Bookshelf vs StoryGraph
A StoryGraph alternative that is a real mobile app first
StoryGraph is a genuinely good product and the closest thing to a modern Goodreads replacement. Its mood and pace tagging, content warnings and statistics are excellent, and it is refreshingly not owned by Amazon.
Bookshelf comes at the same problem from the other end: a native iOS and Android app where the day-to-day act of logging what you read is fast, and where the result is something you want to look at. If StoryGraph's web-first feel or its visual style is what is not working for you, this is the comparison worth reading.
Bookshelf vs StoryGraph, feature by feature
| Feature | Bookshelf | StoryGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Calendar | Yes | Limited |
| Chapter Tracking | Yes | No |
| Detailed Statistics | Yes | Yes |
| Profile Customization | Yes | No |
| Quote Scanning (OCR) | Yes | No |
| Ad-Free Experience | Yes | Yes |
| Audiobook Support | Yes | Limited |
| 14+ Beautiful Themes | Yes | No |
| Barcode Scanner | Yes | No |
| Custom Shelves & Book Nooks | Yes | No |
| Monthly Reading Recaps | Yes | Basic |
| Kobo E-Reader Sync | Yes | No |
| Personalized Recommendations | Yes | Yes |
Based on publicly available information as of 2026. StoryGraph ships features too — if something here is out of date, let us know and we will correct it.
Where Bookshelf is different
Built as a mobile app, not a web app
Bookshelf is native on iOS and Android, with home-screen widgets on both. Adding a book, logging a session or checking progress is a few taps rather than a page load.
Chapter-level progress tracking
Log where you are chapter by chapter, not just as a percentage or page number. Neither Goodreads nor StoryGraph tracks chapters.
A reading calendar with covers
A heatmap of every reading day, with the cover of what you were reading that day. Tap any day to see the session.
Quote capture with OCR
Scan a passage with your camera and keep it as text, with notes attached. A saved quote surfaces on your profile each day.
14+ themes and a profile you arrange
Custom shelves, book nooks, and up to five profile cards you choose and order. How the app looks is treated as a feature rather than an afterthought.
Kobo e-reader sync
Reading sessions, highlights, ratings and reviews sync from a Kobo straight into Bookshelf. StoryGraph has no equivalent integration.
Barcode scanning to add books
Point the camera at the back of a book and it is in your library. Useful in a bookshop, and not something StoryGraph offers.
What StoryGraph does better
Mood and pace tagging is genuinely unique
StoryGraph's mood, pace and content-warning tagging drives recommendations in a way nothing else does. Bookshelf has personalised recommendations, but not this particular system.
Excellent statistics
StoryGraph's stats are one of its best features and a real strength. Bookshelf's are detailed too — this is a difference of presentation more than depth.
Content warnings
Community-sourced content warnings are a real reason people choose StoryGraph, and Bookshelf does not have an equivalent.
Independent and not Amazon-owned
Worth saying plainly, because for many readers it is the deciding factor — and it is a point StoryGraph and Bookshelf both share.
Moving your library from StoryGraph
Export from StoryGraph
StoryGraph can export your library as a CSV from your account settings — and it accepts the Goodreads export format, so if you came to StoryGraph that way you may still have the original file.
Import into Bookshelf
Bookshelf imports the same CSV shape, bringing across shelves, ratings and read dates. Very large libraries are handled fine.
Try both for a fortnight
They are different enough that a couple of weeks of real use tells you more than any feature table. Both are free to start.
Common questions
Can I import my StoryGraph library into Bookshelf?
Yes. Export your library as a CSV from StoryGraph and import it into Bookshelf. Shelves, ratings and read dates come across, and large libraries are supported.
Is Bookshelf free like StoryGraph?
Yes. Bookshelf is free to download and use on iOS and Android with no ads. An optional premium subscription unlocks extra features.
What does Bookshelf do that StoryGraph does not?
Chapter-by-chapter progress tracking, a reading calendar heatmap with covers, quote capture with an OCR scanner, barcode scanning, 14+ themes, custom shelves and book nooks, home-screen widgets, and Kobo e-reader sync.
Does StoryGraph do anything Bookshelf does not?
Yes. StoryGraph's mood and pace tagging and its community-sourced content warnings have no direct equivalent in Bookshelf, and they are a genuine reason to prefer it.
Is Bookshelf a native app or a website?
Bookshelf is a native app on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android, including home-screen widgets. This site is only the landing page — the tracking happens in the app.
Have a look at the rest
Bookshelf is free on iOS and Android, with no ads.