Comparison

ByTheBook vs Tally

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

Head to head
About

ByTheBook

Features
Read full description

Transform how you manage your book collection with ByTheBook - a stunning personal library app featuring a realistic 3D bookshelf that brings your reading life to life. YOUR LIBRARY, BEAUTIFULLY ORGANIZED Display your books on a gorgeous 3D wooden bookshelf that you can browse with a simple swipe. Watch your collection grow as colorful spines fill the shelves, organized exactly how you like. ADD BOOKS IN SECONDS • Scan barcodes instantly with your camera • Photograph entire bookshelves — our AI identifies every book • Search by title, author, or ISBN • Add books manually with custom details TRACK YOUR READING JOURNEY • Mark books as Want to Read, Reading, Finished, or Did Not Finish • View your reading statistics and monthly progress • See your complete reading history at a glance SMART SERIES MANAGEMENT • Automatic series detection groups your books together • See which books you own and which ones you're missing • Never accidentally buy a duplicate again NEVER MISS A NEW RELEASE • Follow your favorite authors and series • Get notified when new books are published • Discover trending books and personalized recommendations LENDING MADE SIMPLE • Track books you've lent to friends • Remember who has what and when it's due • Keep your lending history organized DISCOVER YOUR NEXT READ • AI-powered recommendations based on your taste • Browse trending books across genres • Build your want-to-read list DESIGNED FOR BOOK LOVERS • Beautiful light and dark themes • Elegant typography and thoughtful details • Works seamlessly on iPhone and iPad Your personal library deserves better than a spreadsheet. Download ByTheBook and give your books the home they deserve.

About

Tally

Features
Read full description

Tally is a reading app built around sessions, pace, progress, and momentum. Instead of only helping you organize books, Tally helps you understand how your reading is actually moving. Log reading sessions in seconds. Track pages, time, pace, goals, and streaks. See how your current book is progressing and how your reading rhythm changes over time. With Tally, you can: - log reading sessions quickly - track reading pace and pages over time - build momentum with streaks and goals - see progress on your current read - remember where and how you read - share beautiful reading milestones - follow other readers without a noisy social feed Tally is best for people looking for: - a reading pace tracker - a reading tracker - a reading log - a book progress app - a reading goals app - a reading stats app If you want reading to feel more active, measurable, and motivating, Tally is built for that. https://tally-nu-sepia.vercel.app/en/terms

Screenshots

ByTheBook4 screens
Tally4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ByTheBook at none against Tally's 2. Tally's advantage is update cadence (daily vs weekly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Tally sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. ByTheBook asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ByTheBook ships an update weekly, Tally daily. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
ByTheBook versus Tally: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterByTheBookTally
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMiriam RoskindArthur Lopes

In-app purchases

None

ByTheBook

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Tally

Subscriptions2
  • Tally Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Tally Pro - Annual$39.991 Year

Questions

Is ByTheBook free?
ByTheBook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tally free?
Tally is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ByTheBook or Tally have ads?
Neither ByTheBook nor Tally shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ByTheBook or Tally?
ByTheBook ships an update weekly, and Tally daily. Most recently, ByTheBook was updated on October 31, 2026 and Tally on November 9, 2026.

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