I'm interested in utilizing a reading tracker this year, but I'm wondering which would be best. I know GoodReads and StoryGraph are the "big" ones, but I've also seen Fable and LibraryThing mentioned, as well as several other apps on the app store with high ratings. Whether it's one I've mentioned or not, what is your favorite tracker app and why?
For some additional information, I don't care as much about the social aspect, which I know is a big draw for people on GR. I don't really see any need to connect with people like that, any tracking would be purely for my own use. I've also been reading a LOT more nonfiction lately, and it almost feels like a lot of these apps are geared towards fiction readers? I also don't NEED an option to set "challenges" or "goals"; I love to read when I can but I'm not going to force myself to read if I'm not in the mood just to hit some arbitrary number I set. I mostly want one of these for my own purposes, something where I can track my reading and see basic stats about it more easily than I could in a physical journal.
All that said, any recs? Any apps/sites y'all use that you think are better than others? I'll look at anything!
by am123_20
5 Comments
Why do you need an app for your needs? Why not a notebook or the notes app on your phone?
People hate on Goodreads but the only reason I can agree with is avoiding giving Amazon money. It has the most features and the UI is friendly. I’ve had books StoryGraph flatly could not find in their database. Also I like the giveaways on Goodreads even though the odds are insanely low.
I would not recommend fable, I haven’t used it but they did have some sort of ai controversy either last year or the year before
StoryGraph. Fantastic stats wich make tracking reading very worth it. They also have great review options that really help me think about reading a bit more if I use all the features and create a really stellar recommendations experience.
I am also not super into social aspects of reading. But on the rare occasion someone wants to read a book with me, they have a great Buddy Read feature that helps you talk about the book in the app without potentially spoiling things.
Also great that it isn’t Amazon owned and hasn’t had huge AI issues like Fable had with its racist/homophobic AI incident last year.
Storygraph has a community of active volunteers, so if while looking at your stats you find anything wrong, they will quickly fix it for you, whereas I think getting things corrected on GoodReads is a lot less likely. (I don’t know about Fable or LibraryThing.)