Free for 50 books. US$29.99 once for unlimited, with 6 AI shelf scans.
Better Bookshelf is free for your first 50 books using barcode scanning and title search, with imports, highlights, lending, and backups included. Adding a 51st book requires upgrading to the paid version (US$29.99), which includes 6 whole-shelf AI scans. Need more scans? Packs of 6 cost US$10 and never expire. No subscription, no recurring charge.
Last updated: September 2026 · US reference prices; the App Store and Google Play show your local price before purchase.
Free
Catalog your first 50 books
- Up to 50 books
- ISBN barcode scanning and title search
- Reading status, ratings, reviews, and a reading list
- Custom tags, favorites, and the lending tracker
- Kindle, Audible, and Goodreads CSV import
- Readwise highlight sync
- Google Drive backup and CSV export
- No sign-up, no ads
Unlimited: US$29.99 once
One purchase, yours forever
- Everything in Free
- Unlimited books in your library
- 6 whole-shelf AI scans, granted once
- Search your shelves and see any book highlighted in its photo
- Update shelf locations with a new photo
- All future updates included
More shelf scans: US$10 per pack of 6
One scan is one successfully processed shelf photo, and a photo can cover a whole bookcase. Fixing matches and finding books on your shelves are always free; barcode scanning is free for your first 50 books. Adding a 51st book requires upgrading to the paid version (US$29.99). Purchased scans never expire.
How does Better Bookshelf's pricing compare?
Most book cataloging apps charge a recurring subscription, and none of them include whole-shelf scanning with saved locations. Pricing gathered from each app's public listing as of September 2026. CLZ prices rechecked on clz.com, October 30, 2026. See the full feature comparison and Goodreads alternatives guide.
| App | Pricing model |
|---|---|
| Better Bookshelf | Free up to 50 books. Adding a 51st book requires the US$29.99 upgrade (6 AI shelf scans included); 6-scan packs US$10. No subscription |
| The StoryGraph | Free; Plus subscription for advanced features |
| LibraryThing | Free |
| Libib | Free up to 5,000 items; Pro subscription for lending and more |
| BookBuddy | 50 books free; Pro US$9.99 once; optional sharing subscriptions |
| CLZ Books | Mobile US$19.95/year; web US$39.95/year |
Pricing questions, answered
How much does Better Bookshelf cost?
Better Bookshelf is free for your first 50 books. Adding a 51st book requires upgrading to the paid version (US$29.99), which includes 6 whole-shelf AI scans. If you need more scans, packs of 6 cost US$10. There is no subscription and no recurring charge. Your store shows the exact price in your local currency before you buy.
Is Better Bookshelf a subscription?
No. The Unlimited upgrade is a single one-time purchase made through the App Store or Google Play, and scan packs are one-time purchases too. Purchased scans never expire. You pay once and it's yours, including future updates.
What's included in the free version?
Up to 50 books, added by barcode scanning or title search, with reading status, ratings and reviews, a reading list, custom tags, the lending tracker, Kindle and Audible CSV import, Goodreads CSV import, Readwise highlight sync, Google Drive backup, and CSV export. Adding a 51st book requires upgrading to the paid version (US$29.99). Whole-shelf AI scanning is not in the free tier; it comes with Unlimited.
What counts as one shelf scan?
One successfully processed shelf photo uses one scan, including a new photo used to update a shelf you already scanned. Fixing uncertain matches, adding the identified books to your library, searching your shelves, and viewing a book's location never use a scan. Failed scans and scans that find no books are not charged. A single photo can cover a whole bookcase.
Do I get six scans every month?
No. The 6 scans that come with Unlimited are granted once with the purchase, not monthly. After that you buy packs of 6 scans for US$10 whenever you need them. Already bought Unlimited? Restore your purchase in the app to link your included scans.
How does Better Bookshelf's pricing compare to other book apps?
Most book cataloging apps charge recurring subscriptions: CLZ Books lists the mobile app at US$19.95 a year and the web app at US$39.95 a year, Libib requires a Pro subscription for lending features, The StoryGraph puts advanced stats behind a Plus subscription, and BookBuddy Pro is a one-time US$9.99, with optional sharing subscriptions. Better Bookshelf is a one-time US$29.99, which is less than two years of either CLZ plan, and it is the only app in that group that scans a whole shelf and remembers where each book is.
Try Better Bookshelf free: catalog your first 50 books with no sign-up. Adding a 51st book requires the US$29.99 upgrade.
