Comparison

TBR Book Jar vs ReadXP

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

Head to head
About

TBR Book Jar

This app helps you decide what to read next with over 190 prompts and a customizable digital bookshelf. Track your reading progress, view stats, and personalize your virtual library.

Highlights
  • 190+ reading prompts
  • Customizable digital bookshelf
  • Page progress tracking
  • Reading timer and speed tracking
  • Reading stats and goals
  • Goodreads import
  • Dark mode support
Features
Read full description

Can't decide what to read next? Reach into the jar. TBR Book Jar is the reading app BookTok has been waiting for — a digital TBR jar, a gorgeous customizable bookshelf, an AI book buddy, audiobook magic… and now the biggest thing we've ever shipped: a built-in community of readers. Book clubs, forums, a used-book marketplace, and your shelf synced to the web. Built by a reader who was tired of staring at the TBR pile — now with company. NEW — TBRTALK, YOUR READING COMMUNITY · Book clubs with their own themed rooms — join one or start your own · Forums for every bookish conversation, plus direct messages · A used-book marketplace: list your finished copies, browse everyone else's — buyers and sellers arrange everything directly · Wishlist a book and get alerted when someone lists a used copy · Every book gets its own page: reviews, ratings, clubs reading it, copies for sale · Your library and wishlist sync with tbrtalk.com — your shelf, on the web NEW — YOUR HOME DASHBOARD Pick up right where you left off: a continue-reading carousel, streaks and goals at a glance, quick doors to everything. AUDIOBOOK MODE Your paperbacks just learned to talk. Snap photos of any pages — they're transcribed and read aloud with karaoke-style highlighting that follows along. Studio Voices sound remarkably human and run entirely on your iPhone: downloaded once, private, offline. Have a DRM-free EPUB? Drop it in and listen to the whole book. THE JAR 190+ creative prompts across 17 categories. Tap to pick and let fate decide — or hit Mystery Book to pull randomly from your own shelf. DISCOVER An endless deck of book suggestions dealt from the genres you actually love. Swipe right to wishlist, left to pass — it quietly learns your taste. YOUR BOOKSHELVES Not a list — real bookshelves. Books stand as spines or face-out covers on wooden shelves, sized to their true cover shape. Stack them into piles, drag to rearrange, decorate with wallpapers, stickers and animated GIFs. Unlimited shelves, smart shelves that fill themselves, and a Wishlist shelf for the books you want next. BOOK BUDDY — YOUR AI READING COMPANION Give it a name, then ask for recommendations, chat about books, describe a vibe or "books like ___" — grounded in real, current titles and tuned to what's on your shelf. READING TIMER & FOCUS SCENES The timer is free for every reader. Go Pro and read beside a crackling campfire, rain on the window, ocean waves — seven looping nature scenes plus ambient sound. ADD BOOKS IN SECONDS Search millions of titles with auto-filled covers and summaries · scan a barcode or snap the cover · import your whole Goodreads library via CSV. TRACK & CELEBRATE Page progress, reading speed, ratings and reviews, streaks, a yearly goal ring, genre charts and an activity heatmap. FREE The whole community · 10 books on your shelf · unlimited wishlist · 30 prompts · reading tracker & timer · a daily taste of Book Buddy and page scanning PRO — Monthly, Yearly or Lifetime (start with a 14-day free trial) · Unlimited books & shelves · full Audiobook Mode · All 190+ prompts + custom prompts · Unlimited Book Buddy, Discover deck & smart wishlist · Stats, focus scenes & sounds, goals & reminders · Goodreads import · every wallpaper, theme & decoration Your TBR pile just got fun — and it brought friends. Reach in and start picking. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled 24 hours before the period ends. Manage in App Store settings. Privacy: https://damobo.com/tbrbookjar/privacy Terms: https://apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Support: support@damobo.com

About

ReadXP

Transform reading into an engaging RPG experience. Log books, earn XP, unlock achievements, and build a personalized digital library. Enjoy detailed stats and offline functionality for a private reading journey.

