How to track your reading: a simple system that works for print, ebooks and audiobooks
Best Book Tracker Apps editors · Data refreshed 14 October 2026 · Editorial assessment
Log three things for every book: when you started, when you finished (or stopped), and a rating or one-line note. Use one tracker for that log, such as StoryGraph, Literal or Goodreads, and add a timer app like Bookly only if you want session stats. For long print books you pick up and put down, a place-keeping app such as Magic Bookmark helps you get back in.
What should you log for each book?
- Status: want to read, reading, read or did not finish.
- Start and finish dates.
- Format: print, ebook or audiobook.
- A rating, or a one-line note if ratings feel like homework.
- Optional: page count, mood or pace, and where the copy came from (bought, library, borrowed).
Which app should do which job?
| Job | Best app here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping a reading log with stats | The StoryGraph | Deepest charts, free core app. |
| Logging for free with friends | Literal | Free social features; current Clubs being sunset (May 2026). |
| Following what friends read | Goodreads | Largest community. |
| Timing reading sessions | Bookly | Timer with page and speed logging. |
| Cataloguing books you own and lend | BookBuddy | Loans, locations, CSV, PDF and HTML export. |
| Picking a print book or audiobook back up | Magic Bookmark | Syncs to your exact page from a photo. |
| Journaling about what you read | Basmo | Journal plus highlight scanner. |
How do you track print books?
Scan the barcode when you start (StoryGraph, Goodreads, Literal, Bookly and BookBuddy all publish barcode scanning), update the page number when you stop, and mark it read when you finish. If you tend to leave a book for days, write the page down in the app every time, or use Magic Bookmark to photograph the page so it knows exactly where you stopped.
How do you track ebooks and audiobooks?
Add the book in its format, then update progress by percentage or time. Bookly counts audiobooks and ebooks in its sessions. Magic Bookmark finds your place in an audiobook from the last phrase you heard. Basmo imports Kindle highlights if you read on Kindle.
How do you keep it going?
- Log at the end of a session, not at the end of the book.
- Set a goal you can hit in a bad month (see Reading goals).
- Keep your data portable: export once a quarter (see the import and export table).
Questions
What is the easiest way to track books you read?
Scan the barcode in a free tracker such as StoryGraph, Literal or Goodreads, and mark it read when you finish. That is enough for a useful yearly record.
Should I track did-not-finish books?
Yes, if your app supports it. StoryGraph and Hardcover have a did-not-finish status, which keeps your stats honest.