# BookPine vs Understory

BookPine and Understory both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 96% of Understory's written reviews are positive against 25% of BookPine's. Understory also leads on chart position (#207 vs unranked). BookPine's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs freemium). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BookPine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Understory sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BookPine against 4.9 for Understory. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 74 and 55 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 25% of BookPine's written reviews are positive against 96% of Understory's.

BookPine ships an update weekly, Understory every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BookPine | Understory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookpine-book-tracker-and-stats/id6739737366/reviews) | **[4.9 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/understory-reading-tracker/id6767701983/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **74** | 55 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **95.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#207** |
| Size | 101 MB | 171 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Devpri SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1679575613) | [Understory Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896501166) |

## What reviewers say

### BookPine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookpine-book-tracker-and-stats/id6739737366)

Track your reading journey with detailed stats, custom lists, and reading goals. Easily import your library from other platforms and discover ambient sounds for focused reading. Share your progress and connect with a community of book lovers.

**Highlights:** Detailed reading stats and insights, Custom lists and shelves for organization, Personalized reading goals and challenges, Import from Goodreads, StoryGraph, LibraryThing, Ambient sounds for focused reading, Social features to follow friends and share reviews, Transaction log for borrowed, lent, or purchased books

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BookPine Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| BookPine Pro | $49.99 | per year |


### Understory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/understory-reading-tracker/id6767701983)

**Currently charting:** #207 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

This app helps you track your reading progress, set goals, and build a consistent reading habit. It features a unique plant aesthetic, social interaction with friends, and the ability to grow real-world trees by meeting reading objectives. Organize your library, share recommendations, and gain insights into your reading habits.

**Highlights:** Track reading progress and log books, Set reading goals and streaks, Grow real-world trees by meeting objectives, Social features for book groups and friends, Organize library with custom lists, Share book recommendations, View reading statistics and insights

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Understory Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Understory Premium - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Understory Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Understory Premium - Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Streak Freeze | $0.99 | one-time |
| Streak Restore | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BookPine free?

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

### Is Understory free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BookPine or Understory?

Understory is rated higher. BookPine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 74 ratings, while Understory averages 4.9 from 55 ratings.

### Do BookPine or Understory have ads?

Neither BookPine nor Understory shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BookPine or Understory?

BookPine ships an update weekly, and Understory every 9 days. Most recently, BookPine was updated on October 28, 2026 and Understory on October 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.*