# BookBuddy vs Library Catalog

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Library Catalog at none against BookBuddy's 5. Library Catalog also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). BookBuddy's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (16K vs 15). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BookBuddy sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Library Catalog asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BookBuddy against 4.8 for Library Catalog. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BookBuddy has 16K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of BookBuddy's written reviews are positive against 73% of Library Catalog's.

BookBuddy ships an update every 3 days, Library Catalog every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookBuddy | Library Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-book-tracker/id395150347/reviews)** | [4.8 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/library-catalog/id1515907399/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 72.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#161** | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kimico, Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/395149953) | [Vladimir Yakushev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1515907398) |

## What reviewers say

### BookBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-book-tracker/id395150347)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

Manage your personal book collection with ease. Scan barcodes, track borrowed and lent books, and gain insights into your reading habits. Sync across devices and personalize your library organization.

**Highlights:** Barcode scanning, ISBN entry, Online book search, Track borrowed/lent books, Sync across devices, Reading statistics, Export library data

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| 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 |
| BookBuddy Pro (Lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient book scanning
- 📚 Comprehensive book cataloging
- 🔍 Helpful search and filtering options
- 💻 Syncs across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited search capabilities
- 🔢 Restrictive free version limits
- 🔀 Issues with series organization
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 📚 Struggles with older/obscure books

**Reported bugs**

- Books disappearing from library
- Syncing issues between devices
- Barcode scanning not always reliable

**Requested features**

- Allow sorting by author last name
- Add ability to track reading progress
- Integrate with other book services (e.g. Goodreads)
- Improve duplicate book detection
- Expand export/sharing options


### Library Catalog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/library-catalog/id1515907399)

Organize your personal book collection digitally. Easily add books, create custom lists, and share your collections. Discover new reads with expert recommendations and manage wish-lists across all your devices.

**Highlights:** Add books with a few clicks, Organize books on virtual shelves, Create custom book lists, Share book collections and links, Get expert recommendations, Manage wish-lists and reading lists, Access lists on all devices

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookBuddy free?

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

### Is Library Catalog free?

Library Catalog is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BookBuddy or Library Catalog?

BookBuddy is rated higher. BookBuddy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while Library Catalog averages 4.8 from 15 ratings.

### Do BookBuddy or Library Catalog have ads?

Neither BookBuddy nor Library Catalog shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BookBuddy or Library Catalog?

BookBuddy ships an update every 3 days, and Library Catalog every 3 weeks. Most recently, BookBuddy was updated on November 11, 2026 and Library Catalog on November 7, 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.*