Head to head
Basmo or Bookly: which is the better smart bookmark?
On our weights Bookly scores 6.90 against 6.10 for Basmo. Basmo scores higher on story recall; Bookly scores higher on exact place, print, ebook and audiobook, works with any book and phones and platforms. They tie on price and privacy. Both run on Android and iPhone.
By The Margin Desk · Smart Bookmark Compare · Published 2026-10-08
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.
How do the scores compare?
| Criterion | Basmo | Bookly | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact place 30% | 5 | 7 | Bookly |
| Story recall 20% | 8 | 7 | Basmo |
| Print, ebook and audiobook 10% | 8 | 9 | Bookly |
| Works with any book 10% | 7 | 8 | Bookly |
| Phones and platforms 10% | 7 | 9 | Bookly |
| Price 10% | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Privacy 10% | 3 | 3 | Tie |
| Total | 6.10 | 6.90 | Bookly |
Basmo
Bookly
Where does each score well?
Basmo
Bookly
Which formats does each cover?
| Format | Basmo | Bookly |
|---|---|---|
| Print: lists and a page scanner for highlights | Books: timer and page log | |
| Ebook | Ebooks: lists and Kindle highlight import | E-books: timer and page log |
| Audiobook | Audiobooks: tracked in your lists; no audio-specific tools described | Audiobooks: timer and session log |
What does each cost?
Basmo
- Free to start
- Basmo PRO: $4.99 billed monthly or $39.99 billed annually, after a free 7-day trial (US App Store)
Source: Basmo, US App Store (October 2026) · Read 11 Oct 2026
Bookly
- Free to start; the Google Play listing says it contains ads
- Bookly Pro on the App Store: Monthly Pro $4.99, Yearly Pro $29.99, "Bookly Pro" $79.99 (the listing gives no term), plus discounted and family options
Source: Bookly, US App Store (October 2026) · Read 11 Oct 2026
Which should you choose?
Choose Basmo if
you value help remembering the story and reading the same book in print, ebook and audio.
Best for: Keeping a reading journal with highlights.
Choose Bookly if
you value reading the same book in print, ebook and audio and running on every device you own.
Best for: Timed sessions across print, ebook and audiobook.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the better smart bookmark, Basmo or Bookly?
Bookly scores 6.90 against 6.10 on our weights, so it scores higher on this question. The pick-up calculator lets you change the weights.
Which is cheaper, Basmo or Bookly?
Basmo: Free to start; Basmo PRO: $4.99 billed monthly or $39.99 billed annually, after a free 7-day trial (US App Store). Bookly: Free to start; the Google Play listing says it contains ads; Bookly Pro on the App Store: Monthly Pro $4.99, Yearly Pro $29.99, "Bookly Pro" $79.99 (the listing gives no term), plus discounted and family options.
Do Basmo and Bookly work on Android?
Basmo runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone (the App Store says "Only for iPhone") and Android. Bookly runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision, Apple Watch and Android.