# ReadMe vs Better Bookshelf

The clearest difference is rating: ReadMe at 5.0 against Better Bookshelf's 4.4. ReadMe also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). Better Bookshelf's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Better Bookshelf sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ReadMe asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReadMe holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Better Bookshelf has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ReadMe ships an update every 6 weeks, Better Bookshelf every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadMe | Better Bookshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readme-book-tracker/id6752588976/reviews)** | [4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/better-bookshelf/id6791765002/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 4 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Josh Engels](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835514461) | [Matthew Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791765004) |

## 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


### Better Bookshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/better-bookshelf/id6791765002)

Consolidate all your books from physical shelves, Kindle, and Audible into a single, private digital library. Easily add books by scanning barcodes, taking photos, or importing existing libraries. Revisit your favorite highlighted passages and track your reading progress.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes or covers to add books, Import Kindle and Audible libraries, Consolidate books across multiple formats, Save and revisit highlighted passages, Track reading status and personal ratings, Mark books as lent

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium — Unlimited Library | $9.99 | one-time |
| 6 Whole Shelf AI Scans | $10.00 | one-time |
| Premium — Unlimited Library | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadMe free?

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

### Is Better Bookshelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ReadMe or Better Bookshelf?

ReadMe is rated higher. ReadMe averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Better Bookshelf averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do ReadMe or Better Bookshelf have ads?

Neither ReadMe nor Better Bookshelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ReadMe or Better Bookshelf?

ReadMe ships an update every 6 weeks, and Better Bookshelf every 3 days. Most recently, ReadMe was updated on October 24, 2026 and Better Bookshelf 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.*