# LibraryThing vs Book Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: Book Tracker at 4.7 against LibraryThing's 3.5. Book Tracker also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 47%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). LibraryThing's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Book Tracker sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. LibraryThing asks for nothing beyond the download.

Book Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Book Tracker has 6.2K 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 85% of Book Tracker's.

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, Book Tracker weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LibraryThing | Book Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (288 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489/reviews) | **[4.7 (6.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-tracker-bookshelf-and-tbr/id1491660771/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 288 | **6.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews | **84.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 249 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LibraryThing.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/397718884) | [Simone Montalto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1491658868) |

## 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


### Book Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-tracker-bookshelf-and-tbr/id1491660771)

Organize your personal library, track reading progress, and manage your to-be-read list. Features include a reading timer, quote saving, and import from other platforms. Syncs across devices and offers Apple Watch integration.

**Highlights:** Organize entire library, Track reading progress, Reading timer, Save favorite quotes, Import from Goodreads, Borrowed books tracking, Syncs across devices

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Great tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large tip | $14.99 | one-time |
| Book Tracker Pro (Lifetime) | $15.99 | one-time |
| Huge tip | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent book tracking app
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🔒 No data collection, privacy-focused
- 💡 Customizable library and reading stats
- 👍 Seamless sync across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with data loss or sync
- 🔒 Separate purchase required for Mac app
- 🔒 Limited free version with paywall
- 👎 Complicated workflow for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect book cover images
- Reading progress data disappearing
- Issues with barcode scanning accuracy

**Requested features**

- Ability to track re-reads
- Option to differentiate owned vs borrowed books
- Customizable reading goal/progress widgets
- Shared library access for family/friends
- Improved sorting and search functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LibraryThing free?

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

### Is Book Tracker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LibraryThing or Book Tracker?

Book Tracker is rated higher. LibraryThing averages 3.5 out of 5 from 288 ratings, while Book Tracker averages 4.7 from 6.2K ratings.

### Do LibraryThing or Book Tracker have ads?

Neither LibraryThing nor Book Tracker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LibraryThing or Book Tracker?

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, and Book Tracker weekly. Most recently, LibraryThing was updated on October 29, 2026 and Book Tracker on October 30, 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.*