do iBOOKLIGHT or BookBuddy Pro have ads?

Neither iBOOKLIGHT nor BookBuddy Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iBOOKLIGHT or BookBuddy Pro?

iBOOKLIGHT ships an update every 12 months, and BookBuddy Pro every 3 days. Most recently, iBOOKLIGHT was updated on October 31, 2026 and BookBuddy Pro on November 1, 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.*