# ReadMe vs Shelfd

The clearest difference is rating: ReadMe at 5.0 against Shelfd's 4.0. ReadMe also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). Shelfd's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shelfd sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ReadMe asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReadMe holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.

ReadMe ships an update every 6 weeks, Shelfd daily. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReadMe | Shelfd |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readme-book-tracker/id6752588976/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfd-reading-tracker/id6792915143/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 4 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Josh Engels](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835514461) | [Zachary Selburg](https://appshunter.io/developer/6792915145) |

## 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


### Shelfd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfd-reading-tracker/id6792915143)

Organize your reading life with a charming book tracker. Log what you're reading, discover your next book with a spin of a wheel, and visualize your reading habits with personalized stats and achievements. Enjoy a cozy, ad-free experience with optional premium features for advanced tracking.

**Highlights:** Track current, finished, and to-be-read books, Spin a wheel to pick your next read, Organize books by genre with custom colors, Set reading goals and view yearly stats, Earn achievements narrated by an Archivist, Import libraries from other apps (CSV), Backup and restore your library

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $24.99 | per year |
| Shelfd Founders Group | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReadMe free?

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

### Is Shelfd free?

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

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

ReadMe is rated higher. ReadMe averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Shelfd averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do ReadMe or Shelfd have ads?

Neither ReadMe nor Shelfd shows ads.

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

ReadMe ships an update every 6 weeks, and Shelfd daily. Most recently, ReadMe was updated on October 15, 2026 and Shelfd on October 9, 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.*