Head to head
Bookly or Fable: which is the better smart bookmark?
On our weights Bookly scores 6.90 against 5.60 for Fable. Bookly scores higher on exact place, story recall, print, ebook and audiobook and works with any book; Fable scores higher on 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 | Bookly | Fable | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact place 30% | 7 | 4 | Bookly |
| Story recall 20% | 7 | 5 | Bookly |
| Print, ebook and audiobook 10% | 9 | 7 | Bookly |
| Works with any book 10% | 8 | 7 | Bookly |
| Phones and platforms 10% | 9 | 10 | Fable |
| Price 10% | 5 | 6 | Fable |
| Privacy 10% | 3 | 4 | Fable |
| Total | 6.90 | 5.60 | Bookly |
Bookly
Fable
Where does each score well?
Bookly
Fable
Which formats does each cover?
| Format | Bookly | Fable |
|---|---|---|
| Books: timer and page log | Not described on the pages we read Not published | |
| Ebook | E-books: timer and page log | Its own ebook reader with a catalogue of over one million interactive ebooks, plus highlights, notes and comments |
| Audiobook | Audiobooks: timer and session log | Through a linked Everand account (Everand from $11.99 a month): listening activity syncs to Fable; playback inside Fable not described |
What does each cost?
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
Fable
- Free core app
- Fable Plus: $5.99 a month or $49.99 a year
Source: Fable help: How much will Fable Plus cost · Read 27 Sep 2026
Which should you choose?
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.
Choose Fable if
you value running on every device you own and reading the same book in print, ebook and audio.
Best for: Reading with a club.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the better smart bookmark, Bookly or Fable?
Bookly scores 6.90 against 5.60 on our weights, so it scores higher on this question. The pick-up calculator lets you change the weights.
Which is cheaper, Bookly or Fable?
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. Fable: Free core app; Fable Plus: $5.99 a month or $49.99 a year.
Do Bookly and Fable work on Android?
Bookly runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision, Apple Watch and Android. Fable runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android and web.