# Nous vs Folio

The clearest difference is monetization model: Folio at free against Nous's freemium. Folio also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). Nous's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nous sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Folio sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Nous holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Folio has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Nous ships an update weekly, Folio every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nous | Folio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nous-reading-tracker-and-notes/id6761879422/reviews)** | [4.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/folio-book-tracker/id6764345729/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **7** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 31 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Caelan Mitchell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891915510) | [Miguel Pacheco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814844861) |

## What reviewers say

### Nous

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nous-reading-tracker-and-notes/id6761879422)

This app helps you actively track your reading by taking notes, capturing highlights, and organizing your library. It offers features for reflection, goal setting, and seamless integration with other services to enhance your reading experience.

**Highlights:** Real-time reading notes and thoughts, Book library organization, Highlight capture via typing or OCR, Reading session reflection and summary, Goal setting and streak tracking, Sync with Obsidian and Kindle, Homescreen widgets

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nous Plus — Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Nous Plus — Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


### Folio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/folio-book-tracker/id6764345729)

This app helps you meticulously track your reading progress, manage your book library, and cultivate a consistent reading habit. It allows for detailed logging of quotes, reviews, and reading statistics, offering a private and organized space for bibliophiles.

**Highlights:** Organize books into shelves, Save and sync favorite quotes, Rate books with quarter-star precision, Import from Goodreads/StoryGraph, Search, manual entry, or ISBN scan, Track pages, minutes, and streaks, Set reading goals

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Folio Plus Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Folio Plus Annual | $8.99 | per year |
| Folio Plus Annual | $8.99 | per year |
| Folio Plus Annual | $8.99 | per year |
| Folio Plus Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nous free?

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

### Is Folio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nous or Folio?

Nous is rated higher. Nous averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Folio averages 4.7 from 7 ratings.

### Do Nous or Folio have ads?

Neither Nous nor Folio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nous or Folio?

Nous ships an update weekly, and Folio every 3 days. Most recently, Nous was updated on October 2, 2026 and Folio on October 2, 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.*