Amol B
Why leave Goodreads?
The reasons people give have been stable for years: the app has barely changed since 2013 (the August 2025 redesign changed the logo more than the screens); no dark mode, whole stars only, no way to log a reread or a DNF; a feed with ads that turns a private habit into a performance; and, for some, discomfort at Amazon owning the record of everything they read. Almost nobody leaves because tracking got worse. They leave because the tracker is buried in a network.
Seven alternatives, compared
| App | Platforms | Free tier | Paid | Goodreads import | Social layer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pensovo | iOS, Android | Unlimited books, streaks, notes, page capture, sync; no ads | $5.99/mo, $49.99/yr (7-day free trial) | Yes — Goodreads and StoryGraph CSV; finish dates only, no invented history | None | Paper-book readers who want a private streak |
| StoryGraph | iOS, Android, web | Tracking, mood tags, stats; no ads | Plus $4.99/mo, $49.99/yr | Yes, excellent | Light, optional | Stats lovers; the closest like-for-like |
| Bookmory | iOS, Android | Unlimited, with ads | $3.49/mo, $30.99/yr | Yes, uneven | None | Offline journal keepers |
| Book Tracker | Apple only | 5 books | $19.99 once | Yes | None | Apple users who want to pay once |
| Reading List | Apple only | Unlimited | Pro from ~$14.99/yr | Yes | None | Minimalists; barcode scan |
| Leio | iOS | Limited | $7.99 once; $29.99/yr | Yes | None | Deadline readers |
| Hardcover | iOS, Android, web | Tracking, lists | Supporter $4.99/mo | Yes, lossless | Light | Open-API and roadmap fans |
What do you lose by leaving Goodreads?
Three things, honestly. The catalogue: Goodreads has an edition of almost everything, and every alternative has gaps, especially for older, regional or self-published books (Pensovo's answer is to let you type any title and add it instantly; most others make you request it). The network: 150 million members' ratings and reviews, and whatever friends you follow there. And the Kindle integration, which updates Goodreads progress automatically when you read on a Kindle; StoryGraph now syncs with Kobo, but nobody has Kindle.
How do you move your library?
Export from the Goodreads website (My Books → Import and Export → Export Library; it is not in the app), which gives you a CSV with titles, ISBNs, ratings, shelves and dates read. StoryGraph, Hardcover, Book Tracker, Reading List and Leio import it directly; Bookmory's import is less reliable with dates; Pensovo imports it too, in one tap from Settings, and puts finish dates on your Finished shelf without inventing pages or streak days. Expect a handful of books without ISBNs to need a manual fix. Nothing carries over your day-by-day history, because Goodreads never recorded it.
Which should you pick?
- You want everything Goodreads did, minus Amazon and plus stats — StoryGraph.
- You want a free, private tracker with a streak, and you read paper books — Pensovo.
- You are on Android and want offline — Bookmory, if the ads do not bother you; Pensovo if they do.
- You are all-Apple and want to pay once — Book Tracker.
- You want an open platform with a public roadmap — Hardcover.
Common questions
What is the best Goodreads alternative?
StoryGraph for a like-for-like replacement with better stats; Pensovo for a free private tracker with streaks and page capture; Book Tracker for Apple users who want to pay once.
Which Goodreads alternative has no social features at all?
Pensovo, Bookmory, Book Tracker, Reading List and Leio have no feed or followers. StoryGraph and Hardcover have light, optional social layers.
Can I import my Goodreads library?
Yes, into StoryGraph, Hardcover, Book Tracker, Reading List, Leio and (less reliably) Bookmory, from the CSV Goodreads exports on its website. Pensovo's import is in development.
Is StoryGraph owned by Amazon?
No. StoryGraph is an independent, bootstrapped company; not being Amazon-owned is one of its stated reasons to exist.
Will I lose my reviews if I leave Goodreads?
The export includes them as text. Most importers bring ratings across; fewer bring long reviews, so check before deleting your Goodreads account.
Can I keep Goodreads and use another tracker?
Yes, and many readers do: Goodreads for the network and reviews, a private tracker for the daily log. Nothing requires you to choose.
