I’m going to be totally honest: my TBR list always feels like it’s growing faster than I can keep up with. 

Does this happen to you too? It’s like every time I finish a book, I immediately want to add ten more to my list (and I always do!). 

If you’re anything like me, keeping track of everything can feel overwhelming sometimes. 

That’s why book-tracking apps are super important and, let me tell you, they’ve completely changed the game for me.

Whether you’re a book blogger with a mountain of reading to do, a collector trying to catalog your ever-growing library, or just someone who loves books and needs help keeping it all together, tracking apps can be a total lifesaver. 

I know they’ve helped me keep my reading goals on track, stay organized, and honestly, just make the whole process way more fun and exciting! 

Why Tracking Books Matters

At first, I wasn’t sure why I needed an app for tracking books. I mean, I just write down the titles I’m reading and call it a day, right? Wrong! 

Here’s the thing – tracking books about more than just making lists. 

It’s also about creating a system that helps you stay organized and reach your reading goals. For me, this has been such a game-changer.

First, it helps me stay on top of my reading goals. You know, those goals like read 50 books this year or read at least three historical fiction books? 

Without a way to track my progress, I’d forget about them halfway through the year. 

But with these apps, I can see how I’m doing, track my progress, and feel motivated to keep going. (And trust me, sometimes that extra bit of motivation is exactly what I need.)

Second, tracking my books has helped me reflect on what I’ve read. When you read a lot (or binge a few books in a row), it’s easy to forget what exactly happened in each one. 

What did I love about that book? What characters stayed with me? What quotes really spoke to me? 

Having a place to record these thoughts has made it way easier for me to look back and remember all the details that made a book special.

Lastly, and this is probably my favorite part, tracking books lets me organize my thoughts, reviews, and ratings. 

I used to just scribble down a quick good or bad in a journal, but now I have a full record of my reflections and it’s honestly really satisfying.

How to Select the Best Book-Tracking Apps

So, you might be wondering: What makes an app good for tracking books? 

Here are a few things I look for when choosing an app, and I think these are the features that make an app really stand out:

1. User-Friendly Interface

If it’s too complicated to use, I’m out. 

I need an app that’s easy to navigate and doesn’t require a degree in tech to figure out. 

Something simple, intuitive, and not too overwhelming is a must.

2. Customizability

I love apps that let me personalize how I track my reading. 

Whether it’s customizing my goals, setting up categories, or choosing how I organize books, having options to make the app mine really adds to the experience.

3. Cross-Platform Syncing

I’m constantly switching between my phone, tablet, and laptop. 

The ability to sync my progress across all devices is a huge win for me.

 I hate when I have to manually update everything on different platforms – cross-platform syncing makes life so much easier.

4. Reading Goals

I love setting goals, but without a place to track them, it’s easy to forget them (or worse, abandon them!). 

I look for apps that let me set specific reading goals, whether that’s a yearly goal or a goal to read more of a certain genre.

5. Community Features

I’m a sucker for connecting with fellow readers, so apps that allow me to follow friends, share reviews, and recommend books are a total plus. 

I love getting recommendations from other readers, and having a built-in community feature makes it easier to find books I might not have come across on my own.

6. Integration With Other Tools

If an app integrates with Goodreads, social media, or my blogging tools, I’m all in. 

This way, I can easily share updates and book reviews with my followers and blog audience.

My Favorite Apps for Tracking Books

Now, let’s talk about the apps I’ve tried (and some I haven’t, but I totally think they’re worth checking out). 

I’ll break them down with features, my personal experience (where possible), and the pros and cons. 

1. Goodreads

Goodreads is probably the most well-known book-tracking app out there – and for good reason.

It’s a great place to log your books, get recommendations, and engage with fellow readers.

Features:

• Book Shelves: You can organize your books by categories like Want to Read, Currently Reading, and Read, which makes tracking so easy.

• Reading Goals: Set your yearly reading goal, and track how close you are to hitting it.

• Social Features: Follow friends, authors, and join community groups to see what others are reading.

• Reviews & Ratings: You can rate books and write reviews, which is helpful for when you want to remember what you loved (or didn’t love) about a book.

Pros:

• Massive community means endless recommendations, reviews, and discussions.

