BookBuddy vs StoryGraph: which gets you back into a book without spoilers in 2026?
Best Book Tracker Apps editors · Data refreshed 14 October 2026 · Editorial assessment
BookBuddy is ahead on the lead ranking weights, 7.65 to 6.30. BookBuddy scores higher on spoiler safety, getting back into the story, price and privacy; The StoryGraph does not score higher on any of the five criteria. They tie on logging.
BookBuddy
Best for cataloguing books you ownThe best way to catalogue the physical books you own, with the most open import and export options here.
Price, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free to start
- BookBuddy Pro (lifetime): $9.99
- Online Sharing: from $1.99 a month (optional)
The StoryGraph
Deepest reading statsThe strongest all-round reading tracker: the deepest stats, easy Goodreads import and spoiler-aware buddy reads.
Price, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free core app
- StoryGraph Plus: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store)
Verdict: BookBuddy overall; BookBuddy for spoiler safety.
Every head-to-head on this site compares on the weights of our one scored ranking, Best apps for getting back into a book without spoilers.
How do BookBuddy and StoryGraph compare, criterion by criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | BookBuddy | The StoryGraph | Better for this |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spoiler safety | 30 | 8 | 7 | BookBuddy |
| Getting back into the story | 30 | 6 | 4 | BookBuddy |
| Price | 15 | 9 | 8 | BookBuddy |
| Privacy | 10 | 9 | 6 | BookBuddy |
| Logging | 15 | 8 | 8 | Tie |
| Weighted total | 100 | 7.65 | 6.30 | BookBuddy |
BookBuddy: why these scores
- Spoiler safety: Shows no community content about the book, so there is nothing to spoil, but it has no spoiler controls.
- Getting back into the story: Tracks where each copy lives and who has borrowed it.
- Price: One-time $9.99 Pro upgrade, no subscription needed.
- Privacy: Library saved locally on your device, with optional iCloud or Dropbox sync.
- Logging: ISBN scanning backed by the WorldCat catalogue.
The StoryGraph: why these scores
- Spoiler safety: Buddy reads offer live reactions to specific parts of the book without fear of spoilers; other community areas have no published spoiler control.
- Getting back into the story: Page and percentage updates, but no session timer or cataloguing of copies you own.
- Price: Core tracking is free; Plus costs $49.99 a year.
- Privacy: App Store label lists contact info, identifiers and usage data linked to you.
- Logging: Barcode scanner and search; progress updates by page or percentage.
Where does BookBuddy win?
- Spoiler safety: 8 against 7. Shows no community content about the book, so there is nothing to spoil, but it has no spoiler controls.
- Getting back into the story: 6 against 4. Tracks where each copy lives and who has borrowed it.
- Price: 9 against 8. One-time $9.99 Pro upgrade, no subscription needed.
- Privacy: 9 against 6. Library saved locally on your device, with optional iCloud or Dropbox sync.
Where does StoryGraph win?
The StoryGraph does not score higher than BookBuddy on any criterion.
Where are they even?
- Logging: both score 8.
How much do they cost?
BookBuddy
Price, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free to start
- BookBuddy Pro (lifetime): $9.99
- Online Sharing: from $1.99 a month (optional)
The StoryGraph
Price, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free core app
- StoryGraph Plus: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store)
US prices as published, checked September 27, 2026. Compare costs for more than one reader in the calculator.
The facts, no scores
| Fact | BookBuddy | The StoryGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Android, web |
| Price | Free to start; BookBuddy Pro (lifetime): $9.99; Online Sharing: from $1.99 a month (optional) | Free core app; StoryGraph Plus: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store) |
| Goals | Yes | Yes |
| Stats | Yes | Yes |
| Clubs | Not published | Yes |
| Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Scan (barcode or page photo) | Yes | Yes |
Which should you choose?
- Choose BookBuddy if price and privacy matter most to you: it scores 9 and 9 there. Best for cataloguing books you own.
- Choose The StoryGraph if price and logging matter most to you: it scores 8 and 8 there. Deepest reading stats.
Questions about BookBuddy vs StoryGraph
Is BookBuddy better than StoryGraph?
On the lead ranking weights, BookBuddy is ahead, 7.65 to 6.30. BookBuddy scores higher on 4 of five criteria and The StoryGraph on 0, with 1 tie. We do not score trackers against each other on tracking features; the facts table below lists platforms, prices and published features.
Which is cheaper, BookBuddy or StoryGraph?
BookBuddy: Free to start; BookBuddy Pro (lifetime): $9.99; Online Sharing: from $1.99 a month (optional). The StoryGraph: Free core app; StoryGraph Plus: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store). On our Price and ads criterion, BookBuddy scores higher, 9 to 8. Prices are US prices checked September 27, 2026.
Can I move my reading history between BookBuddy and StoryGraph?
BookBuddy imports CSV files from Goodreads, LibraryThing and Google Books, and exports CSV, PDF or HTML. The StoryGraph imports your Goodreads shelves and offers a CSV export of your own data from its settings. The import and export table lists every option.