Comparison

Bookology vs ToRead

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

Head to head
About

Bookology

This app helps avid readers organize their book collection, track reading progress, and analyze their habits. It offers features like barcode scanning for easy book entry, customizable virtual bookshelves, and a reading timer with lock screen updates. Users can also capture notes, import data from other platforms, and view detailed reading statistics.

Highlights
  • Library management with barcode scanning
  • Customizable virtual bookshelf
  • Reading timer with Live Activities
  • Progress tracking by pages or percentage
  • Notes, quotes, and reviews
  • Import from Kindle, Goodreads, and more
  • Detailed reading statistics
Features
Read full description

Bookology is a reading tracker and analytics app. Whether you're a casual reader or a devoted bookworm, it helps you organize your library, track your progress, and build a lifelong reading habit with ease. [Library Management] - Quickly add books via barcode scanning, online search, or manual entry - Track reading status: Want to Read, Reading, Finished, Abandoned, On Hold - Organize your collection with custom booklists - Support for categories and series management [Visual Bookshelf] - Skeuomorphic bookshelf with spine and cover display modes - Customize decorations and ornaments to create your own reading space - Sync shelves and lists across devices via the cloud [Reading Timer] - Dedicated reading timer that automatically logs each session - Supports Live Activities for real-time lock screen updates - Start / pause / resume without breaking your tracking - Literary Clock: shows excerpts from literature based on the current time - Add countdown timers to stay focused and goal-oriented [Progress Tracking] - Log progress by pages or percentage - Reading calendar for a clear daily overview [Notes & Reflection] - Capture quotes, thoughts - Support for images and export - Write reviews and rate books - Daily note review: rediscover past notes with a curated daily selection [Multi-Platform Import] - Import notes from Kindle, Apple Books, WeRead, and DiMo Reader - Import your library from Goodreads - Automatic deduplication [Reading Stats & Insights] - Analyze reading time and session patterns - Track formats: print, eBook, audiobook - Monthly and yearly reading summaries - Annual book showcase - Most-read books statistics [Widgets] - Home screen widgets for quick progress tracking - Reading streak widget to help maintain your habit [Bookology Pro] - Cloud backup and cross-device sync - Unlimited booklists - Advanced stats and historical data - Unlimited reading session logs - Full access to bookshelf decorations - Goodreads library import - Continuous access to future Pro features Bookology is dedicated to being your best reading companion, exploring the joy of reading together with you. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://empty.mt/privacy_policy_bookology

About

ToRead

This app helps you focus on reading by providing a distraction-free environment. It quietly tracks your reading time, offers ambient sounds for relaxation, and displays your progress on your lock screen and home screen.

Highlights
  • Distraction-free reading sessions
  • Ambient soundscapes
  • Live Activity and Dynamic Island support
  • Session history and editing
  • Home Screen widget
  • Minimalist interface
  • Optional one-time tips
Features
Read full description

ToRead is free to use, with no ads. The timer, your reading history and weekly reflection are free for everyone. It’s designed to help you spend more time reading, without pressure, goals, or distractions. Start a reading session, put your phone down, and just read. ToRead quietly tracks your reading time, so you can build awareness of your habits without gamification, streaks, or competition. Designed for calm focus • One tap to start reading • Ambient sounds to help you relax: rain and ocean waves, with more in ToRead Plus • Your reading time on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island (ToRead Plus) • Auto-end sessions, in case you forget • Session history with editing and manual entries • A Books page to rename, finish, archive or bring back a book • A weekly widget for the Home and Lock Screen (ToRead Plus) • Minimal interface that stays out of the way Your reading time, simply recorded ToRead focuses on time, not speed or performance. Whether you read for 2 minutes or 2 hours, every session counts. Your reading history helps you reflect on how reading fits into your life — without judging it. Built with intention • Designed for iPhone • Light and dark themes designed for comfort • iCloud sync (when enabled) to keep your data across devices • Privacy-friendly: your data stays yours For readers who just want to read ToRead is for anyone who wants a quieter relationship with reading: • No social feeds • No challenges • No productivity pressure Just reading, at your own pace. Read when you want. Stop when you want. ToRead. ToRead Plus ToRead Plus adds a few comforts: your reading time on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, the weekly Home Screen widget, every ambient sound, and each new sound pack as it arrives. Pay once, keep it forever. If you used ToRead before Plus existed, everything it had then stays yours, with nothing to do. Legal • Privacy Policy: https://horchatastudio.com/toread/privacy/ • Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Bookology4 screens
ToRead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: ToRead at free against Bookology's freemium. ToRead also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 86%). Bookology's advantage is ratings volume (931 vs 9) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Bookology sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and ToRead sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Bookology against 4.9 for ToRead. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookology has 931 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Bookology's written reviews are positive against 100% of ToRead's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bookology ships an update every 6 days, ToRead every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Bookology versus ToRead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookologyToRead
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (931 ratings)4.9 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings931 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#136 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size174 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEmpty StudioFrancisco Martinez

Customer experience

Bookology

All ratings872 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews200 reviews
Positive85.5%
Neutral6.5%
Negative8.0%

ToRead

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Bookology

Subscriptions3
  • Bookology Pro$5.991 Month
  • Bookology Pro$24.991 Year
  • Bookology Pro$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Bookology Pro Lifetime$99.99
3 purchases

ToRead

One-time3
  • Small tip$0.99
  • Medium tip$2.99
  • Large tip$4.99

Questions

Is Bookology free?
Bookology is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ToRead free?
ToRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bookology or ToRead?
ToRead is rated higher. Bookology averages 4.8 out of 5 from 931 ratings, while ToRead averages 4.9 from 9 ratings.
Do Bookology or ToRead have ads?
Neither Bookology nor ToRead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bookology or ToRead?
Bookology ships an update every 6 days, and ToRead every 4 weeks. Most recently, Bookology was updated on October 28, 2026 and ToRead on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons