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

iCollect Books vs Reading List

iCollect Books 4.6★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Reading List
Reading List 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75

Reading List is generally preferred for its ease of use and tracking features, despite recent issues with book scanning, while iCollect Books is better for detailed collection management but suffers from significant pricing and reliability complaints.

Full reviews: iCollect Books · Reading List

Reading List offers a clean, easy-to-use interface for tracking books and creating lists, though recent updates have introduced scanning and data retrieval issues. iCollect Books excels in detailed collection cataloging with extensive editing options, but its high price for full functionality and frequent reports of data loss and scanning problems are major drawbacks.

Head to head

Features and Customization edge: iCollect BooksR8R26R29R33
iCollect Books iCollect Books users appreciate its extensive customization options, allowing them to add pictures of actual books and track special editions, and organize collections in various ways R8R26R29. However, some users find the sorting options limited R33 and wish for more specific fields like signed book status or library reference numbers . The app is praised for its ability to export customized information .
Reading List Reading List users value its ability to create multiple custom lists for categorization . It's seen as a straightforward tracker without social components . Some users desire more advanced features like series tracking and better statistics R103, while others wish for richer note-taking capabilities, such as highlighting or bolding .
Ease of Use and Interface edge: Reading ListR4R6R9R21
iCollect Books iCollect Books is described as easy to use for cataloging R6, but some users find the scanning clunky R4 or non-functional R21R39R52. The publication year selector is a dial, which is inconvenient for older books R9. Some users also report issues with the app crashing after upgrades R24 or being unable to open .
Reading List Reading List is widely praised for being easy to use, straightforward, and having a clean interface . Users appreciate its simplicity compared to other apps . However, some recent updates have caused issues with widgets not working and glitches with reading logs and date tracking .
Reliability and Performance tieR1R12R15R24
iCollect Books iCollect Books has significant reliability issues, with users reporting incorrect book descriptions from ISBN scans R1, bulk upload failures R15, and the app being unreliable for e-books or offline use R12. Many users also complain about data loss after updates or switching phones R28R31R34R37 and the app crashing R24.
Reading List Reading List has recently faced reliability concerns, particularly with its scanning and online search functions . Many popular books are not found, or their metadata is missing. Some users have also reported losing all their lists or issues with syncing across devices .
Price and Value edge: Reading ListR3R6R13R16
iCollect Books iCollect Books has a free tier that allows 30 books, after which users must pay $29.99 for unlimited use R6R13R16R19. This pricing structure is a major point of contention, with many users feeling it's too expensive or that the limit is too low for serious collectors R3. Some also report being asked for more money after purchasing an 'unlimited' option R3.
Reading List Reading List offers a free version that many users find useful for basic tracking . However, key features like statistics are locked behind a Pro subscription R79R103. While some users find the annual fee worth it , others feel the app is useless without the paid version or were charged without authorization .
Support and Communication edge: iCollect BooksR7R28R54R55
iCollect Books iCollect Books users report mixed experiences with support. Some praise quick responses and willingness to offer opt-outs for inconvenient features R7R55. However, others describe customer service as unresponsive R54 and complain about data loss and being forced to pay again after app changes or hacks R28.
Reading List Reading List users report difficulties with support, specifically not receiving responses to emails about syncing issues . There are no direct reviews praising support, but also no widespread complaints beyond the lack of response in specific cases.
Pick iCollect Books if

you need highly detailed, customizable cataloging for a large collection, including the ability to add actual book photos, and are willing to pay a premium for the full features despite potential reliability issues R8R26R29.

Pick Reading List if

you want a simple, clean, and intuitive app primarily for tracking books you've read or want to read, creating custom lists, and appreciate a non-social platform, even if you might encounter recent scanning glitches .

Evidence note: Both apps have recent negative reviews regarding scanning functionality, suggesting a common issue across book tracking apps. iCollect Books' lifetime rating is significantly lower than Reading List's, and recent reviews for iCollect Books are heavily skewed negative, often citing pricing and data loss issues. Reading List's recent negative reviews focus more on technical glitches rather than fundamental flaws or pricing complaints.

Frequently asked

How much does iCollect Books cost?
iCollect Books allows you to add 30 books for free, after which you must pay $29.99 for unlimited access R6R13R16R19.
Can I track reading statistics in Reading List?
Yes, Reading List offers reading statistics, but this feature is only available if you purchase the Pro version R79R103.
Do these apps have issues with scanning books?
Both iCollect Books and Reading List have recent user complaints about their barcode scanning functionality not working reliably or accurately, often requiring manual entry even for popular books R1R21R39R52.
Is my data safe with iCollect Books?
Some iCollect Books users have reported significant data loss, with collections disappearing after updates, app changes, or switching to new phones R28R31R34R37.

