Do you use reading apps? I use a few along with my written reading journal and I have to say I was hesitant at first. Slowly but surely I found myself using a few and then I was hooked.
So if you’re an avid reader looking for an easier way to keep track of your reading progress or, perhaps, you’re a book blogger or a student who needs to maintain detailed notes on the books you read and looking for just the right app…
Don’t worry, I got you.
In today’s post, I’ve got 7 apps that will help get you sorted.
What Are Reading Journal Apps?
Reading journal apps are digital tools designed to help readers keep track of their reading progress, take notes, and organize their reading lists. They offer various features, such as book summaries, reading statistics, and social sharing options, to enhance the reading experience.
With the rise of digital reading and mobile devices, reading journal apps have become increasingly popular among book lovers. They provide a convenient way to record and store information about the books you read, without the need for pen and paper.
Benefits of Using Reading Journal Apps
Firstly you might be wondering why you might want a reading app. There are several benefits to using one:
- Ease of use: Reading journal apps are intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy to keep track of your reading progress.
- Organization: These apps allow you to organize your reading lists, notes, and reviews in one place, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.
- Sharing: Some reading journal apps offer social sharing options, allowing you to connect with other readers and share your thoughts on books.
- Insights: With reading statistics and summaries, you can gain insights into your reading habits, such as how many books you’ve read and how long it takes you to finish a book.
Top Reading Journal Apps
1. Goodreads
Goodreads is a popular social networking site for book lovers. It allows you to create virtual bookshelves, track your reading progress, write reviews, and connect with other readers. Goodreads also offers reading challenges and book recommendations based on your reading history. You can also find me on Goodreads too!
One of the standout features of Goodreads is its book recommendation system. When you sign up for the app, you’re prompted to rate books that you’ve read, and the app uses this data to recommend books that match your interests. You can also browse curated lists of books based on various themes, such as “Best Young Adult Books” or “Popular Memoirs”.
Goodreads also allows you to track your reading progress and set reading goals. You can record how far you’ve read in a book, add books to custom reading lists, and set a reading challenge for the year. The app also offers detailed reading statistics, such as how many books you’ve read, how many pages you’ve read, and how many books you’re currently reading.
Prefer your apps with a side of social?
Another useful feature of Goodreads is its social media platform. You can connect with other readers, join book clubs, and participate in discussions about your favourite books. This can be a great way to discover new books, get recommendations, and connect with like-minded readers from around the world.
Goodreads also allows you to take notes and add quotes as you read. You can record your thoughts and reactions to the book, and access them later when you want to review or reflect on your reading experience. The app also allows you to write reviews and rate books, which can be helpful for other readers who are considering reading the same book.
Overall, Goodreads is a comprehensive and user-friendly reading journal app that offers a range of features to enhance your reading experience. Whether you’re a casual reader or a dedicated bookworm, Goodreads can help you discover new books, track your reading progress, and connect with other readers from around the world.
2. Bookly
Bookly is a reading tracker app that offers features such as reading statistics, customizable reading goals, and detailed reading insights. It also has a clean and modern interface that makes it easy to use and integrates with both WordPress and Zapier.
One of the key features of Bookly is its customizable reading goals. You can set a goal for how much you want to read each day, week, or month, and track your progress towards that goal. This feature can be helpful for those who want to build a consistent reading habit or take part in reading challenges.
Bookly also offers detailed reading insights, such as how many pages you’ve read, how long it takes you to finish a book, and how many books you’ve read in total. These insights can help you understand your reading habits and identify areas for improvement.
Another useful feature of Bookly is its reading timer. The app uses a built-in timer to help you focus on reading and avoid distractions. You can set the timer for a specific amount of time and track your reading speed, which can help you improve your reading efficiency.
Bookly also allows you to take notes and highlight passages as you read. You can add your own comments, thoughts, and reactions to the book, and access them later when you want to review or reflect on your reading experience.
In addition, Bookly offers a library of book summaries, which can be a helpful resource for those who want to learn more about a book before reading it. The summaries are concise and well-written, and provide a good overview of the book’s content and themes.
Overall, Bookly is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reading journal app that offers a wide range of features and customization options. With its user-friendly interface, detailed insights, and helpful tools, Bookly can help you get more out of your reading experience and improve your reading habits over time.
3. Reading List
Reading List is a simple but effective app that allows you to keep track of the books you want to read, the books you’re currently reading, and the books you’ve already read. It also offers a search function to find new books and allows you to rate and review books. With its clean and minimalist design, Reading List is a great option for those who want a no-frills app that is easy to use.
One of the key features of Reading List is its ability to organize your books into different categories. You can create custom categories, such as “to read”, “currently reading”, and “read”, and add books to each category as you go. This feature makes it easy to keep track of your reading progress and find the books you want to read next.
Another useful feature of Reading List is its search function. You can search for books by title, author, or ISBN, and add them to your reading list with just a few taps. This can be particularly helpful if you’re at a bookstore or library and want to quickly add a book to your list.
Reading List also allows you to rate and review books. You can give each book a star rating and add a brief review, which can be a helpful way to remember your thoughts and feelings about the book. You can also share your reviews with friends and family on social media, if you choose.
