Comparison

BookShelf Reader vs ShelfSweep

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

Head to head
About

BookShelf Reader

Features
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BookShelf is a clean, distraction-free PDF reader built for people who love books. Import your files, track your reading, and organize your library exactly the way you want — with no ads, no subscriptions, and no accounts required. READ YOUR WAY Scroll vertically or flip pages horizontally like a real book. Adjust brightness and switch between clean white and warm sepia mode. Every reading preference, covered. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR RULES View your books as a grid or a list. Sort by title, last read, or progress. Build custom reading lists — To Read, Reading, Finished — and organize everything with categories and favorites. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS See how many pages you've read, time spent reading, your current streak, and your 30-day reading chart. Stats that keep you motivated without getting in the way. BOOKMARKS & ANNOTATIONS Mark any page with a bookmark and write notes as you read. All your annotations are organized and easy to find when you need them. WORKS OFFLINE. ALWAYS. BookShelf works 100% offline. No internet connection required to read, organize, or track your progress. OPTIONAL CLOUD SYNC Sign in with Google to optionally sync your library, progress, bookmarks, and notes across all your devices. Your PDFs are backed up securely. Turn it off anytime — your data stays on your device. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No ads. No trackers. No analytics SDKs. No behavioral data collection of any kind. If you never sign in, absolutely nothing leaves your device. AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH Full app interface in both languages. Switch anytime from Settings. WHAT YOU GET • Grid and list library views • Horizontal page-flip and vertical scroll reading modes • Warm sepia and brightness controls • Bookmarks and text annotations • Custom reading lists and categories • Reading statistics and daily streaks • 30-day reading progress chart • Optional cloud sync across devices • PDF file backup and restore • Dark mode support • English and Spanish interface • No ads, no subscriptions, no tracking BookShelf is made for readers who want a simple, beautiful app that respects their time and privacy.

About

ShelfSweep

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Turn a bookshelf photo into a private catalog you can actually use. Scan book spines or ISBN barcodes with the camera, or choose a shelf photo. Apple Vision recognizes text on your iPhone or iPad. Every result stays editable: review titles, authors, ISBNs, categories, and shelves before saving. CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY Search by title, author, or ISBN to see whether a book is already in your library or currently on loan. Avoid buying the same book twice. KEEP LOANS VISIBLE Record a borrower label and optional due date. Optional reminders are scheduled on your device. ShelfSweep never reads Contacts. EXPORT A RESULT YOU OWN Free users can create complete JSON backups and add up to 30 books. Restoring an existing ShelfSweep backup is never truncated; if a restored library exceeds 30 books, Pro is required before adding more. ShelfSweep Pro Lifetime unlocks unlimited additions and shelf scans, plus CSV, readable PDF, and ZIP exports. FREE TIER • Add up to 30 books • 3 shelf scans • Manual entry • Duplicate checking • Loan tracking • JSON backup PRO LIFETIME • Unlimited books • Unlimited shelf scans • CSV, PDF, and ZIP exports • One-time purchase, no subscription PRIVACY No account, ads, analytics, tracking, developer backend, cloud AI, or cloud library. Shelf photos are processed on device and are not uploaded to the developer. Exported files go only to the destination you choose in the iOS share sheet. Recognition quality depends on lighting, angle, and spine design. Review results before saving.

Screenshots

BookShelf Reader4 screens
ShelfSweep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BookShelf Reader at none against ShelfSweep's 1. BookShelf Reader also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

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

Both are free to download. ShelfSweep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BookShelf Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
BookShelf Reader versus ShelfSweep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookShelf ReaderShelfSweep
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Every 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHeyson BetancourtHainan Weixia Software Development Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

BookShelf Reader

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ShelfSweep

One-time1
  • ShelfSweep Pro Lifetime$7.99

Questions

Is BookShelf Reader free?
BookShelf Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShelfSweep free?
ShelfSweep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BookShelf Reader or ShelfSweep have ads?
Neither BookShelf Reader nor ShelfSweep shows ads.

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