# TBR Book Jar vs Better Bookshelf

The clearest difference is rating: TBR Book Jar at 5.0 against Better Bookshelf's 3.8. Better Bookshelf's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

TBR Book Jar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 6 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TBR Book Jar | Better Bookshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tbr-book-jar-reading-tracker/id6761447804/reviews)** | [3.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/better-bookshelf/id6791765002/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **6** |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 118 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christopher Mayberry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1390482166) | [Matthew Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791765004) |

## What reviewers say

### TBR Book Jar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tbr-book-jar-reading-tracker/id6761447804)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly (One-Time Offer) | $3.99 | per month |
| TBR Book Jar Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| TBR Book Jar Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| TBR Book Jar Pro Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |


### Better Bookshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/better-bookshelf/id6791765002)

Consolidate all your books from physical shelves, Kindle, and Audible into a single, private digital library. Easily add books by scanning barcodes, taking photos, or importing existing libraries. Revisit your favorite highlighted passages and track your reading progress.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes or covers to add books, Import Kindle and Audible libraries, Consolidate books across multiple formats, Save and revisit highlighted passages, Track reading status and personal ratings, Mark books as lent

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium — Unlimited Library | $9.99 | one-time |
| 6 Whole Shelf AI Scans | $10.00 | one-time |
| Premium — Unlimited Library | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TBR Book Jar free?

TBR Book Jar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Better Bookshelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TBR Book Jar or Better Bookshelf?

TBR Book Jar is rated higher. TBR Book Jar averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Better Bookshelf averages 3.8 from 6 ratings.

### Do TBR Book Jar or Better Bookshelf have ads?

Neither TBR Book Jar nor Better Bookshelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TBR Book Jar or Better Bookshelf?

TBR Book Jar ships an update every 4 days, and Better Bookshelf every 4 days. Most recently, TBR Book Jar was updated on November 5, 2026 and Better Bookshelf on November 10, 2026.

---

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