Comparison

Book Tracker vs The Bookish Shelf

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Book Tracker

Easily track your reading journey with this beautifully designed app. Log books, add start/finish dates, organize your library, and reflect on your reading habits. Add notes, ratings, and custom tags to personalize your experience.

Highlights
  • Track read and currently reading books
  • Organize books into series
  • Add custom tags and notes
  • Rate finished books
  • View reading timeline and history
  • Add books by title or author
Features
Read full description

BookStack – Your Reading Tracker BookStack is a simple and beautifully designed book tracker that helps you build a clear picture of your reading journey. A space for your books — without clutter, distractions, or noise. SIMPLE BOOK TRACKING • Track books you’ve read and are currently reading • Add start and finish dates to build your reading timeline • Keep a clear, structured reading log • Revisit your reading history anytime ORGANIZE YOUR LIBRARY • Browse your books in a smooth, swipeable carousel • Group books into series and track your progress • Follow reading order and never lose your place • Add custom tags (e.g. BookTok, favorites, genres) REFLECT ON YOUR READING • View your books in a timeline • See how your reading evolves over time • Discover patterns in what and when you read • Remember the books that stayed with you NOTES, RATINGS & TAGS • Rate books you’ve finished • Add personal notes and thoughts • Save meaningful insights from your reading • Organize everything your way with tags ADD BOOKS IN SECONDS • Search by title or author • Quickly rebuild your reading history • Simple and fast book adding experience DESIGNED FOR FOCUS • Clean, minimal interface • Smooth animations and gestures • No ads, no distractions • No social pressure PRIVACY FIRST • No account required • No tracking • Your data stays on your device BOOKSTACK PREMIUM Unlock more powerful features: • Add books by scanning ISBN • Unlimited books in your carousel • Advanced reading stats & insights • Custom covers and extended tagging Premium is optional — BookStack works beautifully without it. FOR EVERY READER Whether you read 5 books a year or 50, BookStack helps you remember your reading journey. Start building your reading story today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

The Bookish Shelf

Features
Read full description

The Bookish Shelf is the cozy, beautifully designed reading tracker for people who love books — not spreadsheets. Whether you're a one-book-a-month reader or chasing a 100-book year, The Bookish Shelf helps you log what you read, remember how it made you feel, and celebrate every milestone along the way. BUILD YOUR LIBRARY • Search millions of books and add them in seconds • Organize into Currently Reading, TBR, Wishlist, and Finished shelves • Track series, tropes, and reading stats automatically. REVIEWS YOU'LL ACTUALLY RE-READ • Capture ratings, tropes, and your favorite quotes • Generate gorgeous shareable review cards for Bookstagram & BookTok • Look back on what you loved — and what you didn't. BADGES & GOALS • Set yearly reading goals and watch your progress grow • Unlock collectible badges as you hit milestones • Get a personalized monthly recap and end-of-year Wrapped. A SHELF THAT FEELS LIKE YOU • Decorate your virtual shelf with plants, candles, and trinkets • Beautiful, calm design built for readers — no clutter, no noise. ALWAYS WITH YOU • Syncs across all your devices • Private by default — your reading life is yours. Stop forgetting what you read. Start loving your reading life again. Terms of Use (EULA): https://thebookishshelf.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://thebookishshelf.com/privacy

Screenshots

Book Tracker4 screens
The Bookish Shelf4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Book Tracker at every 5 days against The Bookish Shelf's fortnightly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Book Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and The Bookish Shelf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Book Tracker ships an update every 5 days, The Bookish Shelf fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Book Tracker versus The Bookish Shelf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBook TrackerThe Bookish Shelf
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size87 MB47 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperJozef GrecKelly Dunn

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Book Tracker

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • BookStack Premium (Lifetime)$59.99
2 purchases

The Bookish Shelf

Subscriptions2
  • Full Shelf Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Full Shelf Annual$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Book Tracker free?
Book Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is The Bookish Shelf free?
The Bookish Shelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Book Tracker or The Bookish Shelf have ads?
Neither Book Tracker nor The Bookish Shelf shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Book Tracker or The Bookish Shelf?
Book Tracker ships an update every 5 days, and The Bookish Shelf fortnightly. Most recently, Book Tracker was updated on September 21, 2026 and The Bookish Shelf on September 8, 2026.

Other comparisons