Bookshelf vs Writing App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bookshelf
Read full descriptionHide full description
Write Better, Read Better, Plan Better, and Publish Faster Be a better author by becoming a better reader. Bookshelf provides the tools in one place. Whether you're writing your first novel, taking notes on books that matter to you, or both — Bookshelf gives you the structure to think clearly and the space to create freely without any friction. WRITE WITH STRUCTURE Organise your writing into Pages and Groups — a simple but flexible hierarchy that grows with your ideas without getting in the way. Whether you're writing fiction, non-fiction, or just thinking on paper, Bookshelf adapts to how you work. READ WITH INTENTION Every book you read deserves more than a star rating. Bookshelf gives each book its own space for notes, reflections, and quotes — so the things you read actually stay with you. BUILT FOR iOS, MADE TO LAST A native iOS app designed with care — fast, intuitive, and at home on your iPhone and iPad. Your writing and notes sync seamlessly across devices with iCloud, so everything is always where you need it. Mac support COMING SOON WHAT'S INSIDE · Hierarchical writing structure — Books, Pages, Grouped Pages · Reading library with structured notes for every book · iCloud sync across all your devices · Clean markdown editing · Distraction-free writing experience · Export your work to EPUB, PDF, TXT, DOCX, MD BUGS - If user opens a page and then navigates back to settings to change the theme, the screen will go blank. This is a known issue and we are actively working on a way to fix this. However, for now it is just a minor inconvenience. Simply restart the app and it should fix the issue and no progress will be lost. Privacy Policy: https://noelhigh.github.io/bookshelf-site/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: https://noelhigh.github.io/bookshelf-site/terms-of-use.html
Writing App
This app helps authors plan stories and track writing progress. Organize plot details, set word goals, and monitor daily achievements with insightful statistics and a visual calendar. Stay motivated throughout your writing journey.
- Create and manage writing projects
- Set word count goals
- Log writing sessions
- Organize plot notes and worldbuilding
- Track writing statistics
- Calendar view of writing sessions
- Home screen widgets
Read full descriptionHide full description
PlotWords takes you from your first idea to your finished manuscript. Plan your story, develop your characters, write your book, and stay on top of your writing goals. PlotWords keeps everything in sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Created by a writer, for writers. WRITE YOUR MANUSCRIPT Turn your ideas into a story. With the built-in text editor, you can write and edit your manuscript directly in PlotWords – whether you're on the go with your iPhone, working on your iPad, or writing at home on your Mac. • Organize your manuscript into chapters and plan your plot wherever you are. • Format your text and easily navigate your manuscript using the table of contents. • Keep everything at your fingertips while writing by accessing your custom character, location, and note cards. DEVELOP CHARACTERS, PLOTS & WORLDS • Bring your characters to life with detailed profiles and create family trees on your Mac. • Build locations and settings for your stories. • Structure your plot with plot cards and notes, and assign point-of-view characters and locations. • Keep your research, notes, and ideas in one place, whether you're at home or on the go. ORGANIZE PROJECTS & BOOK SERIES Keep all your writing projects organized, from the first spark of inspiration to the final revisions. Group your books into series and give each project its own cover in your personal library of stories. SET WRITING GOALS & TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Every word brings you one step closer to finishing your book. Set word count goals and deadlines, track your writing sessions, and watch your project grow. • Track your word count and overall project progress. • Discover your writing habits with clear, easy-to-read statistics. • Keep an eye on your writing streaks and average word counts. • Use the writing calendar to see when you wrote and how much you accomplished. STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR WRITING Make time for your story. Writing Focus comes with a built-in timer to help you plan distraction-free writing sessions and track your progress afterward. YOUR GOALS ON YOUR HOME SCREEN With iOS widgets, you can keep track of your writing progress and upcoming deadlines right from your Home Screen. KEEP WRITING ON IPHONE, IPAD & MAC Sync your projects and manuscripts across your Apple devices with iCloud. Capture an idea on the go, work on your next chapter on your iPad, and pick up right where you left off on your Mac. Some features require PlotWords Premium. You can find details about the available purchase options in the app. Privacy Policy: https://bookpairs.de/plotwords-datenschutzerklaerung.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Writing App at every 3 days against Bookshelf's fortnightly. Writing App also leads on device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Bookshelf sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and Writing App sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Bookshelf ships an update fortnightly, Writing App every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.
| Parameter | Bookshelf | Writing App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 100 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Norielle Rubillar | Annika Reinecke |
In-app purchases
Bookshelf
- Bookshelf Pro7 Days trial$2.991 Month
Writing App
- Premium$0.997 Days
- Premium$3.991 Month
- Premium$34.991 Year
- Premium$12.99
- Premium$22.99
- Premium$49.99
Questions
Is Bookshelf free?
Is Writing App free?
Do Bookshelf or Writing App have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bookshelf or Writing App?
Other comparisons















