The StoryGraph

The StoryGraph

The StoryGraph is a book tracking and discovery platform built as an Amazon-free alternative to Goodreads. It helps readers log what they read, visualize habits with charts and stats, and pick the next title based on mood, pace, genre, and personal taste rather than generic bestseller lists.

Machine learning drives personalized recommendations, similar-book suggestions, and reading buddy matches. You can also mix mood, pace, fiction vs nonfiction, and genre filters to surface titles that match how you want to feel while reading.

Social reading is a core part of the experience: buddy reads with spoiler-locked comments, reading challenges, book clubs, and lists you can share with friends. Custom tags, content warnings, half-star ratings, a reading journal, and an up-next queue round out the tracking side.

The platform started as a side project from founder Nadia Odunayo and is now run with co-founder Rob Frelow, who leads the recommendation and infrastructure work. Native iOS and Android apps are available alongside the web app, and you can import shelves from Goodreads.

Top Features:
  1. Charts break down books read, pages per month, mood splits, pace, and star ratings over time

  2. Recommendations learn your taste and surface titles through a mood-first filter menu

  3. Buddy reads lock comments until each reader reaches that point in the book

  4. Import currently-reading, read, to-read, and DNF shelves from Goodreads in one step

  5. Content warnings, half-star ratings, DNF and owned shelves, and a private reading journal

  6. Reading challenges, book clubs with voting, and shareable custom tags and lists

  7. Scan a barcode or book cover on mobile to add titles quickly

Pros:
  1. Most core tracking, recommendations, and social features stay free with no ads.

  2. Mood, pace, and genre filters go deeper than typical star-rating recommendations.

  3. Buddy reads, book clubs, and spoiler-locked comments support social reading without ruining the plot.

  4. One-step Goodreads import covers standard shelves and maps custom shelves to tags.

  5. Native iOS and Android apps plus a web app cover most reading workflows.

Cons:
  1. Advanced stats, custom charts, and comparisons require the paid Plus plan.

  2. The reader community is smaller than Goodreads, so reviews and lists may feel quieter on niche titles.

  3. Giveaway pricing for authors and publishers starts at $69 per campaign, separate from reader plans.

FAQs:

Is The StoryGraph free to use?

Yes. The StoryGraph is free for core tracking, recommendations, and social features. A paid Plus plan adds advanced stats, custom charts, and priority support for readers who want a more personalized experience.

Does The StoryGraph have a mobile app?

Yes. The StoryGraph offers native apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If the app is not available in your country, you can download it directly from the StoryGraph website.

Can I import my Goodreads data into The StoryGraph?

Yes. The StoryGraph imports your currently-reading, read, to-read, and did-not-finish shelves from Goodreads. Any custom Goodreads shelves are mapped to custom tags inside StoryGraph.

What does The StoryGraph Plus include?

StoryGraph Plus adds custom charts, extra stats filters, shareable wrap-up graphics for custom date ranges, stat comparisons across segments or users, exclusive year-on-year charts, roadmap voting, and priority support. Plus includes a 30-day free trial with no payment details required.

Who built The StoryGraph?

The StoryGraph is run by founder and CEO Nadia Odunayo and co-founder Rob Frelow, who leads machine learning and infrastructure. The product began as Nadia's personal side project for tracking reading lists.

How do buddy reads on The StoryGraph handle spoilers?

Buddy reads on The StoryGraph let participants add live reactions tied to a specific point in the book. Comments stay locked for other readers until they reach that same progress marker, so discussions stay spoiler-safe.

Category:

Pricing:

Freemium

Tags:

The StoryGraph
Book Recommendations
Reading Tracker
Machine Learning
Mood-Based Discovery
Goodreads Alternative
Book Clubs

Tech used:

React
Tailwind CSS
Google Cloud
Google Fonts
Laravel
Ruby
Emotion

Reviews:

Give your opinion on The StoryGraph :-

Overall rating

Privacy and Your Privacy Choices

Join thousands of AI enthusiasts in the World of AI!

Best Free The StoryGraph Alternatives (and Paid)

By Rishit