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. [R8] iCollect Books 5/5 · US Great for Special Editions: Was looking for something to track my books, especially special editions. This has found every book but so far. The amount of editing you can do is great too.
  2. [R26] iCollect Books 5/5 · US Best I could find: I’ve got several thousand books that I’ve collected over the years. I had them in a database perhaps 20 years ago which crashed. It’s taken me thus long to get over that failure and get my collection organized. I reviewed multiple “best” lists for book collecting and this app was the best. What seemed unique was that I could add pictures of the actual book in the collection. For
  3. [R29] iCollect Books 4/5 · US Love this app but there are some bugs: I love this app, I can take pictures of my books, organize them pretty much however I like, as well as change the organization easily. It helps me know exactly what I have, making it easy when I go book shopping what I have or need. There are a few annoying bugs in the app. Sometimes when I am putting in a new books info it changes to another book I have al
  4. [R33] iCollect Books 3/5 · US Sort: Sort is very limited
  5. [R4] iCollect Books 2/5 · US Meh.: The scanning is clunky, but you can add pretty much any information you want.
  6. [R6] iCollect Books 3/5 · US Easy to use: The app is easy to use and has settings to set how you want your list to show. The app, only allows you to add 30 books. Once you’ve added 30 you’ll need to pay. It’s a little more than I was looking to pay, but over all is a nice app.
  7. [R9] iCollect Books 3/5 · US Pretty Intuitive, But…: Pretty solid app, except the Publication Year selector is a dial rather than a keypad, which is fine if the majority of your books were written within the last 10 years; the majority of mine were not. Also, no way to record works written B.C.
  8. [R21] iCollect Books 3/5 · US Review: The camera to scan books doesn’t work 😕
  9. [R1] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Wrong the book showed up when I entered the ISBN: The very first book I scanned, came up with the correct cover for the book. I am scanning, the description is for the wrong book. I’m scanning a vintage sunset book called kingdoms for kids, but the description of the book that comes up is for a story, not a how to, something completely different. I don’t know if that’s because I’m scanning a vinta
  10. [R12] iCollect Books 3/5 · US Not reliable: I’ve really tried to like this app, but it seems fairly clueless in finding e-books which I use due to frequent travel. I usually have to put most of the info in myself which is pretty time-consuming. I am out of the country frequently and do not always have access to internet. My database only shows without a connection about 10% of the time - making it an useless resource then. W
  11. [R15] iCollect Books 3/5 · US Bulk upload?: The bulk upload stopped working earlier this year. Now I’m stuck having to upload them one at a time. Thank goodness bulk upload was working under the old app name, when I had 100+ books to upload. If I had to do them one at a time back then, I would have deleted this app. It was better before.
  12. [R24] iCollect Books 3/5 · US It was great until it crashed: I paid for the upgrade and it was great! I was looking at everything you could do in it and changed the theme color and it crashed. Now I can’t get it to open back up and I’ve scanned almost 400 books into it. I’m so mad I could cry. If I’m not able to get it to open again, I want a refund! I’m not paying $10 for an app that won’t open!
  13. [R3] iCollect Books 3/5 · US Nice app: This is a nice app but I wish it would have an unlimited option or let the purchaser know the number limits ahead of time. As a teacher I have many books and even after purchasing the supposed unlimited option was only able to put in 50 books and now asking for more money. Makes this teacher not very happy.
  14. [R13] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Not free: You have to pay 29.99 to enter more than 30 books
  15. [R16] iCollect Books 2/5 · US Only 30 books allowed for free: As of 7/19/24, the max allowed of books scanned in for free is 30. This is ridiculous, as anybody who is scanning ISBN’s to add to a list has a large quantity of books
  16. [R7] iCollect Books 2/5 · US Awesome app for large collections!: To tell you how much I love this app, let me start off by saying I don’t pay for apps. If it ain’t free, I don’t use them. But this one so impressed me after reaching my “free limit” of books that I decided to purchase the full version. And I have zero buyers’ remorse! And the one time a feature was added that was inconvenient, they responded quickly and chose t
  17. [R28] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Scam!: I purchased this app years ago to be able to add all my books. Then they get hacked, all my info in removed, and now I cant add more than 30 books because my account was wiped out and NOW they are asking for $30 to add my books! Its a complete scam! Its not my fault you guys were hacked! Do not get this app, they cant keep our information safe and then we have to pay more money for their mi
  18. [R54] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Perplexed: With the old app, I had books organized into genres. When the booms were uploaded to the new system, my categories disappeared. In addition, I have yet to figure out how to print my booklist. The Q & A is not not helpful and customer service is unresponsive.
  19. [R55] iCollect Books 5/5 · US Great App: Love, love, love this app! I have over 500 books and this is a great app to load my library so I can have all the information at my fingertips. The founders of the app are very helpful and respond quickly to questions. Highly recommend this app.
  20. [R19] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Costs $30: $30 to have more than 50. $30. Insane.
  21. [R79] 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.
  22. [R103] 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
  23. [R39] iCollect Books 3/5 · US I like it, but some annoying things: I really love the idea of this app. I love that I can list all the books I have on here and organize them by when I last read them. A couple of annoying things though: 1.) You have to manually put in the ISBN of each book which can be tedious. When I tried the camera option, it just told me that the ISBN might belong to another book and to manually put it in a
  24. [R52] iCollect Books 2/5 · US This app was better before it changed….: I miss the “Books” app. Now that it’s changed to iCollect, I can’t get my isbn code reader to work and upload new books. It’s so frustrating because my entire classroom book collection- over 600 books- are listed in here and now I feel like I can’t use it the way I used to.
  25. [R31] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Data is Gone! No Warning!: I have used Books for years. It helped me avoid purchasing duplicate for me and as gifts for others. Now, my list is gone. I would give a rating of 0 stars if that was an option.
  26. [R34] iCollect Books 1/5 · US All gone: Data didn’t transfer when i changed to a new phone, years worth of cataloging all gone.
  27. [R37] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Not happy: Cannot see my collection or log in to the app to see the books i own and I’ve been using this for years 🤬

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