# Reading Timer vs Reading Journal

The clearest difference is ads: Reading Journal at none against Reading Timer's shown. Reading Journal also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and review sentiment (100% vs 89%). Reading Timer's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reading Timer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month and Reading Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 — 4.9 for Reading Timer against 4.8 for Reading Journal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 35 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Reading Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Reading Journal's.

Reading Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, Reading Journal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reading Timer | Reading Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-timer-time-and-pages/id6751752917/reviews)** | [4.8 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journal-book-tracker/id6757375623/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **35** |
| Positive reviews | 88.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 81 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Seulki Eom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718927408) | [Sergii Nesterenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1686841405) |

## What reviewers say

### Reading Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-timer-time-and-pages/id6751752917)

Track your reading time and pages with a quick timer. Organize your personal library, view detailed reading statistics, and stay motivated with a visual reading heatmap.

**Highlights:** Quick reading timer, Page tracking, Personal library management, Reading statistics and reports, Reading heatmap for streaks, Track reading pace

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading Timer Pro | $1.99 | per month |


### Reading Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journal-book-tracker/id6757375623)

This app helps you remember what you read by tracking your library, reading status, and favorite quotes. Set reading goals, join challenges, and keep your progress organized with personal notes and summaries.

**Highlights:** Track books (want to read, reading, finished), Save quotes, reviews, and summaries, Set reading goals and track progress, Join reading challenges, Sync library with iCloud, Export/import data (JSON/CSV)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Access | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly Access | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reading Timer free?

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

### Is Reading Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Reading Timer or Reading Journal?

Reading Timer is rated higher. Reading Timer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Reading Journal averages 4.8 from 35 ratings.

### Do Reading Timer or Reading Journal have ads?

Reading Timer shows ads; Reading Journal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Reading Timer or Reading Journal?

Reading Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Reading Journal every 3 weeks. Most recently, Reading Timer was updated on October 30, 2026 and Reading Journal on October 31, 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.*