Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Reading List vs Goodreads

Reading List 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Tie
Goodreads 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Reading List is better for users prioritizing a clean, private, and customizable book tracking experience, while Goodreads is better for those who value a large social community and extensive book discovery features.

Full reviews: Reading List · Goodreads

Reading List offers a simple, intuitive, and visually appealing way to track books and create custom lists, though recent bugs with adding books are a concern. Goodreads excels in its social features, extensive database, and community reviews, but users frequently criticize its outdated interface and intrusive ads.

Head to head

Features & Functionality tieR1R2R3R4
Reading List Reading List users appreciate its ease of use for tracking books, creating custom lists, and basic statistics R2R5. However, many recent reviews highlight significant issues with the barcode scanning and online search functions, forcing manual entry for many books R1R3R4. Some users also desire more advanced features like series tracking, better note-taking capabilities, and improved statistics R13.
Goodreads Goodreads is praised for its ability to track reading progress, set goals, and find book series . Users value its extensive database for reviews and recommendations . However, common complaints include the inability to use half-star ratings R72R75R76R81, glitches when adding dates or changing book versions , and a lack of advanced features like private notes on the app .
Ease of Use & Interface edge: Reading ListR2R5R7R12
Reading List Reading List is frequently lauded for its simple, clean, and easy-to-use interface R2R20. Users appreciate its straightforward nature for tracking and organizing books R5. However, some report issues with widgets not working R7 and occasional glitches with reading logs and dates R12.
Goodreads Goodreads users find it generally easy to navigate for basic book tracking . However, a significant number of reviews criticize its outdated, clunky, and unappealing UI, wishing for a more modernized and user-friendly design R63.
Reliability & Performance tieR1R3R4R7
Reading List Many Reading List users have reported recent bugs, particularly with the barcode scanner and online search not finding books or pulling complete metadata R1R3R4. There are also reports of widgets not working R7, reading logs glitching R12, and some users experiencing data loss or syncing issues across devices .
Goodreads Goodreads users report glitches with the app, including issues with logging in , not showing all friends , and problems with adding dates or changing book versions . A severe issue reported by one user was the deletion of all their ratings and books . Notifications are also described as annoying and not clearing properly .
Social & Community edge: GoodreadsR11R20R26R63
Reading List Reading List is primarily a personal tracking app, with users appreciating the lack of a social component for a private experience R11R20R26. One user explicitly wished for friend connectivity, but this is not a core feature R11.
Goodreads Goodreads is highly valued for its social features, allowing users to connect with friends, see what they are reading, share reviews, and get recommendations . However, users frequently complain about difficulties finding and adding friends R63R72. Some also note that the community can be toxic .
Price & Value tieR3R5R13R19
Reading List Reading List is free to download with in-app purchases. Free users appreciate its utility R5, but many express frustration that core features like statistics are paywalled behind a Pro subscription R19R43. Some paid users find the Pro version worth it R3, but others feel it's not worth the renewal due to bugs and rudimentary features R13. There was also a report of an unauthorized subscription charge .
Goodreads Goodreads is free to download and use, but users are increasingly frustrated by the presence of intrusive ads, including video ads, in sections like 'My Books' R61R64R85R94. This detracts significantly from the user experience, making the 'free' experience feel less valuable.
Pick Reading List if

you prefer a simple, clean, and private book tracking experience without social distractions, and you are willing to pay for the Pro version for full features or tolerate recent bugs in the free version R20R26.

Pick Goodreads if

you prioritize a large social community for book discovery, reviews, and connecting with friends, and you are willing to overlook an outdated interface and intrusive ads .

Evidence note: Goodreads has a significantly larger number of reviews, which provides a broader range of user opinions, especially regarding its social features and UI. Reading List's reviews, while fewer, are more recent and highlight critical functionality issues that have emerged over time.

