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

iCollect Books vs BookBuddy

iCollect Books 4.6★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner BookBuddy
BookBuddy 4.8★ · Free + IAP 80

BookBuddy is the better choice for most users due to its higher reliability in scanning and data retrieval, more consistent pricing, and better overall user satisfaction, despite both apps having similar free-tier limitations.

Full reviews: iCollect Books · BookBuddy

BookBuddy generally outperforms iCollect Books with more reliable scanning and data retrieval, a more consistent and affordable pricing model, and a higher lifetime rating. While both apps offer similar core features for cataloging books, iCollect Books struggles with data accuracy, scanning issues, and confusing pricing tiers, leading to user frustration.

Head to head

Features and Customization edge: BookBuddyR8R26R29R33
iCollect Books iCollect Books users appreciate the extensive editing capabilities and the ability to add pictures of actual books, making it suitable for special editions and detailed collections R8R26R29. However, some users find sorting options limited, particularly the inability to sort by author's last name or by specific categories like Library of Congress numbers R33. The app also offers a wishlist feature .
BookBuddy BookBuddy offers robust features like barcode scanning, manual ISBN entry, cover photo uploads, and tracking loaned books . Users praise its tag feature, reading status, and various sorting options, though some wish for more advanced sorting like by personal tags or automatic series grouping . The app also includes a wishlist feature .
Ease of Use and Scanning Reliability edge: BookBuddyR6R41R1R4
iCollect Books Users find iCollect Books easy to use for basic cataloging and appreciate its intuitive interface R6R41. However, many report significant issues with the scanning feature, noting it's clunky, doesn't work for many books (especially older or e-books), or retrieves incorrect information R1R4R12. Manual entry is often required, which is time-consuming R12.
BookBuddy BookBuddy is generally praised for being easy to use and intuitive, with simple barcode scanning . While some users occasionally need to manually add books or find the scanner struggles with older or indie books, the overall experience is positive, and manual entry is described as easy R72R76.
Reliability and Data Management edge: BookBuddyR24R28R31R34
iCollect Books iCollect Books has significant reliability issues, with multiple reports of data loss, collections disappearing after updates or phone changes, and the app crashing R24R28R31R34. Users also complain about the app not working offline consistently R12 and bugs like information changing to another book R29.
BookBuddy BookBuddy is generally seen as reliable for inventory management . However, some users have reported issues with data not syncing between devices, books being deleted, or statistics being incorrect . The app also has a persistent issue with review prompts, making it annoying for some .
Price and Value edge: BookBuddyR3R6R13R16
iCollect Books iCollect Books has a confusing and frustrating pricing model. The free tier allows only 10-50 books R3R6R13R16. The cost for the full version varies, with users reporting $9.99, $10, or $29.99 R3R7R19R22. Many feel the price is too high for the limited free tier and the app's issues R13R19.
BookBuddy BookBuddy offers a free tier for 50 books, after which a one-time lifetime payment of $10 is required . Users generally find this price reasonable and worth it for the features and convenience . Some users express frustration with the limit but acknowledge the value of the paid version .
Support and Privacy tieR7R55R54R43
iCollect Books iCollect Books users report mixed experiences with support. Some mention quick responses and helpfulness R7R55, while others find customer service unresponsive R54. A significant privacy concern is raised, stating that collections can only be public, which is unacceptable for some users R43.
BookBuddy BookBuddy users have not extensively commented on direct customer support, but some mention issues with purchased upgrades not working or support options being limited . There are no specific mentions of privacy concerns in the reviews provided.
Pick iCollect Books if

you need highly detailed customization options for each book, including adding personal photos, and are willing to tolerate scanning issues and a confusing pricing structure R8R26R29.

Pick BookBuddy if

you prioritize reliable barcode scanning, a straightforward one-time payment for unlimited books, and a generally stable app for cataloging your collection and tracking loaned books .

Evidence note: Both apps have a free tier with limitations, which skews some negative reviews towards the friction of hitting those limits. BookBuddy's free tier is more generous (50 books) and its paid tier is consistently priced at $10, making it a better value proposition compared to iCollect Books' varying prices and lower free limits. The evidence for iCollect Books' reliability issues is more extensive and severe.

Frequently asked

What is the free book limit for iCollect Books and BookBuddy?
iCollect Books allows between 10 and 50 books for free before requiring payment, with many users reporting a 30-book limit R3R6R13R16. BookBuddy consistently allows 50 books in its free version .
How much does the full version of each app cost?
The full version of iCollect Books has inconsistent pricing, with users reporting costs of $9.99, $10, or $29.99 R3R7R19R22. The full version of BookBuddy costs a one-time payment of $10 .
Do these apps support older or indie books?
iCollect Books struggles with finding e-books and vintage books, often requiring manual input R1R12. BookBuddy also has difficulty with older books, vintage paperbacks, and indie author books, often failing to scan or retrieve data for them R72R76.

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. [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.
  6. [R41] iCollect Books 5/5 · US Useful and simple: Great app for quick, easy cataloging.
  7. [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
  8. [R4] iCollect Books 2/5 · US Meh.: The scanning is clunky, but you can add pretty much any information you want.
  9. [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!
  10. [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
  11. [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.
  12. [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.
  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. [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.
  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. [R43] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Cannot be “private”: Your collection can only be “public” according to their terms of service. No way exists to keep your collection data private. That’s completely unacceptable and should be BOLDLY stated up front.
  20. [R19] iCollect Books 1/5 · US Costs $30: $30 to have more than 50. $30. Insane.
  21. [R22] iCollect Books 1/5 · US $30: You can add 30 books for free, after that you ha to lay 30 bucks?
  22. [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
  23. [R72] BookBuddy 3/5 · US Ok I guess: Was super excited for this after it was recommended by a friend. It does alot of things I wish goodreads did. However, there’s practically no indie author books on here. I tried various methods and keywords to try and add books to my shelves and so many indie authors just don’t show up. Even worse is I paid $6 to be able to add more than 20 books only to discover this afterwards and th
  24. [R76] BookBuddy 1/5 · US Not for Older Books: I collect vintage paperbacks 1975-1995 and this app does not work with those UPC codes. It only works with new books with ISBN codes on modern books.

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