# BookBuddy vs PCDL

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PCDL at none against BookBuddy's 5. PCDL also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). BookBuddy's advantage is ratings volume (16K vs 3) and chart position (#159 vs unranked). 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. PCDL asks for nothing beyond the download.

PCDL holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BookBuddy has 16K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookBuddy | PCDL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-book-tracker/id395150347/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcdl/id6748346546/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#159** | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kimico, Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/395149953) | [Portage County District Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/1825343782) |

## What reviewers say

### BookBuddy

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

**Currently charting:** #159 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


### PCDL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcdl/id6748346546)

Access your library account, manage checkouts and holds, and renew items. Search the catalog for physical and digital materials, including books, movies, and music. Discover and register for library programs and events.

**Highlights:** Manage library account, View checkouts and holds, Renew items, Search catalog for physical and digital items, Access digital media, Register for library programs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookBuddy free?

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

### Is PCDL free?

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

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

PCDL is rated higher. BookBuddy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while PCDL averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do BookBuddy or PCDL have ads?

Neither BookBuddy nor PCDL shows ads.

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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.*