How to choose a book tracking app

Start with a book you already own

Test a tracker with the paperback or hardcover you are reading. Can you find it, recognize the cover, and record your progress without a long setup? That is a useful starting point for a tool you will return to after each session.

In Actually Read, search a large catalog of published books. The app finds the cover image, author, and summary. Add the book, organize it in a reading list, and log your progress as you read. The same tracker works for books you read in other apps.

Do you want to read ebooks in the tracker too?

If you move between paper and digital books, look at whether the tracker also lets you read. Actually Read is both a book tracker and an ebook reader: your physical books and digital books live in one library.

Read from over 70,000 free public-domain ebooks through Project Gutenberg, or import your own EPUB or PDF. The built-in reading experience tracks your time and progress. You can also use Actually Read only for the books you read on paper.

Look for help making time to read

If scrolling keeps interrupting your reading, look beyond the book log. Actually Read lets you pin any book to Focus and choose it from a realistic carousel of your current reads.

Deep Focus uses Apple’s Screen Time API to temporarily block selected apps, categories, and websites. Choose a session length or unlimited time and start reading an ebook or a physical book. Your history keeps your focus sessions and progress together.

If you want AI help, ask where its answers come from

Look for a companion that can find the passage you are asking about and show its evidence. Actually Read actively searches your selected digital book and answers with citations. Tap a citation to go directly to the relevant passage in the reader.

Use it for explanations and recaps. Turn on Avoid Spoilers to constrain retrieval to the part of the book you have reached. Indexing and retrieval happen on-device for every model option, including when you choose Advanced AI.

Questions to ask before committing

Try one real reading session before deciding. Actually Read’s core reading experience is free, including on-device AI on supported devices. Advanced AI cloud models are available through a subscription. Review current pricing, compatibility, and the privacy policy before choosing your AI option.

1. Can I find my physical book and update its progress easily?
2. Can I read ebooks and keep paper books in the same library?
3. Can I block the distractions that interrupt my reading?
4. Can I choose a timed or unlimited focus session?
5. If I ask an AI question, can I open the passage behind the answer?