The Best Goodreads Alternatives in 2026: Book Tracking Apps Compared

By Rahul Shinde · 10 October 2026 · 5 min read

Goodreads is still the biggest book tracking site, but many readers feel it has stood still for years. If you want half-star ratings, a cleaner app, better reading stats or simply something that is not built around a store, there are good options in 2026. This guide compares the best Goodreads alternatives and book tracking apps, including free choices, so you can find the right home for your reading list.

Why readers are leaving Goodreads

Goodreads has been owned by Amazon since 2013 and has a huge community, which is why many readers stay. The common complaints are well known: an interface that has changed very little, no half-star ratings, spam reviews and slow feature updates. A DNF ("did not finish") shelf only arrived in March 2026, after years of requests, as noted in this roundup of Goodreads alternatives. If any of that frustrates you, the apps below are worth trying.

What to look for in a book tracking app

• Shelves that match how you read: want to read, currently reading, finished and did not finish.
• Reading progress: the page you are on, and ideally a way to log reading time.
• Precise ratings: half stars or better, because not every book is a clean four.
• Reading stats: books and pages per year, favorite genres and authors, average rating.
• Fast adding: barcode scanning saves typing when you are holding a physical book.
• Data ownership: import and export, so your reading history is never locked in.

The best Goodreads alternatives in 2026

1. The StoryGraph: best overall Goodreads replacement

The StoryGraph is the closest like-for-like replacement for Goodreads. It offers quarter-star ratings, mood and pace tags for every book, community content warnings and detailed reading charts, and it imports your Goodreads export. The free plan covers tracking, stats and recommendations; StoryGraph Plus costs $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year and adds custom charts, comparison stats and more.

Best for: readers who want Goodreads without Goodreads. Price: free, Plus $49.99/year.

2. BingeMark: best free tracker for books and everything you watch

BingeMark started as a movie, TV and anime tracker and now has a full reading side. It is built for people who read and watch, and who want both in one free app. Your books live on five shelves that mirror how people really read: Wishlist, Reading, Finished, DNF and Hall of Fame. You can add a book by searching or by scanning its barcode with your phone camera.

While reading, update the page you are on or start the built-in reading timer; when you stop, BingeMark asks where you stopped and logs the session. Ratings use half stars. The Read home screen shows total reading time, books finished, pages read, authors read and your average rating, along with a reading level, badges and a streak shared with your watching. Each book page includes the synopsis, first published year, other editions, more books by the author, similar books and links to buy it. Switching is easy: import your Goodreads export (or any spreadsheet, or a screenshot of a list), confirm the matches, and your books land on Finished or Wishlist with your Goodreads ratings kept. Your whole reading list is included in BingeMark's Excel export and Google Drive backup.

Best for: readers who also track movies, TV and anime. Price: free with ads. Platforms: Android.

3. Hardcover: best for a modern, ad-free design

Hardcover is a newer, independent book tracker with a clean design, good stats and an active community. It imports from Goodreads and StoryGraph and offers an optional supporter membership. It focuses on books only.

Best for: readers who want a fresh, independent alternative. Price: free, optional membership.

4. Fable: best for book clubs

Fable combines reading tracking with social book clubs and discussions. It is a good choice if you read with friends or follow creators' clubs.

Best for: social readers. Price: free, paid extras.

5. Goodreads: still the biggest community

If reviews from millions of readers matter most to you, Goodreads remains useful. Many readers keep a Goodreads profile for reviews and use a second app for day-to-day tracking and stats.

Goodreads alternatives compared

How to start tracking books in BingeMark

1. Install BingeMark from Google Play. When asked what you track most, choose Read or Both.
2. Pick a few books you have already read from the list of popular books to seed your shelves, or import your Goodreads export from Profile, then Import titles, then Read.
3. Open Search, switch to Books and search by title or author, or tap the barcode icon to scan a book.
4. Mark books as Wishlist, Reading, Finished or DNF, and add your all-time favorites to the Hall of Fame.
5. Use "Update page" or the reading timer while you read. Your Read home screen fills with stats as you go.

Reading habits that make tracking worth it

• Set a realistic yearly goal. A number you can beat keeps you motivated better than a stretch goal you abandon.
• Use the DNF shelf. Stopping a book you are not enjoying is a valid choice and frees time for books you will love.
• Time a few sessions. Knowing that you read 30 pages an hour helps you plan longer books.
• Review your stats every month. Seeing pages and authors add up is the best motivation to keep reading.

Which Goodreads alternative is right for you?

For a pure book tracker with deep reading analytics, The StoryGraph is the closest Goodreads replacement. For a modern, independent alternative, try Hardcover. And if you read and watch, and want your books, movies, TV shows and anime in one free app with shared stats, start with BingeMark. Want to see how BingeMark handles watching? Read how to track everything you watch and read in one app.