# Margins vs MindShelf

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MindShelf at none against Margins's 3. Margins's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (20K vs 1). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Margins sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. MindShelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Margins against 5.0 for MindShelf. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Margins has 20K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Margins ships an update every 4 days, MindShelf every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Margins | MindShelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/margins-book-tracker/id6737528718/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindshelf-read-and-remember/id6763793105/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **20K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#89** | — |
| Size | 115 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Paratext Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1724586882) | [Fawaz Alkhodier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780325514) |

## What reviewers say

### Margins

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/margins-book-tracker/id6737528718)

**Currently charting:** #89 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

This app helps you discover, track, and share your reading journey. It offers detailed tracking options, customizable features, and powerful search capabilities. Stay focused on your reading goals with built-in tools to minimize distractions.

**Highlights:** Half-star ratings, Track recommendations, Customizable book covers, Fuzzy date tracking, Advanced book search, Reading goals, Reading timer, Distraction blocking

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
- 🔍 Helpful search and recommendation features
- 📚 Comprehensive book tracking capabilities
- 🔄 Smooth import from Goodreads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Missing books in the database
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🔒 Concerns about using phone number for sign-up
- 🔢 Lack of social features and community

**Reported bugs**

- Reading time not saving correctly
- Inability to delete or edit books from lists
- Inconsistent behavior when importing data from Goodreads

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track page progress and percentage read
- Implement a profile system with custom avatars and bios
- Introduce a social feed to share reading activity with friends
- Add more advanced statistics and reading analytics


### MindShelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindshelf-read-and-remember/id6763793105)

Organize your reading by creating a digital bookshelf. Save notes, quotes, and lessons from each book to easily revisit important ideas. This app provides a focused space for your thoughts, helping you retain knowledge from various genres.

**Highlights:** Digital bookshelf creation, Instant book search and add, Save notes, quotes, and lessons, Organize thoughts by book, Reading insights and patterns, Minimalist design for focus, Secure cross-device sync

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Margins free?

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

### Is MindShelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Margins or MindShelf?

MindShelf is rated higher. Margins averages 4.9 out of 5 from 20K ratings, while MindShelf averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Margins or MindShelf have ads?

Neither Margins nor MindShelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Margins or MindShelf?

Margins ships an update every 4 days, and MindShelf every 6 months. Most recently, Margins was updated on November 1, 2026 and MindShelf on October 28, 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.*