How to Track Your Reading Habits: Apps & Tools for Book Lovers

Introduction

Tracking your reading habits helps you stay motivated, discover new books, and reflect on your literary journey. Whether you're a casual reader or a book-a-week devotee, these apps and tools simplify logging, reviewing, and organizing your reads.

Best Apps to Track Reading Habits

1. Goodreads

Features: Set yearly goals, log books, write reviews, and join reading challenges.
Why It’s Great: The largest community of readers, with personalized recommendations.
Downside: Owned by Amazon, which some users prefer to avoid.

2. StoryGraph

Features: Mood-based recommendations, detailed stats (reading pace, genre preferences), and PDF/yearly reports.
Why It’s Great: Data-driven and ad-free, with a focus on diverse books.
Best For: Readers who love analytics and non-mainstream picks.

3. Bookly

Features: Timer to track reading sessions, speed calculator, and visual stats (e.g., pages per hour).
Why It’s Great: Gamifies reading with achievements and session insights.
Best For: Goal-oriented readers who want to improve focus.

4. LibraryThing

Features: Catalog physical/digital books, join discussion groups, and access early reviewer programs.
Why It’s Great: Less social media noise than Goodreads, with a focus on cataloging.
Best For: Collectors and fans of obscure titles.

5. Readwise

Features: Syncs highlights from eReaders (Kindle, Kobo), sends daily review emails, and exports notes to apps like Notion.
Why It’s Great: Perfect for retaining insights from non-fiction.
Best For: Students and researchers.

Niche and Emerging Tools

1. Literal

A social platform for tracking and discussing books, designed like a book-centric Twitter.

2. Reading List (iOS)

Minimalist app for logging reads and creating custom lists (e.g., "2025 TBR").

3. BookSloth

Combines tracking with a swipe-based recommendation system (like Tinder for books).

How to Choose the Right Tool

Consider these factors:

Community vs. Private Use: Goodreads and Literal thrive on social features, while Bookly and Reading List are more personal.
Data Ownership: StoryGraph and LibraryThing let you export your data easily.
Integration: Readwise and Bookly sync with eReaders or note-taking apps.

Bonus: Analog Tracking Ideas

Bullet Journal Spreads: Track books with ratings, quotes, or themed trackers (e.g., "Books Set in Paris").
Printable Challenges: Download yearly checklists (e.g., "Read 12 genres in 12 months").

Final Thoughts

Tracking your reading doesn’t have to feel like homework. Whether you prefer deep analytics (StoryGraph), social motivation (Goodreads), or minimalist logging (Reading List), there’s a tool to match your style. Start small, experiment, and enjoy the process.

Looking for your next read? Explore our curated lists of the best fantasy series and hidden gem non-fiction books.