# LibraryThing vs Simply TBR

LibraryThing and Simply TBR both sit at 3.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 47% of LibraryThing's written reviews are positive against 0% of Simply TBR's. LibraryThing also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (278 vs 2). Simply TBR's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 weeks). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simply TBR sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. LibraryThing asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.5 for LibraryThing against 3.5 for Simply TBR. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LibraryThing has 278 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of LibraryThing's written reviews are positive against 0% of Simply TBR's.

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, Simply TBR every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LibraryThing | Simply TBR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (278 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489/reviews) | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-tbr-tame-the-stack/id6770712702/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **278** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **47.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 9 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [LibraryThing.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/397718884) | [SimplyKyra LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1650115619) |

## 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


### Simply TBR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-tbr-tame-the-stack/id6770712702)

Organize your diverse reading list from various sources into a single, visual stack. Easily add books, track reading progress, and get gentle nudges to pick your next read without pressure.

**Highlights:** Aggregate books from multiple sources, Visual book stack organization, Track reading progress (Unread, Started, Finished), Random book selection tool, Exit Ceremony for finished books, Widgets for quick access

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Connected Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Connected Annual | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LibraryThing free?

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

### Is Simply TBR free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LibraryThing or Simply TBR?

LibraryThing and Simply TBR are both rated 3.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 278 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do LibraryThing or Simply TBR have ads?

Neither LibraryThing nor Simply TBR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LibraryThing or Simply TBR?

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, and Simply TBR every 2 weeks. Most recently, LibraryThing was updated on October 16, 2026 and Simply TBR on October 16, 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.*