Top 10 Tracking Apps For Book Lovers

Context

Are you a bookworm struggling to keep track of your ever-growing reading list?

Do you often forget which page you left off on or when you started that novel sitting on your nightstand?

Perhaps you don't remember which short stories you read from that "50 Great Short Stories" book?

Fear no more! This article will present you with a list of book tracking apps that will help you manage your reading habits.

What are book trackers used for?

While the question may seem self-explanatory, book trackers can be more than that and while they share a same goal, the journey can be quite different.

First things first: Book trackers allow you to... well, track books! This means being able to add books to a list.

A pivotal development in book identification came in 1970 with the introduction of the ISBN "International Standard Book Number", a unique number assigned to physical and commercial books, then in 2007 this number standardized into a 13-digit number, with or without a hyphen, such as 9780802130112¹. Modern book trackers leverage ISBNs and make it easy for us to create a backlog of books. Of course, these apps should also allow a user to find and add a book using the title and author name.

Another important role of book trackers is organizing books by scoring them and assigning them into specific categories including the famous four:

• TBR (To be read)
• Currently reading
• Finished
• DNF (Did not finish)

Digital book organization is just as important as files & folders organization or email organization. Your future self will thank you for making books easier to find. Looking for your next read? Just have a look at your DNF list. Trying to recommend a great read to a friend? How about sharing the 5-star books from your Finished list?

The following list will present the key features, pro and cons of each app, so you can find your perfect fit!

BookBuddy

BookBuddy is a mobile app for organizing personal libraries. Its standout features are the ability to scan multiple ISBN barcodes to quickly add books in batch and the advanced filter system where you can create your own filters. It also comes with a loan management system designed for professionals.

The free version is feature-complete and allows you to add up to 50 books and for a small one-time payment it becomes unlimited.

Bookly

Bookly is an app that gamifies the reading experience. It comes with a reading timer that tracks reading sessions and provides detailed statistics. The premium version include unlimited reading stats, detailed reading sessions and ambient sounds which can help users build a consistent reading habit. A potential con is that some users might find the gamification elements distracting from the core reading experience.

The free version limits the number of books and features available. A subscription with additional purchases are required to unlock everything.

Book Tracker by Simone Montalto

Book Tracker by Simone Montalto is a minimalist app designed for simplicity and ease of use. Its unique selling point is its clean, distraction-free interface that focuses solely on tracking your books, reading progress with a few graphs. The app also offers a widget for iOS, allowing users to view their current read directly from their home screen.

The free version only allows for a small quantity of books, which becomes unlimited for a one-time payment.

Bookmory

Bookmory focuses on detailed reading statistics and goal-setting. It is possible to add notes to books and it offers unique features like reading speed calculation and time tracking for each book. The premium version removes ads and includes daily statistics that help users understand their reading habits.

The free version comes with ads, and some features are only available after subscribing to Premium.

Fable: Books & TV

Fable is a social reading app that focuses on creating a community experience around books. Users have the ability to join or create book clubs within the app. They can participate in discussions, share highlights, and read synchronously with friends. The app has a clean, modern interface and the emphasis on social reading, which can make the experience more engaging.

Similar to most social network apps, it is free to use.

Goodreads

Goodreads, owned by Amazon, is one of the most popular book tracking apps. Its strength lies in its vast community of readers, allowing for social interactions, reviews, and recommendations. Its integration with Amazon allows for easy purchasing and access to a large database of books. However, some users find the interface cluttered and outdated, which is a common criticism.

It is free to use.

The StoryGraph

The StoryGraph is a newer alternative to Goodreads, gaining popularity for its focus on data-driven recommendations. It offers unique features like mood-based book suggestions and detailed reading statistics. While the UI is more modern than Goodreads, it can still feel cluttered.

It is free to use.

Notion

Notion is a general productivity tool that can be customized for book tracking using book templates. Thanks to its core philosophy of being an advanced note app, it is possible to customize it exactly as you want: You can even organize your books with fancy criteria such as cover color or dimensions. It is also possible to link books to projects and other non-literary concepts. However, with great power comes a steep learning curve!

It is free for personal use.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet applications like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel offer a traditional, highly customizable approach to book tracking. Their main advantage is complete control over data structure and calculations. Users can create columns for any data point they want to track – from basic info like title and author to more specific details like reading dates, ratings, and personal notes. With some advanced spreadsheet knowledge, it is possible to unlock a powerful sorting and filtering capabilities, to create charts and graphs, and to export data.

Depending on the applications, it varies from free to a subscription model.

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  The Master & Margerita by Mikhail Bulgakov, translated by Mirra Ginsburg, published by Grove Atlantic.