Head to head
Basmo or Goodreads: which is the better smart bookmark?
On our weights Basmo scores 6.10 against 5.40 for Goodreads. Basmo scores higher on exact place, story recall and print, ebook and audiobook; Goodreads scores higher on works with any book, phones and platforms, 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 | Goodreads | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact place 30% | 5 | 4 | Basmo |
| Story recall 20% | 8 | 2 | Basmo |
| Print, ebook and audiobook 10% | 8 | 5 | Basmo |
| Works with any book 10% | 7 | 10 | Goodreads |
| Phones and platforms 10% | 7 | 10 | Goodreads |
| Price 10% | 5 | 9 | Goodreads |
| Privacy 10% | 3 | 4 | Goodreads |
| Total | 6.10 | 5.40 | Basmo |
Basmo
Goodreads
Where does each score well?
Basmo
Goodreads
Which formats does each cover?
| Format | Basmo | Goodreads |
|---|---|---|
| Print: lists and a page scanner for highlights | Print: page progress updates | |
| Ebook | Ebooks: lists and Kindle highlight import | Ebook editions, such as Kindle Edition, can be shelved; no ebook tools described |
| Audiobook | Audiobooks: tracked in your lists; no audio-specific tools described | Audiobook editions, such as Audible Audio, can be shelved; no audio tools described |
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
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 Goodreads if
you value using it with any book and running on every device you own.
Best for: Logging books where your friends already are.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the better smart bookmark, Basmo or Goodreads?
Basmo scores 6.10 against 5.40 on our weights, so it scores higher on this question. The pick-up calculator lets you change the weights.
Which is cheaper, Basmo or Goodreads?
Basmo: Free to start; Basmo PRO: $4.99 billed monthly or $39.99 billed annually, after a free 7-day trial (US App Store). Goodreads: Free, no subscription.
Do Basmo and Goodreads work on Android?
Basmo runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone (the App Store says "Only for iPhone") and Android. Goodreads runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android and web.