# NovelQuest vs ShelfBuddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NovelQuest at none against ShelfBuddy's 1. NovelQuest also leads on ads (none vs shown). ShelfBuddy's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly) and device support (3 vs 1). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ShelfBuddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NovelQuest asks for nothing beyond the download.

NovelQuest ships an update fortnightly, ShelfBuddy every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NovelQuest | ShelfBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfbuddy-book-tracker/id6755234669/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **6** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hydra Softworks](https://appshunter.io/developer/550896869) | [JAN-HENNING BUNS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852741600) |

## What reviewers say

### NovelQuest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novelquest/id6654914538)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ShelfBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfbuddy-book-tracker/id6755234669)

Organize your personal library with this digital bookshelf app. Track owned books, audiobooks, wishlists, and reading progress. Features include series tracking, community ratings, and reading insights.

**Highlights:** Digital bookshelf organization, Track owned books and audiobooks, Create wishlists and reading lists, Manage book series, Community ratings and recommendations, Reading progress tracking with timer, Import/export library data

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ShelfBuddy Freischaltung | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NovelQuest free?

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

### Is ShelfBuddy free?

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

### Do NovelQuest or ShelfBuddy have ads?

ShelfBuddy shows ads; NovelQuest does not.

### Which is updated more often, NovelQuest or ShelfBuddy?

NovelQuest ships an update fortnightly, and ShelfBuddy every 3 days. Most recently, NovelQuest was updated on October 30, 2026 and ShelfBuddy on November 6, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*