# Petal vs BookBean

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Petal at none against BookBean's 3. Petal also leads on ads (none vs shown). BookBean's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BookBean sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Petal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Petal ships an update every 6 weeks, BookBean fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Petal | BookBean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petal-reading-tracker/id6805487676/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [MORGAN BELLE TREGELLAS](https://appshunter.io/developer/6805487678) | [BookBean Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/6807319120) |

## What reviewers say

### Petal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petal-reading-tracker/id6805487676)

This app helps you track your reading progress across physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks in one beautifully designed interface. Set personalized goals, maintain reading streaks, and visualize your achievements in a growing digital meadow. It offers seamless format switching and library import from other platforms.

**Highlights:** Track progress across physical, ebook, and audiobook formats, Set and visualize multiple reading goals, Maintain a daily reading streak, Display finished books as a shelf, Import library from Goodreads or StoryGraph, No account, ads, or tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### BookBean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookbean-book-tracker/id6807319118)

Organize your personal library with a visual bookshelf, track reading progress, and discover local bookshops. Connect with friends and book clubs to share reading experiences and discuss books chapter by chapter.

**Highlights:** Visual bookshelf creation, Reading session tracking with timer and soundscapes, To-be-read (TBR) list management, Bookshop and library discovery map, Social reading with friends and book clubs, Writing desk for authors, Customizable themes and widgets

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BookBean+ Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| BookBean+ Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| BookBean+ Founding Member | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Petal free?

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

### Is BookBean free?

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

### Do Petal or BookBean have ads?

BookBean shows ads; Petal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Petal or BookBean?

Petal ships an update every 6 weeks, and BookBean fortnightly. Most recently, Petal was updated on October 31, 2026 and BookBean on November 1, 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.*