Observations on Book Trackers
As I started to work on the next set of tracker reviews, I realized that it would be helpful to talk a bit about the parameters and categories that are popping up as I run each app through their paces. As I mentioned in Part 1 and Part 2, all of the trackers were tested for several weeks on laptop, tablet, and phone. Specifically, I used an M4 MacBook Air, an iPad Air, and an iPhone 16 Pro Max, all running the latest OS. If available, my exported GoodReads information was imported into each app. In addition, I added several ARCs (advanced reader copies) that I started reading after I began using the trackers.
The list of 20+ trackers was generated from suggestions on Threads, Instagram, or talking to other book lovers at the Cincy Bookstore Crawl. Besides the original reviews for each tracker, a condensed run down with information on all of the trackers is available on the Book Trackers page that's linked at the top of each page of this website.
All of these apps tend to fall into three main categories: tracking your books, tracking your reading, and book or other media inventories. On the Book Trackers page, I'll be identifying which category each app's main function by these icons from the header image above:
1) The stack of books indicates an app that is focuses on books: the ones you are reading, the ones you want to read, and the ones you've have already read.
2) The open book indicates an app that focuses on tracking the act of reading. They have timers or ask you to note the amount of time you were reading as well at the pages or percent of the book read.
3) The magnifying glass looking at the bookshelf is for apps that are all about inventorying your book collections. These mainly focus on physical books, but may occasionally cover digital options.
4) The final icon of a hedgehog is a bit of a wild card. Is the design of the app cute or whimsical? Several members of the Book Threads community have expressed a desire for this design feature.
Across all of the apps, there are certain features that bibliophiles are mainly interested in: Cost, Design, Ratings and Reviews, Syncing with eReaders, Handling ARCs, Community, Challenges, and Import/Export. You may have already noticed that each review covers these features and the Book Tracker page lists them as bullet points.
So far, I’ve reviewed Goodreads, StoryGraph, Pagebound, Leero, Understory, Shelvd, Bookgeist, and LitList. Currently being tested are Fable, MyBibliotheca, Margins, Litmark, Bookly, Bookmory, Reading Journey, ShelfLife, Leafed, Hardcover, BookPine, Booktail, Paiges, ChapterPals, Mistbook, Unshelved, Marka, Bookleap, ARC Library, Siftvio, and a few others.
A word of warning: There are quite a lot of book and/or reading apps available in both the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Be careful to get the one you intended. For example, there are at least eight apps usually a variation on the name "book buddy" in the stores. Also, I've run into several apps that seemed to have been vibe coded and are only interested in getting your money. Be aware and download carefully!
It's been fun to put my old tech blogger hat on for this project. Part 3 should be out soon (I'm waiting for an update).
Until next time,
Carla
