Sign inCreate account

Switching book apps? Here’s the honest comparison.

Shelfola against the apps readers usually come from, checked against each one’s own help pages and changelogs. Then bring your whole library across in about a minute.

Bring your books in 1 minute

Feature comparison

Shelfola compared with Goodreads, StoryGraph, Hardcover and Fable
FeatureShelfolaGoodreadsStoryGraphHardcoverFable
No adsNo display ads or sponsored booksYes: NeverNo: Shows adsYes: Funded by PlusYes: Funded by supportersPartly: Ads unless you pay for Plus
Quarter-star ratingsRate 3¾, not just 3 or 4YesNo: Whole stars onlyYesPartly: Half starsYes
DNF trackingA real Did Not Finish shelfYes: With how far you gotYes: Added in 2026YesYesYes
Moods & paceFind a book by how it feelsYes: Moods, pace, content warningsNoYesPartly: MoodsPartly: Mood-based picks
Easy importBring your library from another appYes: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Hardcover; Fable via a spreadsheet. Preview and undoPartly: CSV uploadYes: From GoodreadsYes: Goodreads, StoryGraph, CSVYes: From Goodreads
Review-bomb protectionPile-on ratings don’t move the scoreYes: New accounts and pre-release ratings don’t countPartly: Checks on pre-release ratingsCouldn’t confirmCouldn’t confirmCouldn’t confirm
Series & reading orderEvery series, in orderYesYesYesYesPartly: Limited
Spoiler-safe buddy readsRead together without spoiling each otherYes: Page-locked chat, on its own or inside a clubPartly: Groups and discussion boardsYes: Comments locked by pageCouldn’t confirm: Book clubs in testing (roadmap)Yes: Chapter discussion rooms
Editions & translationsOne book, every edition and languageYes: Switch editions, progress carries overYesYes: Switch edition keeps your dataYesCouldn’t confirm
Lists & tagsYour own shelves, tags and public listsYesYes: Shelves and ListopiaYes: Tags and listsYesPartly: Lists
Year in books & challengesGoals, challenges and a yearly recapYesYesYesYes: Goals and yearly WrappedYes: Goals and monthly wrap
Verified author pagesAuthors claim their page and talk to readersYes: Verified badge and Q&A clubsYes: Author Program and Ask the AuthorCouldn’t confirmCouldn’t confirmCouldn’t confirm
App, offline & barcode scanOn your home screen, scan a book in a shopYes: Installs from the browser, works offline, scans ISBNsYes: Native apps with scannerYes: Native apps with scannerYes: Native apps with scannerPartly: Native apps; scanner not documented
Community catalogue editingReaders fix book data, with historyYes: Any reader can suggest a fixPartly: Volunteer librariansPartly: Report to librariansPartly: Librarians, a supporter perkCouldn’t confirm

YesPartlyCouldn’t confirm either wayNoChecked October 2026 against each app’s help pages, app-store listings, roadmaps and changelogs.

New on Shelfola

Shipped recently, alongside everything in the table. Read more in our StoryGraph vs Goodreads vs Shelfola comparison.

  • Daily Book Puzzle

    Guess the day’s book in six tries. Each miss reveals a clue: genre, year, pages, the author’s initials, a blurred cover, then a line from the story. Keep a streak and share your grid.

    Play today’s puzzle

  • Spoiler-safe buddy reads

    Every message is stamped with a page and stays locked until you’ve logged that far. Start one from any book or inside a club, where checkpoints open each section.

    Browse clubs

  • Private reading stats

    Charts, streaks, your taste and this year against last. Only you can see them unless you choose to show them on your profile.

  • Editions & translations

    Every edition and translation sits under one book. Switch to the one in your hands and your progress carries over.

  • A feed you control

    A Following tab with only the readers you follow, everything newest first, no engagement ranking. Tag @people and #books in posts, and mute anyone.

  • Quiet notifications

    Email is bundled, held overnight in quiet hours and capped at 3 non-essential emails a day by default. Or keep everything in the bell.

  • Verified author pages

    Authors claim their page, get a verified badge, keep their bio and links current and host Q&A clubs with readers.

  • Year in Books & challenges

    Set a yearly goal, join or create reading challenges, and look back with a Year in Books recap.

    See challenges

  • Profile pictures

    Upload a photo or keep your initials. Private profiles approve every follower, and your library starts private.

And the basics, done properly
  • Quarter-star ratings
  • Review-bomb protection
  • Chapter-aware spoiler tags
  • Moods, pace and content warnings
  • Series in reading order
  • DNF with how far you got, and rereads
  • Your own tags and public lists
  • Installs from the browser, works offline, scans barcodes
  • Book data any reader can help fix
  • No ads, ever