# BookBuddy vs MLOL Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BookBuddy at 82% against MLOL Reader's 35%. BookBuddy also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and chart position (#151 vs unranked). MLOL Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, 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. MLOL Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

BookBuddy ships an update every 3 days, MLOL Reader every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookBuddy | MLOL Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-book-tracker/id395150347/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 34.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#151** | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kimico, Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/395149953) | [Horizons Unlimited H.U. srl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1408636477) |

## What reviewers say

### BookBuddy

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

**Currently charting:** #151 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


### MLOL Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mlol-reader/id1516845341)

Access and borrow hundreds of thousands of ebooks from Italian publishers through a revamped digital reading platform. Connect with your library account to explore vast collections from public, academic, and school catalogs.

**Highlights:** Borrow ebooks from MLOL catalogs, Access public, academic, and school libraries, Search and borrow from hundreds of thousands of titles, Login with existing library credentials, Read ebooks from major Italian publishers

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookBuddy free?

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

### Is MLOL Reader free?

MLOL Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do BookBuddy or MLOL Reader have ads?

Neither BookBuddy nor MLOL Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BookBuddy or MLOL Reader?

BookBuddy ships an update every 3 days, and MLOL Reader every 2 months. Most recently, BookBuddy was updated on November 3, 2026 and MLOL Reader on November 3, 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.*