App profile · Goodreads, Inc. (an Amazon company)
Goodreads review: what it does when you need to pick a book back up
Goodreads keeps your place as a page number you update, alongside the biggest catalogue and reader community, free on every platform. It scores 5.40 and ranks 7 of 7 for this question, because the pages we read describe no notes, highlights or recap features. Goodreads and Magic Bookmark do different jobs: Goodreads keeps your shelves, reviews and Reading Challenge; Magic Bookmark keeps your exact place inside the book you are reading, so many readers can use both.
By The Margin Desk · Smart Bookmark Compare · Published 2026-10-08 · Updated 2026-10-13
Desk research from public App Store and Google Play listings and the app makers' own pages. Vendor facts read September 2026, updated 2026-10-11. Editorial assessment; we did not test the apps hands-on.
5.40 / 10
Rank 7 of 7 for picking up where you left off
Change the weights in the pick-up calculatorHow does Goodreads help you pick a book back up?
The biggest reading community, where you keep your place by updating the page you have reached.
Where does Goodreads score well?
Does it work for print, ebooks and audiobooks?
| Print: page progress updates | |
| Ebook | Ebook editions, such as Kindle Edition, can be shelved; no ebook tools described |
| Audiobook | Audiobook editions, such as Audible Audio, can be shelved; no audio tools described |
What does Goodreads cost?
- Free, no subscription
Source: Goodreads, US App Store · Read 27 Sep 2026
How does Goodreads score on each criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact place | 30% | 4 / 10 | Page progress updates only. Source: Goodreads, US App Store · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Story recall | 20% | 2 / 10Lowest in set | No notes, highlights or recap features on the pages we read. Source: Goodreads, US App Store · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Print, ebook and audiobook | 10% | 5 / 10Lowest in set | Editions carry a format such as Audible Audio or Kindle Edition, but no format-specific tools are described. Source: Goodreads help: setting the edition format · Read 11 Oct 2026 |
| Works with any book | 10% | 10 / 10Highest in set | The largest catalogue here, with a barcode scanner, so most books are already listed. Source: Goodreads: About us · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Phones and platforms | 10% | 10 / 10Tied highest | iPhone, iPad, Android and web. Source: Goodreads, US App Store · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Price | 10% | 9 / 10 | Free, with no paid tier. Source: Goodreads, US App Store · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Privacy | 10% | 4 / 10 | The App Store label lists contact info, identifiers, purchases, photos and search history linked to you, used among other things for marketing. Source: Goodreads, US App Store · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
What is it good at, and where does it fall short?
Good at
Highest or tied highest in set on: Works with any book, Phones and platforms
- Most books are already listed, and a barcode scan adds the one in your hands.
- Free on every platform, including web.
Falls short
At least one app scores higher on: Exact place, Story recall, Print, ebook and audiobook, Price, Privacy
- Keeping your place means typing a page number; no notes, highlights or recap features were on the pages we read.
- A privacy label that links a lot of data to you, including for marketing.
Key facts
| About | Launched January 2007; describes itself as "the world's largest site for readers and book recommendations"; "An Amazon Company". Source: Goodreads: About us · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Amazon announced its acquisition of Goodreads on 28 March 2013. Source: Wikipedia: Goodreads · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| In the app | Barcode scanner, reading challenges, friend activity, lists and online book clubs. Source: Goodreads, US App Store · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Did not finish | Goodreads announced a Did Not Finish shelf on 13 March 2026. Source: Goodreads blog: Did Not Finish shelf · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Android | Google Play listing: "Goodreads is a free service"; contains ads; scan book covers to read reviews. Source: Goodreads, Google Play · Read 11 Oct 2026 |
| Spoilers | Reviewers can hide text behind a "(view spoiler)" link with spoiler tags. Source: Goodreads blog: spoiler tags · Read 11 Oct 2026 |
| Privacy label | Data linked to you includes contact info, identifiers, purchases, photos and search history, used for analytics, personalization, app functionality and marketing. Source: Goodreads, US App Store · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
How does Goodreads compare head to head?
- Basmo 6.10, Goodreads 5.40Basmo or Goodreads?
- Bookly 6.90, Goodreads 5.40Bookly or Goodreads?
- Fable 5.60, Goodreads 5.40Fable or Goodreads?
- Goodreads 5.40, Literal 6.20Goodreads or Literal?
- Goodreads 5.40, Magic Bookmark 7.10Goodreads or Magic Bookmark?
- Goodreads 5.40, The StoryGraph 6.40Goodreads or The StoryGraph?
Frequently asked questions
How much does Goodreads cost?
Free, no subscription.
Does Goodreads work on Android?
Yes. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android and web.
Can Goodreads find my place in an audiobook?
Audiobooks: audiobook editions, such as Audible Audio, can be shelved; no audio tools described.