# BookBuddy vs APLApp

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BookBuddy at 82% against APLApp's 0%. BookBuddy also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.4) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). APLApp'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. APLApp asks for nothing beyond the download.

BookBuddy holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BookBuddy has 16K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of BookBuddy's written reviews are positive against 0% of APLApp's.

BookBuddy ships an update every 3 days, APLApp every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookBuddy | APLApp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-book-tracker/id395150347/reviews)** | [3.4 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aplapp/id1548992958/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 0.0% 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 | **#172** | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kimico, Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/395149953) | [Capira Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1010559443) |

## What reviewers say

### BookBuddy

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

**Currently charting:** #172 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


### APLApp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aplapp/id1548992958)

Access your local library's catalog, manage your account, and discover events and resources on the go. Reserve items, track checkouts, and explore online learning materials from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Reserve items, Manage multiple library accounts, View and register for events, Access online learning resources, View library hours and locations

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookBuddy free?

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

### Is APLApp free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BookBuddy or APLApp?

BookBuddy is rated higher. BookBuddy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while APLApp averages 3.4 from 8 ratings.

### Do BookBuddy or APLApp have ads?

Neither BookBuddy nor APLApp shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BookBuddy or APLApp?

BookBuddy ships an update every 3 days, and APLApp every 3 weeks. Most recently, BookBuddy was updated on November 12, 2026 and APLApp on November 11, 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.*