Head to head
Bookly or The StoryGraph: which is the better smart bookmark?
On our weights Bookly scores 6.90 against 6.40 for The StoryGraph. Bookly scores higher on exact place, story recall and print, ebook and audiobook; The StoryGraph scores higher on phones and platforms, price and privacy. They tie on works with any book. Both run on Android and iPhone.
The StoryGraph's automatic progress sync applies to Kobo e-readers and apps. On other formats you enter the page or percentage.
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 | The StoryGraph | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact place 30% | 7 | 5 | Bookly |
| Story recall 20% | 7 | 5 | Bookly |
| Print, ebook and audiobook 10% | 9 | 7 | Bookly |
| Works with any book 10% | 8 | 8 | Tie |
| Phones and platforms 10% | 9 | 10 | The StoryGraph |
| Price 10% | 5 | 8 | The StoryGraph |
| Privacy 10% | 3 | 6 | The StoryGraph |
| Total | 6.90 | 6.40 | Bookly |
Bookly
The StoryGraph
Where does each score well?
Bookly
The StoryGraph
Which formats does each cover?
| Format | Bookly | The StoryGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Books: timer and page log | Print: progress updates by page or percentage | |
| Ebook | E-books: timer and page log | Ebooks: Kobo e-reader and app progress syncs automatically |
| Audiobook | Audiobooks: timer and session log | Audiobooks: annual listening goals |
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
The StoryGraph
- Free core app
- StoryGraph Plus: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store)
Source: StoryGraph: Reading Tracker, US App Store · 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 The StoryGraph if
you value running on every device you own and using it with any book.
Best for: Kobo e-reader owners and readers who want a full tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the better smart bookmark, Bookly or The StoryGraph?
Bookly scores 6.90 against 6.40 on our weights, so it scores higher on this question. The pick-up calculator lets you change the weights.
Which is cheaper, Bookly or The StoryGraph?
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. The StoryGraph: Free core app; StoryGraph Plus: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store).
Do Bookly and The StoryGraph work on Android?
Bookly runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision, Apple Watch and Android. The StoryGraph runs on Android. Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android and web.