Head to head
Bookly or Goodreads: which is the better smart bookmark?
On our weights Bookly scores 6.90 against 5.40 for Goodreads. Bookly 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 | Bookly | Goodreads | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact place 30% | 7 | 4 | Bookly |
| Story recall 20% | 7 | 2 | Bookly |
| Print, ebook and audiobook 10% | 9 | 5 | Bookly |
| Works with any book 10% | 8 | 10 | Goodreads |
| Phones and platforms 10% | 9 | 10 | Goodreads |
| Price 10% | 5 | 9 | Goodreads |
| Privacy 10% | 3 | 4 | Goodreads |
| Total | 6.90 | 5.40 | Bookly |
Bookly
Goodreads
Where does each score well?
Bookly
Goodreads
Which formats does each cover?
| Format | Bookly | Goodreads |
|---|---|---|
| Books: timer and page log | Print: page progress updates | |
| Ebook | E-books: timer and page log | Ebook editions, such as Kindle Edition, can be shelved; no ebook tools described |
| Audiobook | Audiobooks: timer and session log | Audiobook editions, such as Audible Audio, can be shelved; no audio tools 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
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 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, Bookly or Goodreads?
Bookly scores 6.90 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, Bookly or Goodreads?
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. Goodreads: Free, no subscription.
Do Bookly and Goodreads work on Android?
Bookly runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision, Apple Watch and Android. Goodreads runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android and web.