by Callie Wilkins
Goodreads and The StoryGraph are two of the most popular apps in the reading community. While Goodreads is well-known and has a long history, The StoryGraph is an up-and-coming app that offers new ways to think about how you read. But which is better for readers?
Most avid bookworms like me are proud of the books we read and enjoy being part of a larger community of readers. We love looking at the collections of read books (or to-be-read books) on our bookshelves and delight in the time well-spent. Yet how can you prove that you read a library book or listened to a podcast? More importantly, where can you share your thoughts about these books and find more recommendations? Goodreads and The StoryGraph offer answers to these questions. So, without further ado, let’s dive in to see which one comes out on top as the superior app for book lovers.
Aesthetic
This might sound unimportant to you, but trust me, an ugly app is not going to draw you in and keep you coming back. Goodreads has a calm beige color scheme, like a warm latte. Lots of Barnes & Noble vibes, if you ask me.
The StoryGraph offers a darker color scheme of grey and blue, which doesn’t really scream “this is a book-tracking app” to me. It feels unrefined, which makes sense given the relative newness of the app.
I also think that what is displayed on the home page is a big factor in the app’s aesthetic. Goodreads displays the books that are currently popular amongst other Goodreads members but doesn’t display books recommended specifically for you. The StoryGraph’s homepage is quite different, showing your “Currently Reading” list and progress first, followed by personal recommendations and books popular with the app’s community. I prefer this home page to that of Goodreads, as I usually open these apps to adjust my reading progress. This makes The StoryGraph’s home page much more user-friendly.
Navigation
Nobody wants to spend extra time trying to find what they’re looking for in an app. We want to get back to reading, so the way each app is navigated is important. Both apps have a navigational bar on the bottom of the screen and a search bar along the top that spans all sections of the app.
Goodreads is split into five sections: Home, My Books, Discover, Search, and More. My Books contains your reading lists and progress trackers. The Discover page is self-explanatory—it provides new book recommendations. Search is also easy to understand. The More page is where I have a qualm. More gives you options to go to your profile, add friends, and scan books, amongst other things. I’d prefer it if I could see my profile more easily and gain access to my friends’ recent reads. I have to search out their book reviews to find out what they’re reading, which I don’t love.
The StoryGraph is better in this aspect—they have a whole section on Community that shows books from the people you follow and books from other members of the app. It also has a section dedicated to your profile, making it easier to find your personal information than on Goodreads.
The StoryGraph also has a section that makes it unique: Stats. Here, you can find all kinds of charts and graphs (hence the app’s name) that analyze your habits as a reader. What kinds of moods do the books you read tend to have? How varied are your genres? How many of your read books are by the same author? These are all things you can see on the Stats page illustrated in colorful graphs (or not colorful if you read a lot of the same stuff). I’ve found that this page has taught me a lot about my reading habits and has helped me refine what I look for in my next book.
Community
Goodreads is highly valued by readers for its large community of users. You can find entire essays in the comments of some books written by expressive readers, accompanied by a review between one and five stars. Users can add tags to the novel that help other readers find it when looking for specific qualities in a book, such as “adult-romance” or “vampires.” The system is simple, tried, and true.
The StoryGraph uses a similar system, with a star rating system out of five, written reviews, and tags. However, The StoryGraph takes it a step further by asking reviewers to answer optional questions like “plot or character-driven?” and “diverse cast of characters?” and even contains a section to tag content warnings for future readers. While reviewers don’t tend to rant or rave about books quite like on Goodreads and there aren’t as many reviews, I do enjoy having these more encompassing questions to factor into my reviews or look through when reading someone else’s.
The Verdict
I think it’s clear that The StoryGraph comes out on top as the best app for readers. While I won’t necessarily be deleting Goodreads anytime soon, I think that as The StoryGraph develops, it will surpass the former as the favorite app of book lovers. If you haven’t already downloaded The StoryGraph, go ahead and give it a shot. I bet you’ll like it.
Hey guys! I’m Callie, I’m a senior here at Florida State graduating this fall. I’m an English major with a minor in entrepreneurship, and I’m an intern for the layout section of The Kudzu Review. I love to read horrors and classics. I’m currently reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and loving it! I am a dog mom to a rescue bully named Hazel (AKA Hazelnut, Hazel Bug, or Buggie), and I own a small business! After graduation, I plan on moving to Boston and publishing my first novel.
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