• Easy integration with Kindle, so books you buy on Amazon can automatically be added to your shelf.

• Great place for bookish interactions if you love connecting with others.

Cons:

• The interface isn’t the most modern or user-friendly. It can feel a little clunky, especially if you’re new to the app.

• Sometimes the community feels a bit overwhelming with its vast number of groups, and navigating through them can be tricky.

Goodreads has been my go-to for years. 

It’s the place where I’ve found so many book recommendations and fun challenges. 

But I’ll admit, the interface isn’t the most visually appealing, and it can get a little too busy for my liking at times. 

Still, the sheer size of the community and the ability to track everything from my TBR to my goals keeps me coming back.

2. StoryGraph

If you love tracking more than just how many books you’ve read, StoryGraph might just be your new favorite app.

It’s a newer tool that focuses on reading stats, moods, and genres, and it’s been amazing for me so far.

Features:

• You can get book suggestions based on your reading preferences like mood, pace, or specific genre.

• This app tracks your reading habits with visual stats on genres, page counts, and even your reading speed.

• You can set specific goals for genres, moods, or even number of books.

• StoryGraph offers insights into your reading over time, so you can see how your reading habits evolve.

Pros:

• Sleek, clean interface that’s easy to navigate.

• Great focus on your well-being and mental health – tracking how you feel about books is really neat.

• Provides lots of data and trends about your reading, which is perfect if you’re a numbers person.

Cons:

• Smaller community compared to Goodreads, so it might be harder to connect with other readers.

• Doesn’t support audiobooks, which is a bummer if you listen to a lot of books.

I adore StoryGraph for the stats – it’s like having a personal reading tracker that tells me everything I didn’t know I wanted to know. 

It helps me find books that match my mood, and the visual stats are just so satisfying. 

If you’re all about tracking data and finding new books based on your current mood, this app is fantastic. 

The only downside for me is the lack of audiobook support (I listen to a lot of audiobooks, so that’s a biggie).

3. Bookly

If you’re someone who wants to track reading by time, pages, and even words, Bookly is a wonderful tool. 

It’s an app that focuses on tracking the process of reading in a detailed way.

Features:

• Track your reading by time, pages, or words, so you can get a deep insight into how much you’re actually reading.

• It generates reports about your reading habits, such as how much time you spend on each book.

• You can add personal notes, highlights, and favorite quotes while you read.

Pros:

• The stats and breakdowns are super detailed, which I love as someone who’s a bit data-obsessed.

• Very easy-to-understand interface, which is perfect if you don’t want to spend forever learning how to use an app.

Cons:

• It doesn’t have much of a community or social interaction, which is a downside if you’re someone who loves sharing book reviews and thoughts with others.

• Some of the best features are locked behind a paywall (you have to upgrade to unlock them).

Bookly is great if you’re really into tracking your reading habits down to the last detail. 

It’s a bit isolating in terms of community features, but if you don’t mind that, it’s a solid option, especially if you want to track your reading time. 

I love how it gives me a breakdown of how many pages or words I’ve read – it’s oddly motivating.

4. Libib

If you’re a book collector (like me!), Libib is an absolute dream. 

It’s perfect for cataloging not just books but movies, games, and even music. 

It’s ideal for anyone who’s looking to keep track of a huge personal collection.

Features:

• You can scan book barcodes to easily add them to your library.

• You can organize books, movies, and other media into collections.

• You can add your own tags and notes to make your catalog more personal.

Pros:

• Amazing for people with large collections – it’s easy to catalog everything you own, from books to movies.

• Barcode scanning makes adding books super quick and easy.

Cons:

• Some features require a premium plan, so it’s not totally free.

• Less focus on reading goals or tracking reading progress, which is a bit of a letdown if you want something more goal-oriented.

Libib is perfect if you’re someone who loves cataloging their personal library. 

I’ve been using it to keep track of my own collection, and I’ve found it to be super useful. 

While it’s not great for setting reading goals, it’s my go-to for organizing everything I own. 

Also See: 70+ Offbeat Questions To Get To Know Your Book-Lover Date

5. Book Tracker (by Ximple)

Sometimes, you just want something simple, right? 

Book Tracker (by Ximple) is perfect if you’re all about no-fuss, straightforward tracking. 

