# LibraryThing vs Bookshelf

The clearest difference is rating: Bookshelf at 4.6 against LibraryThing's 3.5. Bookshelf also leads on ratings volume (4.2K vs 288) and chart position (#202 vs unranked). LibraryThing's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bookshelf sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. LibraryThing asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bookshelf holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshelf has 4.2K ratings behind it against 288, 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 52% of Bookshelf's.

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, Bookshelf fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LibraryThing | Bookshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (288 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489/reviews) | **[4.6 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelf-book-tracker-and-list/id1469372414/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 288 | **4.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews | **52.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#202** |
| Size | 9 MB | 283 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LibraryThing.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/397718884) | [Alexander Gerrese](https://appshunter.io/developer/1025357379) |

## 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


### Bookshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelf-book-tracker-and-list/id1469372414)

**Currently charting:** #202 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Track your reading, build a library, and improve your habits with insightful stats and AI-powered discovery. Remember what you read with notes and quizzes, and set reading goals to stay motivated. Sync across devices and export your library.

**Highlights:** Build and manage your book library, Track reading progress and habits, AI-powered book recommendations, Take notes and create quizzes, Set reading goals and reminders, Import from Goodreads and Kindle, Sync across iOS devices

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bookshelf Gold (Monthly) | $6.99 | per month |
| Bookshelf Gold (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |
| Tokens Refill (Small) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tokens Refill (Medium) | $4.99 | one-time |
| 250 Tokens | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tokens Refill (Large) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bookshelf Gold (Lifetime) | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Excellent book tracking features
- 📚 Unlimited book storage
- 💻 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🔍 Powerful search and discovery
- 📝 Detailed notes and quotes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free features, requires premium subscription
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Sync issues between devices
- 📚 Incomplete book database
- 🔍 Unreliable barcode scanning

**Reported bugs**

- Books disappearing from library after updates
- Reading progress not syncing correctly
- Inconsistent behavior of reading mode and session tracking
- Search function frequently returning incorrect results

**Requested features**

- Add ability to import/export data
- Implement better sorting and filtering options
- Allow customizable book covers and collections
- Add support for audiobook tracking
- Integrate with other reading apps and services


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LibraryThing free?

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

### Is Bookshelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LibraryThing or Bookshelf?

Bookshelf is rated higher. LibraryThing averages 3.5 out of 5 from 288 ratings, while Bookshelf averages 4.6 from 4.2K ratings.

### Do LibraryThing or Bookshelf have ads?

Neither LibraryThing nor Bookshelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LibraryThing or Bookshelf?

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, and Bookshelf fortnightly. Most recently, LibraryThing was updated on October 29, 2026 and Bookshelf on October 29, 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.*