Comparison

Shelfable vs BookTales

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shelfable

Effortlessly manage your book collection with barcode scanning and smart organization. Track reading progress and access detailed book information to find your next read faster.

Highlights
  • Barcode scanning for instant cataloging
  • Custom organization by room and shelf
  • Reading progress tracking
  • Access book metadata
  • Handles large collections
Read full description

Say goodbye to the endless search for that one book and hello to a perfectly organised library. Shelfable makes it easy (and even fun) to keep track of your books. Especially when your collection is bigger than your bookshelf. WHY SHELFABLE Because “I know it’s here somewhere” isn’t a strategy. With barcode scanning and smart organisation, Shelfable helps you scan, sort, and find your books faster than you can say, “Where did I put that?” Whether you organize by room, bookshelf, or individual shelf, your books will always be exactly where you need them. FEATURES • Barcode scanning magic. Scan a book’s barcode, and Shelfable does the rest. It instantly catalogs the book with all the key details. • Custom organisation. Sort your books into rooms, bookshelves, and individual shelves. • Track your reading progress. Mark books as unread, to be read or completed. • Book metadata. Instantly access details like publication date, genre, and more, making it easier to find your next great read. • Built for big collections. Whether you have a couple of shelves or an entire home library, Shelfable handles collections of all sizes. DISCOVER, TRACK, ORGANISE Your library deserves to be as smart as you are. With Shelfable, you’ll spend less time searching and more time reading. Start organising today—and read happily ever after!

About

BookTales

This app provides a cozy space to organize your books, set reading goals, and connect with a community of readers. Share recommendations, join book clubs, and discover new reads through a unique 'Blind Date With a Book' feature.

Highlights
  • Cozy bookshelf organization
  • Reading goal setting
  • Community feed for sharing
  • Blind Date With a Book discovery
  • Book club creation and joining
  • Detailed book reflections
  • Direct messaging
Features
Read full description

Tales is your cozy corner of the reading world. It's a soft, welcoming space where your books, your thoughts, and your community all live together. Build a cozy bookshelf filled with the stories you’ve finished, the ones you’re savoring, and the titles waiting patiently on your TBR. Set gentle reading goals, keep track of your reading streak, and watch your reading life bloom. Share your favorite reads, recommendations, and bookish moments through the Tales feed, a friendly community space made just for readers. Tag books in your posts so your followers can easily add them to their own shelves, or send a personal recommendation straight to a friend when a story reminds you of them. Feeling adventurous? Tap the little globe on your shelf to try Blind Date With a Book, where you discover a surprise read wrapped in mystery and vibes. Join or create a clubs to connect with readers nearby or across the country. Chat through threaded discussions, track your club’s reads, and enjoy the feeling of reading together — even when you’re apart. You can also directly message friends for one‑on‑one conversations. When you finish a book, reflect on it your way. Give it a simple star rating or dive deeper with optional details like feelings, spice level, trigger warnings, and tags. Tales is more than a tracker, it’s a cozy home for your reading life, built for connection, discovery, and the simple joy of books.

Screenshots

Shelfable4 screens
BookTales4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BookTales at 100% against Shelfable's 0%. BookTales also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). Shelfable's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BookTales holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Shelfable's written reviews are positive against 100% of BookTales's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shelfable ships an update every 5 days, BookTales every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Shelfable versus BookTales: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShelfableBookTales
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB55 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFrederick AndersenOWEN JOHN STOKES CAWLEY

Customer experience

Shelfable

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

BookTales

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Shelfable

No in-app purchases

None

BookTales

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shelfable free?
Shelfable is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BookTales free?
BookTales is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Shelfable or BookTales?
BookTales is rated higher. Shelfable averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while BookTales averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Shelfable or BookTales have ads?
Neither Shelfable nor BookTales shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shelfable or BookTales?
Shelfable ships an update every 5 days, and BookTales every 2 months. Most recently, Shelfable was updated on October 10, 2026 and BookTales on October 30, 2026.

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