# Reading Journal vs TBR Book Jar

The clearest difference is rating: TBR Book Jar at 5.0 against Reading Journal's 4.3. TBR Book Jar also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months). Reading Journal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TBR Book Jar sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Reading Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

TBR Book Jar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 5 respectively.

Reading Journal ships an update every 3 months, TBR Book Jar every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reading Journal | TBR Book Jar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journal/id6756600779/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tbr-book-jar-reading-tracker/id6761447804/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 5 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 76 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zawaar Abbas Dad](https://appshunter.io/developer/1861710718) | [Christopher Mayberry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1390482166) |

## What reviewers say

### Reading Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journal/id6756600779)

Organize your reading life by tracking books, visualizing progress, and cultivating lasting reading habits. Keep all your reading statistics and personal reflections in one central, attractive location.

**Highlights:** Track books read, Visualize reading progress, Build reading habits, Store reading stats, Keep personal reflections

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### TBR Book Jar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tbr-book-jar-reading-tracker/id6761447804)

This app helps you decide what to read next with over 190 prompts and a customizable digital bookshelf. Track your reading progress, view stats, and personalize your virtual library.

**Highlights:** 190+ reading prompts, Customizable digital bookshelf, Page progress tracking, Reading timer and speed tracking, Reading stats and goals, Goodreads import, Dark mode support

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly (One-Time Offer) | $3.99 | per month |
| TBR Book Jar Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| TBR Book Jar Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| TBR Book Jar Pro Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reading Journal free?

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

### Is TBR Book Jar free?

TBR Book Jar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Reading Journal or TBR Book Jar?

TBR Book Jar is rated higher. Reading Journal averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while TBR Book Jar averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Reading Journal or TBR Book Jar have ads?

Neither Reading Journal nor TBR Book Jar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reading Journal or TBR Book Jar?

Reading Journal ships an update every 3 months, and TBR Book Jar every 4 days. Most recently, Reading Journal was updated on October 30, 2026 and TBR Book Jar on November 5, 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.*