Comparison

Bookshelf Diary vs LeafTrove

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

Head to head
About

Bookshelf Diary

Organize your book collection with ease using barcode scanning, batch entry for series, and progress tracking. Manage wishlists, customize shelf arrangements, and back up your data locally or via the cloud. Supports offline use and offers a dark mode.

Highlights
  • ISBN barcode scanning
  • Batch entry for series
  • Track owned and missing books
  • Wishlist management
  • Customizable shelf sorting
  • Excel export/import
  • Cloud backup
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

[Core Features] - ISBN Barcode Scanning: Instantly retrieve book information with the cover and title filled in automatically. - Batch Quick Entry: Designed for series collections, create multiple volumes in one tap. - Collection Progress: Mark books as Owned or Missing to track your collection gaps. - Wishlist: Scan a book now and add it to your list for later. - Custom Sorting: Drag and drop to arrange your shelves your way. - Export & Import: Excel support makes moving and organizing your collection easy. - Cloud Backup: Sign in to back up and restore on a new device. - Dark Mode and Offline Search: Choose your preferred appearance and browse your local data offline. [What's New in 1.3.7] - Added purchase prices and collection spending summaries. - Expanded official and custom category management with improved visibility and ordering. - Added duplicate series and work merging directly from search results, with a choice of the item to keep. - Added a missing-volumes-first sort option to the book list. - Improved sale photo and video storage, sharing, and multi-select actions. - Improved bottom sheets, keyboard handling, backups, sign-in reliability, and data safety. - Settings now links directly to the App Store rating page. [Membership & Privacy] Your book data is primarily stored on your device and remains available for offline search. Google and Apple sign-in and purchase features are optional; membership access is validated against store purchases. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

LeafTrove

Features
Read full description

No computer needed: connect your eReader to iPhone or iPad with a cable, and your highlights and notes come in. Set up Wi-Fi wireless updates once and skip the cable after that: when you have new highlights, tap send on the eReader and they reach LeafTrove (subscription; some models and firmware). Each day, one of them is waiting on your Home Screen and Lock Screen to reread. BEFORE YOU START: A COMPATIBLE PHYSICAL EREADER IS REQUIRED LeafTrove imports the highlights and notes you made on a physical eReader. Not every brand or model works, and an ebook account or a phone reading app alone is not enough. Check your model and firmware on the support page first: https://homadeworks.com/en/apps/leaftrove/support/ No eReader yet? Open the app and browse the sample library, no sign-in needed. PLUG IN AND BRING THEM IN • Read by cable (free): connect the eReader to an iPhone or iPad with USB-C. The first time, a guide walks you through it; after that, "Update notes" usually reads it straight away. The eReader is never changed. • No cable after that (subscription): an iPhone or iPad with USB-C can set up Wi-Fi wireless updates on its own, with no computer or pairing code. Then tap send on the eReader for new highlights and open LeafTrove. Some models and firmware. • Export from a computer (free, also for Lightning): open the LeafTrove export page in Chrome or Edge on a Mac or PC, nothing to install, then send the file to your iPhone or iPad. Notes are processed only on your computer. Imports text highlights and notes from EPUB/KEPUB books, not PDF, handwriting or book text. Importing again adds what's new and keeps favorites, thoughts, tags and review plans. REREAD EVERY DAY, FREE • Today's pick: one note a day, right when you open the app; swipe back to earlier picks. • Home Screen widget and a daily reminder: a note at the time you choose; tap to read it. • Favorite the lines you love; search titles, authors, highlights and thoughts; read offline. • Share cards in the Minimal style: a line you love as a picture or text. • Archive: hide highlights or whole books; nothing is deleted. WRITE DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS • My thoughts: write beside any highlight, stored encrypted on the device. The free plan includes 20; written thoughts always stay readable, editable and exportable. • My collections: lists of the books or topics you return to. • Share notes, or export them as Markdown or JSON. MAKE REREADING A HABIT WITH A SUBSCRIPTION • Wi-Fi wireless updates (supported models): no cable after setup. • Unlimited thoughts; organize, filter and search notes with tags. • Monthly recap: each month's books, reading days and best lines on one page, plus 5 share cards. • Share cards: 8 more styles, colors, wide 16:9 and more sizes, text sizes, cover and tags, editable text. • Review list: LeafTrove schedules the notes you want to read again. • Up to 5 reminders a day, with random time windows and quiet hours. • Medium, large, iPad extra-large and Lock Screen widgets. • iCloud sync of your library, thoughts and tags across iPhone and iPad via your own iCloud. Monthly and yearly plans have the same features; eligible users can try it free for 1 month. Price, currency and eligibility are shown on Apple's purchase sheet. After the trial the plan renews automatically; cancel anytime in your Apple subscription settings. If you stop subscribing, imported notes stay readable, searchable and exportable. Interface in English, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Dutch, Italian and Spanish; the computer assistant and the eReader menu are in Traditional Chinese for now. LeafTrove is independently developed by HoMade Works as a tool for organizing and rereading your own notes. It does not provide an ebook store, book text or any eReader maker's official service. Make sure what you import and share complies with applicable terms and rights. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Bookshelf Diary4 screens
LeafTrove4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: LeafTrove at every 2 days against Bookshelf Diary's every 9 days. 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. Bookshelf Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and LeafTrove sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bookshelf Diary ships an update every 9 days, LeafTrove every 2 days. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Bookshelf Diary versus LeafTrove: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookshelf DiaryLeafTrove
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size135 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWANG MEI TINGHSIHSUN HO

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Bookshelf Diary

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Pro 訂閱版7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Plus 永久版$7.99
2 purchases

LeafTrove

Subscriptions2
  • LeafTrove Monthly1 Month trial$1.991 Month
  • LeafTrove Yearly1 Month trial$11.991 Year

Questions

Is Bookshelf Diary free?
Bookshelf Diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LeafTrove free?
LeafTrove is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Bookshelf Diary or LeafTrove have ads?
Neither Bookshelf Diary nor LeafTrove shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bookshelf Diary or LeafTrove?
Bookshelf Diary ships an update every 9 days, and LeafTrove every 2 days. Most recently, Bookshelf Diary was updated on November 1, 2026 and LeafTrove on November 1, 2026.

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