Comparison

Bookends vs Lingotion Recorder

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

Head to head
About

Bookends

Manage your research references and PDFs on your mobile device. Search online databases, import metadata, annotate PDFs, and organize your library. Offers basic functionality for free with optional one-time purchase and yearly subscription for advanced features like cloud sync and unlimited imports.

Highlights
  • Search online reference databases
  • Import metadata and PDFs
  • PDF annotation and markup
  • Barcode scanning for references
  • Cloud sync across devices
  • Share online libraries
  • Create multiple libraries
Features
Read full description

Bookends is the reference management app you've been looking for. The basic version offers: • Search online sites directly (arXiv, Google Books, Google Scholar, JSTOR, the Library of Congress, PubMed, PubMed Central, and Semantic Scholar) or use the built-in browser (EZProxy-compliant) to download reference metadata and PDFs (access privileges required). Searches can return a maximum of 20 references, and only 50 references can be stored in your personal database. • Use unique identifiers such as DOI, PMID, ISBN, or arXiv id to autofill references. • View the text of PDF annotations in a note stream, and create your own with our powerful PDF markup engine. • Barcode scanning, one per day. • And many more features designed to help you discover, organize, and use reference information. Standard, one-time purchase ($14.99): • No limit on searches or importing. Premium, yearly subscription ($14.99). Requires a Standard purchase. • Cloud sync with all your iOS devices and Bookends for Mac (separate purchase). • Share online libraries with colleagues. • Scan documents with Mellel Mobile*. • Create multiple libraries. • Unlimited barcode scanning. • Extract PDF annotations with deep links to annotations and text. • Convenient UI to add PDF notes to the library. • Automate your actions with Shortcuts. * iPad-only. Requires a Mellel Mobile Premium subscription. Subscription is for one year and has an auto-renew option. The subscription can be managed in iOS -> Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions. A subscription will renew if it isn't canceled at least 24 hours before the renewal date. If the subscription is not renewed, Premium will be disabled but Standard will continue to work. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Lingotion Recorder

Features
Read full description

The Lingotion Recorder is the official face recording app designed for actors collaborating with Lingotion. Built for simplicity and precision, it empowers performers to capture high-quality facial recordings that seamlessly integrate into our production pipeline. With this app, actors can: Record Performances – Easily capture expressive face recordings directly from your device. Sync with Lingotion – Automatically connect your recordings with the Lingotion platform for review and processing. Secure & Private – Your data is encrypted and securely handled within the Lingotion ecosystem. Whether you’re auditioning, contributing to a project, or refining your craft, the Lingotion Recorder is built to support you every step of the way. Join the future of performance.

Screenshots

Bookends4 screens
Lingotion Recorder3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lingotion Recorder at none against Bookends's 2. Lingotion Recorder also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). 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. Bookends sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Lingotion Recorder asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bookends ships an update every 2 months, Lingotion Recorder every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Bookends versus Lingotion Recorder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookendsLingotion Recorder
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (398 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews76.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings398 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.618.6
Further details — not scored
Size114 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSonny Software, LLCLingotion

Bugs and requests

Bookends

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatibility with iCloud Optimized Storage
  • Unreliable sync between desktop and mobile versions
  • Occasional data loss or corruption

Requested features

4 requests
  • Nested folders and tags for better organization
  • Automatic PDF metadata extraction
  • Improved search and filtering capabilities
  • Seamless integration with third-party services

Lingotion Recorder

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Bookends

Subscriptions1
  • Premium3 Months trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Standard$14.99
None

Lingotion Recorder

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bookends free?
Bookends is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lingotion Recorder free?
Lingotion Recorder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Bookends or Lingotion Recorder have ads?
Neither Bookends nor Lingotion Recorder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bookends or Lingotion Recorder?
Bookends ships an update every 2 months, and Lingotion Recorder every 5 days. Most recently, Bookends was updated on October 19, 2026 and Lingotion Recorder on October 21, 2026.

Other comparisons