# LibraryThing vs Reading Journal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LibraryThing at none against Reading Journal's 2. LibraryThing also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). Reading Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Reading Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year. LibraryThing asks for nothing beyond the download.

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, Reading Journal every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LibraryThing | Reading Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.5 (278 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **278** | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 9 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LibraryThing.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/397718884) | [程辉 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789610048) |

## 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- 🤖 Outdated and dated UI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 Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-journal-tabmap/id6796663483)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TabMap Pro Annual | $6.99 | per year |
| TabMap Lifetime Pro | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LibraryThing free?

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

### Is Reading Journal free?

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

### Do LibraryThing or Reading Journal have ads?

Neither LibraryThing nor Reading Journal shows ads.

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

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, and Reading Journal every 2 weeks. Most recently, LibraryThing was updated on September 25, 2026 and Reading Journal on September 18, 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.*