# Understory vs Ex Libris

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ex Libris at none against Understory's 6. Understory's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (63 vs 3). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Understory sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Ex Libris asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Understory against 5.0 for Ex Libris. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Understory has 63 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 96% of Understory's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ex Libris's.

Understory ships an update every 9 days, Ex Libris monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Understory | Ex Libris |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/understory-reading-tracker/id6767701983/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ex-libris-book-tracker/id6794728198/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **63** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 95.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 213 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Understory Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896501166) | [Atreides LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1127240662) |

## What reviewers say

### Understory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/understory-reading-tracker/id6767701983)

This app helps you track your reading progress, set goals, and build a consistent reading habit. It features a unique plant aesthetic and allows you to grow real-world trees by meeting reading objectives. Connect with friends, share recommendations, and view insightful reading statistics.

**Highlights:** Log reading progress and books, Set reading goals and streaks, Grow real-world trees by meeting objectives, Connect with friends and join book groups, Share book recommendations, View reading statistics and insights, Organize custom reading lists

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Understory Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Understory Premium - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Understory Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Understory Premium - Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Streak Freeze | $0.99 | one-time |
| Streak Restore | $0.99 | one-time |


### Ex Libris

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ex-libris-book-tracker/id6794728198)

Organize your reading life with this app. Easily add books by scanning barcodes or covers, track your reading progress, and save memorable passages. Connect with friends to see what they're reading and share your own literary discoveries.

**Highlights:** Add books via barcode scan or cover photo, Track reading progress and pace, Save and share favorite passages, Create custom bookplates, Connect with friends to see their reading, Discuss books with other readers

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Understory free?

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

### Is Ex Libris free?

Ex Libris is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Understory or Ex Libris?

Ex Libris is rated higher. Understory averages 4.9 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while Ex Libris averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Understory or Ex Libris have ads?

Neither Understory nor Ex Libris shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Understory or Ex Libris?

Understory ships an update every 9 days, and Ex Libris monthly. Most recently, Understory was updated on November 9, 2026 and Ex Libris on October 31, 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.*