The Beyond vs Shelf Scan
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Beyond
Explore a cosmic adventure through romance, piracy, and death in this interactive comic. Make choices that shape your unique story, with hundreds of possible paths. Features full audio accessibility for an immersive experience.
- Interactive storytelling
- Multiple branching paths
- Cosmic adventure themes
- Redesigned infinite scroll canvas
- Full audio accessibility (VoiceOver)
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THE BEYOND: an interactive comic by Jason Shiga Your death was a tragedy... your afterlife is a mystery. Unravel the secrets of death with the help of Xochitl, your guide. Can you find your way through the doors of the great library of the Beyond? THE BEYOND is not an ordinary comic. YOU make the choices that determine how the story unfolds. THE BEYOND splits off into hundreds of different adventures. - A cosmic adventure through romance, piracy, and death. - Completely redesigned by the author for an infinite scrollable canvas. - Full audio accessibility with VoiceOver; every panel and choice can be spoken.
Shelf Scan
Instantly identify books from a photo of any bookshelf using AI. See ratings at a glance and discover your next great read. Integrates with your reading list to highlight books you want to read.
- Instant book recognition from shelf photos
- View book ratings at a glance
- Reading list integration
- Smart highlighting of to-read books
- Scan history saving
- No account required for basic use
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Overwhelmed by endless bookshelves? Can't decide which book to read next? Shelf Scan uses AI to instantly identify books from a single photo and shows you the highest-rated titles at a glance. Whether you're browsing a bookstore, library, or your own collection, find your next great read in seconds. HOW IT WORKS: -Snap a photo of any bookshelf -AI identifies every book spine instantly -See ratings for each book -Discover which books are on your reading list -Find the highest-rated books immediately KEY FEATURES: -Instant Book Recognition Point your camera at a bookshelf and watch the magic happen. Our AI identifies multiple books simultaneously from spine text alone. -Ratings at a Glance Every book shows its rating so you can spot the gems instantly. Sort by rating to find the best books first. -Reading List Integration Import your Goodreads reading list and instantly see which books are yours. No more forgetting what's on your to-read list! -Smart Highlighting Books on your reading list are automatically highlighted with a special badge. Never miss a book you've been meaning to read. -Scan History Save your scans and revisit them later. Perfect for tracking books you discovered at different locations. -Works Everywhere Bookstores, libraries, friends' homes, thrift stores, used book sales - if there's a bookshelf, we can scan it. -No Account Required Use the app instantly without signing up. Create an optional account to save scans and sync your reading list. PERFECT FOR: -Book lovers browsing bookstores or libraries -Readers trying to remember what's on their to-read list -Anyone overwhelmed by too many book choices -Library visitors who want to find the best books quickly -Book collectors organizing their shelves -Gift shoppers looking for highly-rated books WHY Shelf Scan? Stop wasting time checking every book individually on your phone. One photo gives you everything you need to make an informed choice. Find hidden gems, avoid disappointing reads, and never forget which books you wanted to read. PRIVACY FIRST: -Use without an account (guest mode) -Images processed temporarily, never stored permanently -You control all your data -No ads, no tracking, no data selling -Download Shelf Scan today and transform how you discover your next favorite book!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Shelf Scan at Free against The Beyond's $3.99. Shelf Scan also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.6). The Beyond's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.5). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Shelf Scan is free to download; The Beyond costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The Beyond holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
The Beyond ships an update every 10 months, Shelf Scan monthly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.
| Parameter | The Beyond | Shelf Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 73 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Zarfhome Software Consulting | Daniel Anthony Dolewski Ii |
Customer experience
The Beyond
Shelf Scan
In-app purchases
The Beyond
No in-app purchases
Shelf Scan
No in-app purchases