Frequently asked

Does Reading List have a free version?
Yes, Reading List is free to download and use, but key features like detailed statistics are only available with a paid Pro subscription R19R43.
Can I connect with friends on Reading List?
Reading List is primarily a personal book tracking app and does not offer social features to connect with friends, which some users appreciate for privacy R11R20R26.
Are there ads in Goodreads?
Yes, Goodreads has introduced intrusive ads, including video ads, within the app, even in sections like 'My Books,' which many users find frustrating R61R64R85R94.
Can I rate books with half stars on Goodreads?
No, a frequent complaint from Goodreads users is the inability to give half-star ratings, with the app only allowing full-star increments R72R75R76R81.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Reading List 2/5 · US Scanning functionality no longer works: The scanning barcode functionality does not work at all anymore. Every book now needs to be added manually. I will probably be switching to a different app if this is not fixed.
  2. [R2] Reading List 5/5 · US Best book tracker: This app is very easy to use. Highly recommend!
  3. [R3] Reading List 3/5 · US Used to Love it!: I’ve used this and paid for the pro membership for years. I’ve been disappointed that the last 7 out of 10 ebooks I read had to be manually added. The “search online” function used to work about 95% of the time, but not any more….
  4. [R4] Reading List 1/5 · US Inputting myself: Not sure what happened but it seems like any book I am reading/listening too I have to enter manually now. Even scanning its like no books can be found. Pretty frustrating.
  5. [R5] Reading List 5/5 · US Great to keep things organized!: It’s really a great app, I don’t have pro so I’m sure it only gets better from here! Keeps everything neat, pretty to look at, and organized!
  6. [R7] Reading List 2/5 · US It’s nice ..but..: Been using this app for a while. I like it … but the widget doesn’t work anymore. Kind of makes me not want to use it anymore.
  7. [R12] Reading List 3/5 · US Pretty good but some issues: It’s good but there’s some big issues: If you accidentally hit “finished” you can’t undo it to keep your reading log, the “average days to finish” is off and could be made much better with a way to track hours of reading, it glitches if you read over night and pass midnight, and the reading log glitches consistently when the dates change on their own.
  8. [R11] Reading List 5/5 · US V good: I didn’t like good reads and this is way more straight forward. I do wish I could connect with friends but eh oh well.
  9. [R20] Reading List 5/5 · US The best reading tracker: This is by far the best reading tracker available (and I’ve tried just about every one). I love that you can quickly add books, pause books, and create lists. Really intuitive. And there’s no social component, which personally I find freeing. I’m just trying to keep track of books I’m reading and that I’ve loved.
  10. [R26] Reading List 5/5 · US Great book log: I found Reading List, and I like it a lot! I found this app a couple of years ago when I wanted to log my reading without using one of the sites (e.g. Goodreads) that major companies use to mine our data. This app is basically like keeping a handwritten log/ personal spreadsheet of what you read (in order to have some privacy and defense from data mining intrusion) but as an app, i
  11. [R63] Goodreads 3/5 · US Lacking but so much potential: The app should be easier to navigate. You need email or phone number to look people up. Is there a way to reorder want to read books? If so I couldn’t figure it out. I want to put my next read at the top of the list. The home feed needs work. Why aren’t the stars that friends rated the book displayed? If Sue rated the book 4 stars, show 4 yellow stars. I’d us
  12. [R13] Reading List 2/5 · US Not Worth The Renewal Subscription: I am not sure why all the rave reviews, what am I missing. This app is rudimentary at best. The note section needs much improvement in the copy and paste function. Each time you copy a note from a book and try to paste it in a running stream of already inserted notes, the app scrolls you back to mid-section of the screen and then you have to scroll down to your
  13. [R19] Reading List 1/5 · US Not useful unless willing to pay for Pro version: Downloaded this so my son cold track how many pages he’s read this year. Was very disappointed to see that the “statistics” (the entire reason for an app like this), is only available if you are willing to pay a monthly or annual fee. So without a purchase, this is as useful as keeping a list in a note app of which books you have read.
  14. [R43] Reading List 4/5 · US Good but could be better: This is a great app but I do not like that you do have to have the pro to see your reading stats but other than that it’s pretty good but please try and change that to where you don’t need to pay for pro to be able to see your stats
  15. [R61] Goodreads 1/5 · US Ads in my books: There shouldn’t be ads in the ‘My Books’ section or any of the user’s shelves. It’s so annoying.
  16. [R64] Goodreads 1/5 · US Sponsored ads: The sponsored ads make the experience horrible.
  17. [R85] Goodreads 1/5 · US WACK: Imagine, ads while you’re trying to look at your Read / Want to Read list. I read to get away from being sold to 24/7. Jeez I’m good.
  18. [R94] Goodreads 1/5 · US It has ads now!: Don’t update the app, the new version has ads - big ones, videos, that are distracting and completely unrelated to books. Really frustrating
  19. [R72] Goodreads 3/5 · US Still Needs Upgrades: Literally everyone who uses Goodreads has wanted the option for quarter-star ratings forever, but Goodreads never obliges. Developers who don't listen to the people they serve kinda PMO, honestly. It also would be nice if it was easier to search for people to add as friends; the entire social aspect of the app leaves a lot to be desired. Additionally, if it remembered your se
  20. [R75] Goodreads 3/5 · US All we ask: Give us the ability to add half stars
  21. [R76] Goodreads 2/5 · US More Stars: I don’t like that you can only give a full star rating. You should be able to have more options.
  22. [R81] Goodreads 3/5 · US I wish: You could leave half star reviews on books! Otherwise app is flawless

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store