Comparison

Shelvd vs Marcus

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

Head to head
About

Shelvd

Effortlessly log your reading progress by simply taking a photo of any page. This app organizes your library visually, tracks detailed reading statistics, and syncs with Goodreads. It also facilitates book club participation and helps manage your to-read list.

Highlights
  • Photo-based page logging
  • Visual book shelves
  • Goodreads synchronization
  • Import entire reading history
  • Detailed reading statistics
  • Book club features
  • Add books via cover photo
Features
Read full description

Log your reading from a photo, not a keyboard. SHELVD is a book tracker that keeps up with how much you read, and keeps your Goodreads library and friends right where they are. FEATURES • Bookmark: Point your camera at any page or Kindle screen and SHELVD marks your place. It reads the page number and updates your progress in about two seconds. No typing. • Visual shelves: Your library lives as real, browsable shelves with spine art, not a list of rows. • Keep your Goodreads updated (Pro): Track everything in SHELVD and your Goodreads profile stays current on its own. Your progress, ratings, and finished books show up there automatically, so the friends you already have keep seeing what you're reading. No other reading app does this. • Bring your whole library: One upload imports your full Goodreads or StoryGraph history: ratings, read dates, and shelves included. • Reading stats: A heatmap of every day you've read, your reading pace, time-to-finish predictions, genre breakdowns, streaks, and progress toward your reading goals. • Book clubs: Read alongside friends, follow live progress on leaderboards, and share what you're into. Create and run your own clubs on Pro. • Snap a cover: Spot a book you want? Photograph the cover and SHELVD adds it to your want-to-read shelf (your TBR). • Hands-free Kindle tracking (Founders): Connect your Amazon account once and your Kindle reading logs itself, no photos needed. Your reading data stays yours. SHELVD never sells or shares your information with third parties. Terms of Use (EULA): https://shelvd.io/legal/terms Privacy Policy: https://shelvd.io/legal/privacy

About

Marcus

Features
Read full description

Reading, without the friction. Marcus is the reading app made for restless minds. A calm tracker glides along the line to keep your eyes exactly where you are, so your attention stops slipping off the page. Import any EPUB or PDF and just read. WHY IT STICKS - Stay on the line - a gentle tracker keeps your place, at your pace - Stuck? Just ask - explain, summarize or recap without leaving the page - Every book, one tap away - import EPUB & PDF and pick up where you left off - Reading that rewards you - daily goals, streaks and achievements - A shelf that fills as you read - finished books become spines on your bookcase - Your thoughts, in one place - a notebook and a glossary of words you've learned - Share the lines you love - turn any quote into a beautiful card MADE FOR HOW YOUR BRAIN READS ADHD-first and dyslexia-friendly: the OpenDyslexic font, calm themes, read-along audio, and short daily goals that make five minutes count. No guilt, no noise - just no zero days. MARCUS PRO Unlimited explanations, summaries and recaps, all themes and the OpenDyslexic font, and advanced tracker styles. Read more. Struggle less. Start your first page today. Terms of Use: https://marcus.vuvee.me/terms Privacy Policy: https://marcus.vuvee.me/privacy

Screenshots

Shelvd4 screens
Marcus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Shelvd at fortnightly against Marcus's every 2 months. 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. Shelvd sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.00 per month and Marcus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shelvd ships an update fortnightly, Marcus every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Shelvd versus Marcus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShelvdMarcus
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (11 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB65 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperPlatform ThirteenVukasin Rancic

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Shelvd

Subscriptions7
  • Plus (Monthly)1 Month trial$6.001 Month
  • Pro (Monthly)1 Month trial$12.001 Month
  • Full Shelfie (Monthly)$18.001 Month
Show 4 more
  • Plus (Annual)1 Month trial$58.001 Year
  • Pro (Annual)1 Month trial$114.991 Year
  • Full Shelfie (Annual)$172.991 Year
  • Founders (Annual)$299.991 Year
2 purchases

Marcus

Subscriptions2
  • Marcus Pro Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Marcus Pro Annual$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Shelvd free?
Shelvd is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Marcus free?
Marcus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shelvd or Marcus have ads?
Neither Shelvd nor Marcus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shelvd or Marcus?
Shelvd ships an update fortnightly, and Marcus every 2 months. Most recently, Shelvd was updated on October 31, 2026 and Marcus on October 29, 2026.

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