It’s a minimalist app that lets you focus on the essentials without getting bogged down by unnecessary features.

Features:

• You can categorize your books by genres, ratings, and authors. It helps you stay organized without feeling overwhelmed.

• Track which books you’ve read and which ones are still waiting for you to dive into.

• You can even timestamp books you’ve marked as read, which helps with tracking the exact time you completed a book.

Pros:

• Super simple and user-friendly, so you don’t have to spend time figuring out how to use it.

• Great for minimalists who don’t want to be overloaded with features.

Cons:

• It’s pretty basic compared to other apps, so if you’re someone who loves detailed stats or tracking, this app might feel too simple.

• No social or community features, so you’re on your own when it comes to interacting with other readers.

If you’re looking for an app that doesn’t complicate things, Book Tracker is the way to go. 

It’s my choice when I just need something quick and easy to track my books. 

But, I do miss the community features – sometimes I just want to discuss a book with fellow readers.

 But if you’re someone who likes to keep things simple, it’s definitely a solid option!

6. Trello (for Book Bloggers)

I never thought of Trello as a book-tracking app until I used it to manage my book blog. 

Trello is primarily a project management tool, but it’s so flexible that you can use it for anything – and yes, even books! 

For bloggers, especially, it’s great for organizing reviews, TBR lists, and upcoming posts.

Features:

• You can create boards for different categories (like TBR, Upcoming Reviews, or Books Read) and move books around as you go.

• Add labels for genres, priority levels, and due dates for reviews. You can even set reminders for when it’s time to post or finish a book.

• Create checklists for each book, add links to reviews, and even attach cover images for a visual touch.

Pros:

• Highly customizable – there’s no right or wrong way to set it up, so you can organize it exactly how you like.

• Perfect for book bloggers who need to stay on top of deadlines, review statuses, and more.

• Integrates with Google Drive for easy access to your book notes and thoughts.

Cons:

• Not specifically designed for book tracking, so it takes a little more time to set up than other apps.

• If you’re looking for an app that just tracks your reading progress, Trello might be overkill.

I love using Trello for my book blog. It keeps everything organized in one place – from the books I’ve read to the ones I’m planning to review. 

It’s such a great way to manage my reading life while staying on top of blog post deadlines. 

But, it does take a bit of setup, and it’s not the best for tracking reading stats (that’s not what Trello is built for). 

But if you’re a blogger who loves staying organized, it’s awesome.

7. Read More Books

If you’re all about simplicity, Read More Books is a dream. 

It’s a no-frills app that focuses solely on tracking your reading progress without all the extra bells and whistles. 

It’s perfect if you’re not into over-complicating things and just want to log your books and see your goals.

Features:

• Set personal reading goals (like number of books, hours spent reading, etc.), and track how much you’re achieving.

• You can add short reviews and rate your books, helping you remember what you liked or didn’t like about a story.

• It lets you track your progress on each book, so you always know where you stand.

Pros:

• Clean, minimal design – there’s no clutter, just the essentials.

• Great for readers who just want to focus on their progress without distractions.

Cons:

• Lacks social features, so you can’t interact with other readers or share reviews as easily.

• Limited features if you’re someone who loves diving deep into stats or tracking different aspects of your reading.

I absolutely adore how simple this app is. 

I love being able to track my reading goals and progress without the app feeling like it’s taking over my life. 

It’s perfect for when I just want to track what I’m reading, rate the books, and move on. 

But, I do miss the social aspect of some other apps. 

If you’re not someone who needs community interaction, though, this app is perfect.

How to Choose the Right App for You

Here’s the deal: the right app depends on what kind of reader you are. 

If you’re a numbers person, StoryGraph’s stats might be your best friend. 

If you prefer simplicity, Book Tracker (by Ximple) is perfect. 

Honestly, I’d recommend trying out a couple to see which one feels the most comfortable to you – each app has its own vibe!

I really hope these app recommendations help you find a tool that makes your reading journey even more enjoyable.

Related: 22 Bookish Things to Do Over the Holidays (That Aren’t Just Reading)

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I’d love to hear from you – what’s your favorite app for tracking books? 

Have any recommendations I didn’t mention? 

Drop a comment below, and let’s chat about it! 

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