# BookBuddy vs LibraryThing

The clearest difference is rating: BookBuddy at 4.8 against LibraryThing's 3.5. BookBuddy also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 48%) and ratings volume (15K vs 278). LibraryThing's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, 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. LibraryThing asks for nothing beyond the download.

BookBuddy holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BookBuddy has 15K ratings behind it against 278, 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 48% of LibraryThing's.

BookBuddy ships an update fortnightly, LibraryThing every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookBuddy | LibraryThing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbuddy-book-tracker/id395150347/reviews)** | [3.5 (278 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 278 |
| Positive reviews | **81.6% of reviews** | 48.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#186** | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kimico, Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/395149953) | [LibraryThing.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/397718884) |

## What reviewers say

### BookBuddy

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

**Currently charting:** #186 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


### LibraryThing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489)

Catalog your personal book, DVD, and CD collections. Easily add items by searching or scanning barcodes. Enhance your catalog with high-resolution cover photos and browse your collection visually.

**Highlights:** Catalog books, DVDs, and CDs, Search for media items, Scan ISBN barcodes, Add high-resolution cover photos, Browse collection by cover type

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick barcode scanning
- 👍 Useful for cataloging library
- 🚀 Fast book addition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔍 Limited search and editing capabilities
- 🤖 Outdated and dated UI

**Reported bugs**

- Barcode scanner not working
- Books disappearing from catalog
- Editing and saving issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to create custom collections
- Offline access to library
- Integration with other book apps
- Lending/loan tracking feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookBuddy free?

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

### Is LibraryThing free?

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

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

BookBuddy is rated higher. BookBuddy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while LibraryThing averages 3.5 from 278 ratings.

### Do BookBuddy or LibraryThing have ads?

Neither BookBuddy nor LibraryThing shows ads.

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

BookBuddy ships an update fortnightly, and LibraryThing every 4 weeks. Most recently, BookBuddy was updated on September 24, 2026 and LibraryThing on September 24, 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.*