# ReadMe vs ShelfBuddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ReadMe at none against ShelfBuddy's 1. ReadMe also leads on ads (none vs shown). ShelfBuddy's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ShelfBuddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ReadMe asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ReadMe against 5.0 for ShelfBuddy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ShelfBuddy has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ReadMe ships an update every 6 weeks, ShelfBuddy every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadMe | ShelfBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readme-book-tracker/id6752588976/reviews) | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfbuddy-book-tracker/id6755234669/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Josh Engels](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835514461) | [JAN-HENNING BUNS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852741600) |

## What reviewers say

### ReadMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readme-book-tracker/id6752588976)

This app helps you meticulously track your reading progress, visualize your habits with a calendar heatmap, and build consistent reading streaks. Organize your library, discover reading patterns, and enjoy a beautiful, ad-free experience designed for iOS.

**Highlights:** Log reading sessions by pages and time, Visual calendar heatmap for activity, Build and track reading streaks, Automatic reading speed calculation, Detailed reading statistics and charts, Organize books into custom shelves, Search and add books from external libraries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ShelfBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfbuddy-book-tracker/id6755234669)

Manage your physical book collection digitally with virtual shelves, wishlists, and reading timelines. Track borrowed books with return reminders and view reading statistics. Easily add books by scanning, searching, or manual entry.

**Highlights:** Virtual shelves and wishlists, ISBN barcode scanning, Reading progress tracking, Borrowed book management, Customizable notes and genres, Multilingual interface

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ShelfBuddy Freischaltung | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadMe free?

ReadMe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ShelfBuddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ReadMe or ShelfBuddy?

ReadMe and ShelfBuddy are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 5 ratings respectively.

### Do ReadMe or ShelfBuddy have ads?

ShelfBuddy shows ads; ReadMe does not.

### Which is updated more often, ReadMe or ShelfBuddy?

ReadMe ships an update every 6 weeks, and ShelfBuddy every 2 days. Most recently, ReadMe was updated on October 24, 2026 and ShelfBuddy on October 30, 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.*