Hardcover vs StoryGraph: which Goodreads replacement fits you?
Best Book Tracker Apps editors · Data refreshed 14 October 2026 · Editorial assessment
For getting back into a book without spoilers, StoryGraph scores 6.30 to Hardcover's 4.65. StoryGraph has the deeper stats and more social features, including buddy reads and book clubs; Hardcover has a public API and a privacy label that links no data to you. Their paid tiers cost the same, $49.99 a year.
Hardcover
Best for owning your dataA polished reading tracker with a public API and one of the lightest privacy labels in this list.
Price, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free core app
- Supporter: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store)
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: StoryGraph for charts and buddy reads; Hardcover for privacy and an API.
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 Hardcover and StoryGraph compare, criterion by criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Hardcover | The StoryGraph | Better for this |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spoiler safety | 30 | 2 | 7 | StoryGraph |
| Getting back into the story | 30 | 3 | 4 | StoryGraph |
| Price | 15 | 8 | 8 | Tie |
| Privacy | 10 | 9 | 6 | Hardcover |
| Logging | 15 | 7 | 8 | StoryGraph |
| Weighted total | 100 | 4.65 | 6.30 | StoryGraph |
Where does Hardcover win?
- Privacy: App Store label says data is not linked to you.
- A documented GraphQL API with OAuth, so you can build on your own reading data.
Where does StoryGraph win?
- Stats: the deepest charts in this ranking.
- Social: buddy reads with spoiler-safe reactions and book clubs; Hardcover has follows but no clubs published.
- Logging: barcode scanner published on the App Store.
- Place-keeping: 4 against Hardcover's 3, though both are basic.
Where are they even?
Portability (9 each) and price: both paid tiers are $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year.
How much do they cost?
Hardcover
Price, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free core app
- Supporter: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store)
The StoryGraph
Price, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Free core app
- StoryGraph Plus: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store)
The facts, no scores
| Fact | Hardcover | The StoryGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | iPhone, iPad, Android, web |
| Price | Free core app; Supporter: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year (US App Store) | 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) | Not published | Yes |
Which should you choose?
- Choose Hardcover if you care most about what happens to your data, or want to connect your library to other tools.
- Choose StoryGraph if you want the best stats and to read along with friends.
Questions about Hardcover vs StoryGraph
Is Hardcover or StoryGraph cheaper?
They cost the same for the paid tier: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year. Both have free core apps.
Can I move from StoryGraph to Hardcover?
Hardcover lists imports from Goodreads and similar platforms. StoryGraph offers a CSV export from its settings.