# BookBuddy vs Build A Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Build A Reader at none against BookBuddy's 5. Build A Reader also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). BookBuddy's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 14 months) and chart position (#163 vs unranked). 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. Build A Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

BookBuddy ships an update every 10 days, Build A Reader every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookBuddy | Build A Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-book-tracker/id395150347/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 81.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#163** | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 204 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) | [Tulsa City-County Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/456403254) |

## What reviewers say

### BookBuddy

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

**Currently charting:** #163 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

Manage your entire book collection digitally, track reading progress, and organize your library. Easily add books by scanning, searching, or manual entry. Keep tabs on borrowed and lent items, and gain insights into your reading habits.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes to add books, Organize into custom categories, Track borrowed and lent books, Sync library across devices, Analyze reading statistics, Import/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


### Build A Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-a-reader/id1601749442)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookBuddy free?

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

### Is Build A Reader free?

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

### Do BookBuddy or Build A Reader have ads?

Neither BookBuddy nor Build A Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BookBuddy or Build A Reader?

BookBuddy ships an update every 10 days, and Build A Reader every 14 months. Most recently, BookBuddy was updated on September 28, 2026 and Build A Reader on September 22, 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.*