Comparison

Reading Journal vs Folio

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

Head to head
About

Reading Journal

This app helps you remember what you read by tracking your library, reading status, and favorite quotes. Set reading goals, join challenges, and keep your progress organized with personal notes and summaries.

Highlights
  • Track books (want to read, reading, finished)
  • Save quotes, reviews, and summaries
  • Set reading goals and track progress
  • Join reading challenges
  • Sync library with iCloud
  • Export/import data (JSON/CSV)
Features
Read full description

Reading Journal is a clean, focused reading tracker for people who want to remember more of what they read. Track your library, update reading status, rate finished books, save favorite quotes, and keep personal notes tied to each book. Set yearly or monthly reading goals, join reading challenges, and keep your progress organized without clutter. Use Reading Journal to: - Track books you want to read, are reading, or finished - Save quotes, reviews, summaries, and favorite moments - Set reading goals and follow your progress - Join reading challenges for extra motivation - Keep your library synced with iCloud - Export or import your data with JSON or CSV backups Reading Journal is built for readers who want a simple, elegant place for their books, thoughts, and progress. Subscribe to unlock all features. Manage anytime in Settings. Terms of Use - https://sifterapps.com/terms.html Privacy Policy - https://sifterapps.com/policy.html

About

Folio

This app helps you meticulously track your reading progress, manage your book library, and cultivate a consistent reading habit. It allows for detailed logging of quotes, reviews, and reading statistics, offering a private and organized space for bibliophiles.

Highlights
  • Organize books into shelves
  • Save and sync favorite quotes
  • Rate books with quarter-star precision
  • Import from Goodreads/StoryGraph
  • Search, manual entry, or ISBN scan
  • Track pages, minutes, and streaks
  • Set reading goals
Features
Read full description

Track the books you read, organize your TBR, and build a bookshelf that feels like yours. Folio brings your library, reading progress, and favorite passages together on iPhone and iPad. • Keep track of what you're reading, what you've finished, and what you want to read next. • Build visual bookshelves: arrange your books, add decorations, and share an image of your shelf. • Add books with search or barcode scanning, or import your library from Goodreads or StoryGraph. • Log reading sessions with a timer and update your progress by page or percentage. • Set reading goals and see your activity in a calendar, with stats and streaks. • Save notes and quotes, rate books, and write reviews. • Connect with other readers when you choose. Follow their shelves and exchange messages with an account. Control who can see your profile and reading activity. Start tracking your books without an account. Folio Plus adds library sync across devices, advanced stats, widgets, Live Activities, extra goals, curated discovery, and more bookshelf customization. No ads. Read at your own pace.

Screenshots

Reading Journal4 screens
Folio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Folio at every 4 days against Reading Journal's fortnightly. Reading Journal's advantage is ratings volume (33 vs 8). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Reading Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Folio sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Reading Journal against 4.8 for Folio. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 8 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading Journal ships an update fortnightly, Folio every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Reading Journal versus Folio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading JournalFolio
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (33 ratings)4.8 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings33 — better8
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB123 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSergii NesterenkoMiguel Pacheco

Customer experience

Reading Journal

All ratings33 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral3.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Folio

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Reading Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Access$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Access$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$12.99
5 purchases

Folio

Subscriptions4
  • Folio Plus Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Folio Plus Annual$8.991 Year
  • Folio Plus Annual7 Days trial$8.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Folio Plus Annual14 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Folio Plus Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Reading Journal free?
Reading Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Folio free?
Folio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Reading Journal or Folio?
Reading Journal and Folio are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 33 and 8 ratings respectively.
Do Reading Journal or Folio have ads?
Neither Reading Journal nor Folio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading Journal or Folio?
Reading Journal ships an update fortnightly, and Folio every 4 days. Most recently, Reading Journal was updated on October 20, 2026 and Folio on October 18, 2026.

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