# OpenBookshelf vs Shelf

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shelf at none against OpenBookshelf's 1. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OpenBookshelf sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Shelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for OpenBookshelf against 5.0 for Shelf. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

OpenBookshelf ships an update every 2 weeks, Shelf every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenBookshelf | Shelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openbookshelf-book-tracker/id6759491266/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-your-next-read/id6775563720/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 2 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jared Floersch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1875435683) | [Yaron Sole](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775563722) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenBookshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openbookshelf-book-tracker/id6759491266)

Organize your reading list with a clean, focused book tracker. Easily search millions of titles, import your history from other platforms, and sync across devices without ads or subscriptions. Focus solely on your books.

**Highlights:** Track reading progress, Search millions of books, Import from Goodreads, Sync across devices, No ads or subscriptions, Organize reading lists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |


### Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-your-next-read/id6775563720)

Discover your next favorite book with personalized recommendations based on your reading history. Avoid endless scrolling and find curated lists from notable sources. Save, track, and share books easily without needing an account.

**Highlights:** Personalized book recommendations, Curated lists from notable sources, Save and track read books, Share books with friends, No account required, Community favorites

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenBookshelf free?

OpenBookshelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shelf free?

Shelf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenBookshelf or Shelf?

OpenBookshelf and Shelf are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do OpenBookshelf or Shelf have ads?

Neither OpenBookshelf nor Shelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenBookshelf or Shelf?

OpenBookshelf ships an update every 2 weeks, and Shelf every 10 days. Most recently, OpenBookshelf was updated on October 31, 2026 and Shelf on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*