I also really like Reading List’s dark mode option, which can be easier on the eyes when reading in low-light environments. You can also customize the app’s icon and colour scheme to suit your preferences.
Overall, Reading List is a great choice for anyone looking for a simple and straightforward reading journal app. Its intuitive design and helpful features make it easy to keep track of your reading progress and organize your reading list, without any unnecessary frills or distractions.
4. Your Local Library App
Your local library allows you to search for and borrow e-books and audiobooks from your local library’s collection. You can browse by category, search by title or author, and create a wishlist of books to read. Once you’ve found a book you want to borrow, you can check it out and download it to your device.
This is a convenient way to access your local library’s collection, without having to visit the library in person. It’s also an eco-friendly option, as it reduces the need for physical books and paper. If you’re an avid reader who wants to explore your local library’s collection, the Local Library App is definitely worth checking out.
5. Bookout
Bookout is a comprehensive reading journal app that offers a range of features to help you track your reading progress, take notes, and improve your reading habits. With its intuitive interface and customizable settings, Bookout is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a comprehensive reading journal app.
One of the standout features of Bookout is its reading timer. The app uses a built-in timer to help you focus on reading and avoid distractions. You can set the timer for a specific amount of time and track your reading speed, which can help you improve your reading efficiency. Bookout also offers a “deep reading” mode, which disables notifications and other distractions while you’re reading.
Bookout also offers customizable reading goals. You can set a daily, weekly, or monthly reading goal, and track your progress towards that goal over time. This feature can be particularly helpful for those who want to build a consistent reading habit or participate in reading challenges.
Another useful feature of Bookout is its detailed reading insights. The app provides a range of statistics about your reading habits, including how much time you’ve spent reading, how many pages you’ve read, and how many books you’ve read in total. These insights can help you understand your reading habits and identify areas for improvement.
Bookout also allows you to take notes and highlight passages as you read. You can add your own comments, thoughts, and reactions to the book, and access them later when you want to review or reflect on your reading experience.
In addition, Bookout offers a library of book recommendations and summaries, which can be a helpful resource for those who want to discover new books to read. The app also allows you to connect with other Bookout users and share your reading progress and recommendations.
Overall, Bookout is a comprehensive and user-friendly reading journal app that offers a wide range of features and customization options. Whether you’re a casual reader or a dedicated bookworm, Bookout can help you get more out of your reading experience and improve your reading habits over time.
6. Storygraph
Storygraph is a unique reading journal app that offers a personalised reading experience based on your reading preferences. The app uses an algorithm to recommend books that are tailored to your interests, and offers various features to help you track your reading progress and improve your reading habits.
One of the standout features of Storygraph is its “taste graph”. When you sign up for the app, you’re prompted to rate books based on various factors, such as mood, pacing, and character development. The app uses this data to create a “taste graph” that reflects your reading preferences. You can then use this graph to discover new books that match your interests.
Storygraph also offers a range of reading statistics and insights. You can track how many books you’ve read, how many pages you’ve read, and how long it takes you to finish a book. The app also provides recommendations based on your reading history, such as books that are similar to ones you’ve enjoyed in the past.
Another useful feature of Storygraph is its reading goals. You can set a reading goal for the year, and track your progress towards that goal over time. The app also offers a range of reading challenges, such as “read a book with a non-human protagonist” or “read a book by an author from a different country”, which can help you broaden your reading horizons.
In addition, Storygraph allows you to take notes and add tags to the books you read. You can add your own comments and thoughts, as well as tags that describe the book’s genre, themes, and other characteristics. This can be a helpful way to organise your reading list and find books that match your interests.
Overall, Storygraph is a unique and innovative reading journal app that offers a personalised reading experience. Its taste graph and tailored recommendations can help you discover new books that match your interests, while its reading goals and challenges can help you broaden your reading horizons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about reading journal apps:
1. What is a reading journal app?
A reading journal app is a digital tool designed to help readers keep track of their reading progress, take notes, and organize their reading lists. It offers various features to enhance the reading experience, such as book summaries, reading statistics, and social sharing options.
2. What are the benefits of using a reading journal app?
The benefits of using a reading journal app include ease of use, organization, sharing options, and insights into your reading habits. Reading journal apps make it easy to record and store information about the books you read, without the need for pen and paper.
3. Are reading journal apps free?
Some reading journal apps are free, while others require a subscription or a one-time purchase. Goodreads and Reading List are free apps, while Bookly and Bookout require a subscription. Libib offers a free version, as well as a paid version with additional features.
4. Can I use a reading journal app to track audiobooks?
Yes, most reading journal apps allow you to track audiobooks, as well as e-books and physical books. You can record the title, author, and narrator of the audiobook, as well as your reading progress and notes.
5. Are reading journal apps available on both Android and iOS devices?
Yes, most reading journal apps are available on both Android and iOS devices. Goodreads, Bookly, and Libib are available on both platforms, while Reading List and Bookout are only available on iOS devices. However, some features may vary depending on the device and the operating system.