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The best apps for tracking your reading and discovering new books
Software1 min read
This article reviews several newer book apps that help people track their reading, find new books, and talk about what they read. It skips Goodreads because the writer wanted to focus on smaller, newer apps.
A guide to reading apps
The article lists some of the best book apps for readers. These apps help you organize your reading list, set reading goals, find new books, and share ideas with other readers. The list covers both casual readers and very active book lovers. Goodreads is left out on purpose, because the writer chose newer and less famous apps.
Prices at a glance
- Fable: free to download. The Fable Plus extra tier costs $5.99 a month.
- Bookshelf: free on iOS. Premium costs $6.99 a month.
- Pagebound: free on iOS and Android. A $9.99 monthly subscription adds extras like profile customization.
- StoryGraph: free on iOS and Android. StoryGraph Plus costs $4.99 a month.
- Margins: the article is cut off, so its price is not given here.
What each app does best
Fable is built around community, with book clubs and chats about books. Bookshelf uses AI to suggest books and create short summaries. Pagebound has discussion forums that avoid spoilers by sorting posts by how far you have read. StoryGraph suggests books based on your mood, themes, and pace, and shows detailed reading stats. Margins helps mood readers find books by searching for a feeling, such as "books like 1920s Paris."
Why it matters
Many people want to read more but lose motivation. These apps offer goals, reminders, streaks, and friends to read with. They can help a reader find the right book faster. Because most apps have free versions, you can try one before you pay for extra features.
Things to think about before you choose
- Do you want a community, or do you prefer to read alone?
- Do you want AI help, or simple lists and stats?
- Is a monthly fee worth it for the extra features?
- Is the app available on your phone type, iOS or Android?
Glossary
- Goodreads
- A well-known book app owned by Amazon, where people track books and write reviews.
- Fable
- A reading app that mixes book tracking with a social community and virtual book clubs.
- Bookshelf
- A reading app that uses AI to suggest books, make summaries, and track what you have read.
- Pagebound
- A book app with discussion forums where readers talk about books as they read them.
- StoryGraph
- A reading app that gives detailed reading stats and suggests books by mood, theme, and pace.
- Margins
- A book app that helps readers find books by mood or feeling.