Comparison

BookJournal vs Shelf

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

Head to head
About

BookJournal

Features
Read full description

BookJournal is your personal reading journal – for all the books you've read, are currently reading, or want to read next. Save your books with covers, keep your notes, and track your reading progress – simple, private, and clutter-free. And thanks to iCloud sync, your library is always up to date on all your devices. Features: β€’ Add books via search, ISBN scan, or manually – with cover image β€’ Wishlist for books you still want to read β€’ Custom shelves: organize your library into your own collections with color and icon β€’ Start reading sessions with a timer and log the pages you've read β€’ Journal: capture thoughts, moods, and favorite quotes about your books β€’ Statistics for your reading goal, reading hours, and streak β€’ iCloud sync: your data stays private in your iCloud – automatically on all your devices β€’ Clear reading list, sorted by status BookJournal is for everyone who wants to document their reading life privately and without the fuss – a reading journal that grows with you.

About

Shelf

Features
Read full description

Shelf is the simple, beautiful way to track every book you read β€” and actually show it off. Most reading apps are bloated social networks. Shelf does one thing well: it tracks your reading and turns it into stats you’re proud to share. ADD BOOKS IN SECONDS β€’ Scan a barcode to add a book in one tap β€’ Or add it manually β€” title, author, pages TRACK WHAT MATTERS β€’ Currently reading, want to read, finished β€’ Log reading sessions (pages & minutes) β€’ Page-by-page progress and star ratings BUILD A READING STREAK β€’ A gentle daily streak that keeps you turning pages β€’ No shame, no pressure β€” just momentum YOUR YEAR IN BOOKS β€’ A gorgeous, shareable stats card with a streak grid β€’ Perfect for BookTok and Instagram β€’ Home-screen widget with your streak at a glance PRIVATE BY DESIGN β€’ Your library lives on your device β€’ No account required, no ads, ever Shelf Pro (subscription) unlocks all card styles & themes, detailed stats, your animated Year in Books recap, and widgets. Free 7-day trial. Track. Show off. Read more. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

BookJournal4 screens
Shelf3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BookJournal at none against Shelf's 2. Shelf's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Shelf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. BookJournal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
BookJournal versus Shelf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookJournalShelf
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyβ€”
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.517.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size23 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGarip KoeylueceYusuf Fuat Sarac

In-app purchases

None

BookJournal

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Shelf

Subscriptions2
  • Shelf Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Shelf Pro Yearly7 Days trial$22.991 Year

Questions

Is BookJournal free?
BookJournal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shelf free?
Shelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BookJournal or Shelf have ads?
BookJournal shows ads; Shelf does not.

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