# iBOOKLIGHT vs Bookjournal.app

The clearest difference is rating: Bookjournal.app at 4.4 against iBOOKLIGHT's 3.5. Bookjournal.app also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (249 vs 41). iBOOKLIGHT's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Bookjournal.app holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookjournal.app has 249 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of iBOOKLIGHT's written reviews are positive against 45% of Bookjournal.app's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

iBOOKLIGHT ships an update every 12 months, Bookjournal.app weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iBOOKLIGHT | Bookjournal.app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibooklight/id301861333/reviews) | **[4.4 (249 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookjournalapp/id6447931333/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **249** |
| Positive reviews | **46.0% of reviews** | 44.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [jami becker](https://appshunter.io/developer/300634303) | [Rowan Trollope](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683047449) |

## 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


### Bookjournal.app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookjournalapp/id6447931333)

Easily log books you've read, record ratings, thoughts, and notes. Enhance your entries with stickers and share your favorite reads with others. This app offers a convenient digital alternative to traditional reading journals.

**Highlights:** Track read books, Record ratings and notes, Add stickers to entries, Share favorite books, Digital reading journal

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Half-star rating option
- 📚 Good for tracking reading progress
- ✨ Customizable features
- 📖 Great for organizing books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Deleted books reappear
- 🐛 Goodreads import issues
- 🐛 Incorrect book info
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App won't open/stay open

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted books reappear
- Goodreads import does not work
- Incorrect book titles/covers after import
- Duplicate books
- App crashes

**Requested features**

- Connect with friends
- Add timer for reading tracking
- More information like a timer
- Audiobooks as a selection
- Add friends


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iBOOKLIGHT free?

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

### Is Bookjournal.app free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iBOOKLIGHT or Bookjournal.app?

Bookjournal.app is rated higher. iBOOKLIGHT averages 3.5 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Bookjournal.app averages 4.4 from 249 ratings.

### Do iBOOKLIGHT or Bookjournal.app have ads?

Neither iBOOKLIGHT nor Bookjournal.app shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iBOOKLIGHT or Bookjournal.app?

iBOOKLIGHT ships an update every 12 months, and Bookjournal.app weekly. Most recently, iBOOKLIGHT was updated on October 14, 2026 and Bookjournal.app on October 17, 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.*