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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Amazon Kindle vs Goodreads

Amazon Kindle 4.9★ · Free + IAP 85
Winner Amazon Kindle
Goodreads 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Amazon Kindle is the better choice for dedicated e-reading and book purchasing, while Goodreads excels as a social platform for tracking, reviewing, and discovering books.

Full reviews: Amazon Kindle · Goodreads

Amazon Kindle offers a robust reading experience with extensive book availability and convenient syncing across devices, though some users report search and app stability issues. Goodreads is a popular social platform for tracking reading, setting goals, and finding recommendations, but it is frequently criticized for its outdated interface and technical glitches.

Head to head

Features & Content edge: Amazon KindleR1R2R3R5
Amazon Kindle Kindle users appreciate the vast selection of books, the ability to find what they want, and features like font size adjustment for better accessibility R5R23R49. However, some find the filtering and search options limited, struggle with AI recommendations, and note a lack of certain book genres R1R2R10. There are also complaints about poor editing in some books R3.
Goodreads Goodreads is praised for its core features: tracking books, setting reading goals, rating books, and organizing a 'to-be-read' (TBR) list R59. Users also value the ability to research books and read reviews from others R55R82. However, many users desire more advanced sorting options, such as by genre, and the ability to reorder their TBR list . Key features like changing book editions have been removed or are buggy .
Ease of Use & Interface edge: Amazon KindleR9R13R30R32
Amazon Kindle Many Kindle users find the app easy to use, with well-laid-out content and convenient downloading . The syncing across devices is also highly valued R37. However, recent updates have introduced issues like books vanishing, collections disappearing, and the app crashing R9R30R32. Some users also report difficulties accessing Prime-eligible books on iPhone R13.
Goodreads Goodreads is widely criticized for its clunky, outdated, and unintuitive interface . Users find navigation challenging, struggle to find friends or their own reviews, and report that buttons don't always work . There's a strong desire for a modern redesign and better personalization options .
Reliability & Performance edge: Amazon KindleR9R16R23R24
Amazon Kindle Kindle is generally seen as reliable for reading, with many users expressing long-term satisfaction R23R37. However, recent updates have led to significant performance issues, including frequent crashes, books going back to the cover after chapters, two-column page formatting, and books/collections vanishing R9R24R30. Support for these issues is sometimes reported as unhelpful R16.
Goodreads Goodreads suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, with users reporting the search function not working, the app crashing upon opening, and reading progress not updating R71R74. Some users have experienced complete data loss, with all their logged books, ratings, and reviews disappearing . Login issues are also a problem .
Price & Value edge: Amazon KindleR13R23R37R49
Amazon Kindle Kindle is a free app, offering access to purchased books and Prime-included titles R13. Users value the convenience of instant book buying and carrying many books R23R37. The ability to enlarge font size is a huge benefit for some R23R49.
Goodreads Goodreads is a free app that allows users to track their reading, set goals, and connect with other readers R59R82. However, the presence of sponsored ads in the 'My Books' section and home feed is a significant point of frustration for users R63R66.
Support & Community edge: GoodreadsR4R12R16R18
Amazon Kindle Kindle users report being repeatedly prompted to rate the app, which is a major annoyance R4R12R18. While some users have contacted support, it has not always been helpful R16.
Goodreads Goodreads is valued for its social network aspect, allowing users to connect with other book lovers, read reviews, and engage in discussions R82R97. Users appreciate seeing what friends are reading and their ratings . However, some find it difficult to find and connect with friends within the app . There's also a strong desire for half-star ratings to provide more nuanced feedback .
Pick Amazon Kindle if

you prioritize a dedicated e-reading experience, want access to a vast library of books, and value features like font size adjustment and device syncing R5R23R37R49.

Pick Goodreads if

you are looking for a social platform to track your reading, set goals, discover new books through community reviews, and connect with other readers R55R59R82R97.

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of positive reviews, but recent negative reviews for both highlight issues with updates and app stability. Goodreads' negative feedback is heavily skewed towards its outdated interface and technical problems, while Kindle's recent issues revolve around specific bugs and search functionality.

