Archivist Browser vs ArchiveShelf
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Archivist Browser
Stream millions of films, audiobooks, music, and digital texts directly from the Internet Archive. This media player offers enhanced playback, universal TV casting, and organized file management for researchers and enthusiasts.
- Stream films, audiobooks, music, and texts
- Universal TV Casting (AirPlay)
- High-resolution image viewer
- Optimized audio with background support
- Topic Chips for content filtering
- Folder sharing via URL or QR code
- On-the-fly renaming and text file cleanup
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Archivist Browser: Your Portal to Digital History Archivist Browser is the ultimate media player, transforming your device into a comprehensive portal for streaming content directly from the Internet Archive's vast collections. Built specifically for researchers and enthusiasts of historical media, our app provides the fastest, most reliable way to stream millions of films, audiobooks, music and digital texts. Stop struggling with browser playback. Download Archivist Browser and experience the past, optimised for seamless, modern streaming. What the Critics Say "A really cool piece of software... I've never seen anything like this before... Highly recommend." — WILL SMITH, BRAD AND WILL MADE A TECH POD "A great idea for a very niche utility – my favourite kind these days." — FEDERICO VITICCI, MACSTORIES As featured in Cory Doctorow's Pluralistic blog. Enhanced Media Playback & Visuals Experience history in high definition with a UI designed for modern enthusiasts. Custom Themes: Personalise your experience with the new Alt Indigo Theme, a variation specifically for Dark Mode enthusiasts. Universal TV Casting: Watch films and video on your big screen! Archivist Browser supports AirPlay (on iOS) for instant, seamless video streaming to any compatible TV or streaming device. High-Res Image Viewer: Enjoy smoother navigation and better rendering when viewing high-resolution assets. Improved Subtitles: Expanded support for subtitles across more titles and languages. Optimised Audio: Enjoy full background audio support and media controls right from your lock screen, perfect for listening to historical audiobooks or music collections. Polished UI: Refined thumbnail badges offer better clarity and a more professional look. Discovery & Integration Navigate the Archive’s millions of items with ease. Topic Chips: Quickly filter and find what you want with Topic Chips now appearing on Collections. Uploader Profiles: Explore more from your favourite contributors by clicking an uploader’s name to see their full gallery. Internet Archive (IA) Integration: Seamlessly import your lists directly from your IA account for a seamless transition. Fast Content Discovery: Easily find media by title, keyword or creator, or access curated "Popular Queries" to jump straight into trending collections. File & Folder Management Organise and share your research effortlessly. Folder Sharing: Share your favourite folders with other users via URL or QR code. Smart Store Linking: If a recipient doesn’t have the app installed, shared links will automatically direct them to the store page. On-the-Fly Renaming: Keep your library organised by renaming your folders instantly. Text File Clean Up: Use a dedicated button to instantly tidy up messy OCR text files. Rapid Text Access: Cached text fetching retrieves PDFs and documents rapidly (note: cache is purged on app closure). Privacy & Reliability We prioritise your privacy: No user accounts, no mandatory login and absolutely no personal details are stored. Experience the Archive with total peace of mind.
ArchiveShelf
Effortlessly catalog your belongings, from personal collections to home assets. Track details, add photos, store receipts, and manage warranties. Visualize your inventory value and generate reports for insurance purposes.
- Detailed asset tracking
- Visual inventory with multiple photos
- Receipt and warranty management
- Lending tracker
- Smart inventory insights
- Insurance-ready PDF reports
- Barcode scanning
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ArchiveShelf is the clean, visual home inventory and asset tracker designed to keep your physical belongings organized, documented, and protected. Stop losing track of what you own, where it is stored, or when warranties expire. ArchiveShelf keeps your entire home inventory private, secure, and right on your device. ORGANIZED ROOM BY ROOM & BOX BY BOX • Create custom folders for rooms, shelves, moving boxes, storage bins, or collections. • Add detailed items with product names, serial numbers, brands, models, purchase dates, prices, and locations. • Multi-Photo Documentation: Take multiple photos per item to document condition, accessories, and serial plates. • QR Codes & NFC Tags: Generate and print scannable QR labels for boxes or shelves. Tap physical NFC tags to instantly pull up folder contents. AUTOMATIC LOCAL BACKUPS & EXPORTS • Automatic Snapshots: ArchiveShelf can automatically back up your entire database on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule. • Multiple Formats: Export your data anytime as CSV spreadsheets or comprehensive backup files for safe keeping. • Quick Restoration: Restore your collection effortlessly whenever you switch devices. PROTECT RECEIPTS & WARRANTIES • Built-in Document Scanner: Capture purchase receipts, invoices, and warranty cards directly into the app. • Warranty Expiry Tracking: Get automatic notifications before return windows and warranty coverages expire. • Custom Statuses: Mark items as Stored, In Use, Lent Out, Sold, or Maintenance Needed. SMART PACKING & MOVING LISTS • Pack items into moving boxes and print QR code labels for quick unpacking. • Know exactly what is inside every sealed storage tub without opening it. • Calculate total valuations for insurance or estate planning. DEEP INSIGHTS & ANALYTICS • Visual Dashboard: View total collection value, category distribution, and item counts at a glance. • Professional PDF & CSV Export: Generate insurance-ready inventory summaries or export full spreadsheets with one tap. PRIVATE & SECURE BY DEFAULT • 100% On-Device Privacy: Your data is stored locally in your device's high-performance database. • No Mandatory Accounts: No third-party servers, tracking, or account creation required. • Optional Cloud Sync: Seamlessly sync across your personal devices via Apple's secure private cloud. ArchiveShelf Premium One-time lifetime purchase. Never any subscriptions. • Unlimited items, folders, and photos • Comprehensive PDF report export • Unlimited receipt scanning and custom fields Download ArchiveShelf today and bring clarity to your home and belongings.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Archivist Browser at none against ArchiveShelf's 1. Archivist Browser also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (63 vs 7). On price, review sentiment, ads 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
Both are free to download. ArchiveShelf sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Archivist Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.
Archivist Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Archivist Browser has 63 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 88% and 88% positive.
Archivist Browser ships an update every 3 days, ArchiveShelf weekly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.
| Parameter | Archivist Browser | ArchiveShelf |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (63 ratings) — better | 4.6 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | 87.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 63 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 79 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert Lothian | Bryan Jeffrey Martin |
Customer experience
Archivist Browser
ArchiveShelf
In-app purchases
Archivist Browser
No in-app purchases
ArchiveShelf
- Premium$9.99
Questions
Is Archivist Browser free?
Is ArchiveShelf free?
Which has better reviews, Archivist Browser or ArchiveShelf?
Do Archivist Browser or ArchiveShelf have ads?
Which is updated more often, Archivist Browser or ArchiveShelf?
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