# LibraryThing vs Reading List

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reading List at 93% against LibraryThing's 47%. Reading List also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (30K vs 278). LibraryThing's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reading List sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month. LibraryThing asks for nothing beyond the download.

Reading List holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reading List has 30K ratings behind it against 278, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of LibraryThing's written reviews are positive against 93% of Reading List's.

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, Reading List fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LibraryThing | Reading List |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (278 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489/reviews) | **[4.8 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-list-book-tracker/id1217139955/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 278 | **30K** |
| Positive reviews | 47.2% of reviews | **93.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LibraryThing.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/397718884) | [Andrew Bennet Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163617089) |

## What reviewers say

### LibraryThing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489)

Catalog your personal book, DVD, and CD collections. Easily add items by searching or scanning barcodes. Enhance your catalog with high-resolution cover photos and browse your collection visually.

**Highlights:** Catalog books, DVDs, and CDs, Search for media items, Scan ISBN barcodes, Add high-resolution cover photos, Browse collection by cover type

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick barcode scanning
- 👍 Useful for cataloging library
- 🚀 Fast book addition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔍 Limited search and editing capabilities
- 🤖 Outdated and dated UI

**Reported bugs**

- Barcode scanner not working
- Books disappearing from catalog
- Editing and saving issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to create custom collections
- Offline access to library
- Integration with other book apps
- Lending/loan tracking feature


### Reading List

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-list-book-tracker/id1217139955)

Organize your reading journey by tracking books you've read, are currently reading, or want to read. Log progress, add custom lists, and record notes and ratings. Sync data across devices and export your library.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes to add books, Search online for books, Manual book entry, Track reading progress (start/finish dates), Create custom book lists, Add ratings and notes, View reading statistics, iCloud data sync

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading List Pro (Monthly) | $2.00 | per month |
| Reading List Pro (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Reading List Pro (Yearly) | $14.00 | per year |
| Reading List Pro (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |
| Small Tip | $1.00 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.00 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $3.00 | one-time |
| Very Large Tip | $5.00 | one-time |
| Giant Tip | $10.00 | one-time |
| Reading List Pro (Lifetime) | $38.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very user-friendly
- 🚀 Easy to add and organize books
- 🔒 Private and non-social
- 💡 Barcode scanning feature
- 👍 Clean and simple interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with syncing across devices
- 💡 Lack of ability to track re-reads or put books 'on hold'
- 💡 Limited sorting/organizing options for large book collections
- 💡 No ability to add audiobooks or track reading time

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with date/time tracking when adding books
- Occasional crashes or data loss when using the app

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track re-reads and 'on hold' books
- Improve sorting/organizing options for large collections
- Add support for audiobooks and reading time tracking
- Implement cloud sync and account features to preserve data
- Add more customization options for lists and book display


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LibraryThing free?

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

### Is Reading List free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LibraryThing or Reading List?

Reading List is rated higher. LibraryThing averages 3.5 out of 5 from 278 ratings, while Reading List averages 4.8 from 30K ratings.

### Do LibraryThing or Reading List have ads?

Neither LibraryThing nor Reading List shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LibraryThing or Reading List?

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, and Reading List fortnightly. Most recently, LibraryThing was updated on October 12, 2026 and Reading List on October 15, 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.*