Frequently asked

Can I track my reading progress with these apps?
Yes, Goodreads is specifically designed for tracking your reading progress, setting annual reading goals, and organizing your 'to-be-read' list, although some users report issues with progress updates and data loss R59R71R74. Amazon Kindle tracks your reading progress within individual books and syncs across devices R37.
Do these apps have social features?
Goodreads is primarily a social network for book lovers, allowing you to connect with friends, see what they're reading, read and write reviews, and participate in discussions R82R97. Amazon Kindle does not have prominent social features, focusing instead on the individual reading experience.
Are there issues with ads in these apps?
Goodreads users frequently complain about sponsored ads appearing in their 'My Books' section and home feed, which detracts from the user experience R63R66. Amazon Kindle does not typically display ads within the reading experience itself, though it does show AI recommendations that some users find intrusive R10.
Which app is better for discovering new books?
Goodreads is highly regarded for book discovery, with users relying on its recommendations, community reviews, and the ability to see what friends are reading to find new titles R55R59R82. Amazon Kindle also offers recommendations, but some users find its AI-generated suggestions unhelpful and wish for better filtering R1R10.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 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] Amazon Kindle 2/5 · GB Filters very limited: Its a great app, when it works. Its searching that gets me. I want Historical non fiction. I tried just selecting “historical “. It apparently has 6 books, and 3 of them are novels. Drives me nuts!
  2. [R2] Amazon Kindle 4/5 · GB More book options: I love kindle but the supernatural dark books are brilliant - mostly - but there isn’t enough of them! Very limited compared to other series.
  3. [R3] Amazon Kindle 3/5 · GB Needs editors: The level of error across the range I have read says that there is no recognition of a publishers onus to provide any editing. I suspect that this effort and cost has been shoved back at the authors. This is a bad business model, particularly since any reader is apparently able to report mistakes but nothing happens; books I read two years ago still have the same errors. It would no
  4. [R5] Amazon Kindle 5/5 · GB Happy reader: I am so happy to have kindle on my all devices. Everything what I want I can find and read when I want. Try it and you will love it. Highly recommended.
  5. [R9] Amazon Kindle 3/5 · GB Keeps crashing: Every time I finish a chapter the book goes back to the book cover the page blanks out .was working fine before the last update not happy today because I just want to read so it’s a 3 star for now
  6. [R13] Amazon Kindle 1/5 · GB Couldn’t use on iPhone, what’s the point: As Amazon Prime subscriber, I wanted to make use of Amazon Kindle offer to read books included with Prime. I prompted from Amazon app to download Kindle, log in and was hoping to download eligible books with a click of a button but it turned to be impossible- instead of Download button there was a button with Amazon website link clicking upon which, AppSt
  7. [R30] Amazon Kindle 1/5 · GB Update: I have updated the app and all the books including the one I was reading has now vanished
  8. [R32] Amazon Kindle 1/5 · GB Where have my collections gone: First the “Uncollected” collection meant missing. Followed the help desk advice to delete the app and reload. Now have lost ALL my collections. Not impressed and very annoyed. Come on Amazon sort it out and get your act together
  9. [R16] Amazon Kindle 1/5 · GB My e reader is not working!: I contacted Amazon Kindle support 2 days ago and they have been unable to help.🥲Hopefully soon.
  10. [R23] Amazon Kindle 5/5 · GB Kindle reading App: One man’s meat is another man’s poison”, but for me, electronic books are a joy. I’ve been a Kindle user since they first came out, and I still love them. The convenience of buying books instantly and carrying hundreds of novels, especially when going on holiday, is unbeatable. With my eyesight not being what it used to be, the ability to increase the font size is a huge benefit.
  11. [R24] Amazon Kindle 2/5 · GB Two Column Pages?: Since the most recent upgrade, whenever I open a book, the pages are in a two column format. Is this a bug or is there a way to choose between one and two columns.
  12. [R37] Amazon Kindle 5/5 · GB So convenient: As someone who always has their head in a book, I can only say that the Kindle reading app is a crucial part of my life. Makes life easy due to portability and the synching between whichever bit of tech I’m using makes it even better. A final benefit is that I no longer have over-full bookshelves in our study.
  13. [R49] Amazon Kindle 5/5 · GB Kindle: I’ve had my kindle for a number of months . As my eyesight declined, it has been the perfect substitute for books . Being able to enlarge font is wonderful.
  14. [R4] Amazon Kindle 1/5 · GB To many requests to rate: Bending
  15. [R12] Amazon Kindle 3/5 · GB Rarely reviews stuff: Bored with being asked to provide reviews
  16. [R18] Amazon Kindle 1/5 · GB App is fine but…: …keeps prompting me to write reviews and rate, even though I already did it. Gets really annoying.
  17. [R59] Goodreads 3/5 · US Why I keep using Goodreads?: I’ve used Goodreads for years, and it’s still one of my favorite apps for readers. I love being able to track everything I read, set yearly reading goals, rate books, and keep my TBR organized all in one place. The recommendations have helped me discover so many new authors and series. I also enjoy reading other readers’ reviews before deciding on my next book. It’s ea
  18. [R71] Goodreads 3/5 · GB Could do with some improvements: It’s a good app for tracking all the books you have read and you’re able to set goals for the upcoming year however, despite already finishing a couple books this year and adding them to my read list my annual target still wasn’t budging, so with a little help reading the help centre bit I found you have to edit and add the date you started the book and the date yo
  19. [R74] Goodreads 3/5 · GB Not tracking progress: Love the app but since the last update it won’t update my progress percentage 🙄 just hoping it will record when I finish the book.
  20. [R82] Goodreads 5/5 · US Great Book Tracker and Social Network: I Goodreads is a great app I use to find and share books. Tracking my reading progress and getting personalized recommendations makes it fun and easy. I enjoy connecting with other book lovers through their reviews and discussions, which often offer new insights. Plus, the annual reading challenge pushes me to explore different genres and discover new authors
  21. [R97] Goodreads 5/5 · US Great bookshelf: I really like the idea of having one place to keep track of all the books I’ve read or want to read in one place. I like being able to see if another person with similar taste in books has read it and if they liked it before I decide to add it to my TBR. Also it makes it very easy to share the books I love with people I think might like it too.
  22. [R10] Amazon Kindle 2/5 · GB Love the app. HATE THE ai recommendations: Please please please can we allow readers to block ‘authors’ or at the very least allow the suggested books on the app to be removed with one click. No matter what I do blatant ai books are being shown to me constantly. I’ve just counted 22 shown on the app. I just want to get rid of them!!!
  23. [R63] 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.
  24. [R66] Goodreads 1/5 · US Sponsored ads: The sponsored ads make the experience horrible.
  25. [R55] Goodreads 5/5 · US One location all things Book: Easy to use, great place research books, keep track of what I have read, what I want to read and read reviews.

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store