Highlights
  • Gamified reading experience with XP and leveling
  • Extensive book logging with custom shelves
  • Unlockable badges, streaks, and quests
  • Detailed reading statistics and data visualization
  • Offline functionality and local data storage
  • Optional RPG elements with virtual currency
Features
Read full description

ReadXP turns the quiet habit of reading into a cozy reading tracker and RPG you'll actually keep up with. Log your books, watch your character gain XP, unlock badges, climb career tiers, and build a beautiful book tracker library you're proud of - all offline, all yours. Whether you're a casual reader wanting a gentle reading log encouragement or a voracious bookworm who likes seeing the detailed numbers behind the habit, ReadXP is the ultimate book log that gives your books a second life on the shelf you carry in your pocket. A BOOK TRACKER THAT'S YOURS Complete Book Log: Keep track of every book you've ever read - finished, reading, or on the shelf for later. Three custom shelf views: wooden spines, cover art, or a clean, minimal list. Shelf themes that match your RPG class (Paladin, Scholar, Wanderer, and more). Choose your avatar - your personalized reading log, your unique aesthetic. Fast search, genre filters, and custom shelves for your specific reading projects. READING IS THE GAME Every page you log earns you XP and levels up your character. Level up through career tiers with real titles - from Apprentice to Saint. Pick a character class with unique XP perks and reading abilities. Customize your profile avatar, card color, and portrait. Unlock Ancient Chronicle lore chapters as your reading progress grows. BADGES, STREAKS & QUESTS 80+ badges across pages, books, streaks, sessions, and overall performance. Daily quests that rotate - hit your page goal, log a morning session, add a note. Streak shield protects a missed day when life gets in the way of your reading. Advanced reading tracker goals for daily pages, weekly books, monthly pages, and yearly books. HONEST, DETAILED STATS Comprehensive reading log stats: Pages read, time logged, average speed, and best sessions. Panoramic weekly / monthly / yearly data views. Genre breakdown chart so you can see what you actually read. Best-session leaderboard calculated from your own reading history. Personal bests, visual reading heatmap, and major milestone markers. RPG ECONOMY WITHOUT THE GRIND Earn Shards directly from reading - never paid for with real money. Spend your hard-earned Shards in the Store on cloaks, weapons, rings, and potions. Common to Mythic rarity tiers, with extra XP bonuses per equipped item. Equipment boosts are modest - the real reward is still the reading itself. YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS Works fully offline after install - a standalone offline book tracker with no account required. Your personal library, logs, and progress live safely on your device. No ads, no social feed, no reading-shaming algorithms. PREMIUM (OPTIONAL) ReadXP is free to use. Premium unlocks the full RPG layer of your reading tracker: Career Path & prestige tiers Class abilities and class-swap Ancient Chronicle lore Mastery Tree skill points Advanced stats and deep goals Available as a monthly or yearly subscription. Cancel anytime. Or you may have the app lifetime for a one-time payment. WHY READXP IS DIFFERENT Most reading apps are either cold spreadsheets or distracting social feeds. ReadXP is neither - it's a single-player reading log wrapped in a warm, hand-drawn RPG universe. It rewards showing up without nagging, celebrates pages without turning your books into a race, and keeps your shelf in a place that feels like a home, not a spreadsheet. Thank you for reading - and for letting ReadXP sit on your home screen. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://buzunkopru.github.io/readxp-privacy/

Screenshots

TBR Book Jar4 screens
ReadXP4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: TBR Book Jar at every 4 days against ReadXP's every 9 days. TBR Book Jar also leads on ratings volume (5 vs 1). ReadXP's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). On price, rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. TBR Book Jar sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and ReadXP sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for TBR Book Jar against 5.0 for ReadXP. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TBR Book Jar has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TBR Book Jar ships an update every 4 days, ReadXP every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
TBR Book Jar versus ReadXP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTBR Book JarReadXP
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size118 MB99 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristopher MayberryBARBAROS UZUNKOPRU

Customer experience

TBR Book Jar

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ReadXP

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

TBR Book Jar

Subscriptions3
  • Pro Monthly (One-Time Offer)$3.991 Month
  • TBR Book Jar Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • TBR Book Jar Pro Annual14 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • TBR Book Jar Pro Lifetime$69.99
3 purchases

ReadXP

Subscriptions2
  • ReadXP Premium$2.991 Month
  • ReadXP Premium7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • ReadXP Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is TBR Book Jar free?
TBR Book Jar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ReadXP free?
ReadXP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TBR Book Jar or ReadXP?
TBR Book Jar and ReadXP are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do TBR Book Jar or ReadXP have ads?
Neither TBR Book Jar nor ReadXP shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TBR Book Jar or ReadXP?
TBR Book Jar ships an update every 4 days, and ReadXP every 9 days. Most recently, TBR Book Jar was updated on November 5, 2026 and ReadXP on October 31, 2026.

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