BookBuddy review: the book tracker for cataloguing a home library
Best Book Tracker Apps editors · Data refreshed 14 October 2026 · Editorial assessment
BookBuddy is the best app here for cataloguing the physical books you own. It has the most open import and export options in this ranking and a one-time $9.99 Pro price; it has no social features and simpler reading stats.
Ranked 2 of 9 for getting back into a book without spoilers, in our one scored ranking, at 7.65.
Ranked 2 of 9 for getting back into a book without spoilers
We do not score trackers against each other. See the unscored tracker facts.
Best for cataloguing books you ownPrice, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free to start
- BookBuddy Pro (lifetime): $9.99
- Online Sharing: from $1.99 a month (optional)
Made by Kimico, Ltd.
Platforms: iPhone, iPad
Editorial score, 0-10, weighted from five criteria for getting back into a book without spoilers. It measures fit for that one job, not overall app quality.
What is BookBuddy best for?
Collectors, classroom libraries and anyone who lends books out. BookBuddy scans ISBNs against the WorldCat catalogue, records where each copy lives and who has borrowed it, and keeps your library on your device unless you choose iCloud or Dropbox sync.
How does BookBuddy score?
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spoiler safety | 30 | 8 | Shows no community content about the book, so there is nothing to spoil, but it has no spoiler controls. |
| Getting back into the story | 30 | 6 | Tracks where each copy lives and who has borrowed it. |
| Price | 15 | 9 | One-time $9.99 Pro upgrade, no subscription needed. |
| Privacy | 10 | 9 | Library saved locally on your device, with optional iCloud or Dropbox sync. |
| Logging | 15 | 8 | ISBN scanning backed by the WorldCat catalogue. |
| Weighted total | 100 | 7.65 | Sum of score times weight, divided by 100. |
BookBuddy as a tracker: the facts, no scores
- Stats and goals
- Books finished, pages read, top authors and genres; simpler than the leaders.
- Import, export and portability
- Imports CSV from Goodreads, LibraryThing and Google Books; exports CSV, PDF or HTML.
- Social and book clubs
- No clubs or social feed; sharing is an optional paid add-on.
What does BookBuddy do well?
- Imports CSV files from Goodreads, LibraryThing and Google Books; exports CSV, PDF or HTML.
- Loan tracking and a physical location field for every book.
- Library saved locally on your device, with optional iCloud or Dropbox sync.
- One-time BookBuddy Pro upgrade at $9.99, no subscription.
Where does BookBuddy fall short?
- No clubs, friends or feed; online sharing is a separate paid add-on.
- Stats cover books finished, pages read, top authors and genres, well short of StoryGraph.
- iPhone and iPad only.
How much does BookBuddy cost?
BookBuddy is free to start. BookBuddy Pro (lifetime) is $9.99. Online Sharing is optional, from $1.99 a month (Std) to $49.99 a year (Pro), on the US App Store checked September 27, 2026.
Price, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free to start
- BookBuddy Pro (lifetime): $9.99
- Online Sharing: from $1.99 a month (optional)
Key facts and sources
- CSV import from Goodreads, LibraryThing and Google Books; export as CSV, PDF or HTML
Source: US App Store · Checked Sep 2026
- Loan tracking and physical location for each book
Source: US App Store · Checked Sep 2026
- BookBuddy Pro (Lifetime) $9.99
Source: US App Store · Checked Sep 2026
- Powered by WorldCat
Source: kimicoapps.com · Checked Sep 2026
What are the alternatives to BookBuddy?
- Hardcover: Also light on data collection, with social features.
- The StoryGraph: Far better stats.
- Goodreads: The community BookBuddy lacks.
Questions about BookBuddy
Is BookBuddy a one-time purchase?
The main upgrade is. BookBuddy Pro (lifetime) is $9.99. Online Sharing is an optional subscription.
Can BookBuddy import from Goodreads?
Yes. It imports CSV files from Goodreads, LibraryThing and Google Books.
Does BookBuddy track reading progress?
Yes, with reading goals and statistics such as books finished and pages read.