# ShelfBuddy vs ReadXP

The clearest difference is ads: ReadXP at none against ShelfBuddy's shown. ShelfBuddy's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 days) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ShelfBuddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ReadXP sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 — 5.0 for ShelfBuddy against 5.0 for ReadXP. 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.

ShelfBuddy ships an update every 2 days, ReadXP every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ShelfBuddy | ReadXP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfbuddy-book-tracker/id6755234669/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readxp-library-and-book-tracker/id6775288284/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 57 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JAN-HENNING BUNS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852741600) | [BARBAROS UZUNKOPRU](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775288286) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 | $17.99 | one-time |


### ReadXP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readxp-library-and-book-tracker/id6775288284)

Transform reading into an engaging RPG experience. Log books, earn XP, unlock achievements, and build a personalized digital library. Enjoy detailed stats and offline functionality for a private reading journey.

**Highlights:** Gamified reading experience with XP and leveling, Extensive book logging with custom shelves, Unlockable badges, streaks, and quests, Detailed reading statistics and data visualization, Offline functionality and local data storage, Optional RPG elements with virtual currency

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ReadXP Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| ReadXP Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| ReadXP Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ShelfBuddy free?

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

### Is ReadXP free?

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

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

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

### Do ShelfBuddy or ReadXP have ads?

ShelfBuddy shows ads; ReadXP does not.

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

ShelfBuddy ships an update every 2 days, and ReadXP every 9 days. Most recently, ShelfBuddy was updated on October 27, 2026 and ReadXP on October 13, 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.*