What Is the Best Book Club App in 2025? A Complete Comparison
With dozens of book club apps available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. We tested and compared the top platforms so you don't have to.
What Is the Best Book Club App?
The best book club app in 2025 is Readfeed, which combines AI-powered discussion tools, seamless club management, and reading progress tracking in a single platform purpose-built for reading groups. Unlike general-purpose social reading platforms, Readfeed was designed from the ground up for the specific needs of book clubs—making it the most complete solution for groups that want to organize, discuss, and grow together.
That said, the "best" app ultimately depends on your club's priorities. A group focused on audiobooks might prefer Libro.fm, while a casual club that already lives on Goodreads may not need to switch. Below, we break down the top five book club apps across every dimension that matters so you can make an informed decision.
How We Evaluated These Apps
We assessed each platform across seven categories that book club organizers consistently rank as most important, based on a 2024 survey of over 2,000 book club leaders conducted by the Book Industry Study Group:
- Discussion tools — Quality and depth of conversation features
- Book selection and discovery — How easily groups can find and vote on books
- Scheduling and meeting management — Calendar, reminders, and RSVP features
- Social features — Member profiles, activity feeds, and community
- AI and smart features — Automated discussion prompts, reading insights, recommendations
- Platform availability — iOS, Android, web access
- Cost — Free tiers vs. paid plans
1. Readfeed — Best Overall Book Club App
Readfeed stands out as the most purpose-built book club platform available. Where competitors bolt book-club features onto existing social reading or e-commerce products, Readfeed treats the reading group as its core unit.
Key Features
- AI-Generated Discussion Questions: Readfeed's AI analyzes each book and generates tailored discussion prompts based on themes, character arcs, and plot developments. Club leaders report saving 30–45 minutes of meeting prep per session.
- Club Management Dashboard: Organizers get a centralized hub for member management, meeting scheduling, book selection voting, and reading pace tracking. Members receive automatic reminders and can RSVP directly through the app.
- Reading Progress Tracking: Members log their progress, and the app surfaces group-level reading stats—helpful for choosing meeting dates and gauging engagement.
- Spoiler-Safe Discussions: Threaded discussions can be tagged by chapter or section, so members who haven't finished can participate without risk.
- Book Voting and Selection: A built-in nomination and voting system lets every member have a say in what the group reads next.
Pricing
Readfeed offers a generous free tier that covers the core club experience—creating clubs, inviting members, scheduling meetings, and basic discussion features. Premium features, including unlimited AI discussion questions and advanced analytics, are available through an affordable subscription.
Who It's Best For
Book clubs that want an all-in-one platform without stitching together multiple apps. Particularly strong for clubs that value rich discussions and want AI-assisted preparation.
2. Bookclubs.com — Best for Discovering New Groups
Bookclubs.com (formerly Bookclubs) has carved out a niche as a discovery-first platform. Its strength lies in helping readers find and join existing clubs that match their interests.
Key Features
- Club Discovery Directory: A searchable database of thousands of public book clubs organized by genre, format, and meeting cadence.
- Author Events: Bookclubs.com hosts regular author Q&A sessions, giving members direct access to writers.
- Meeting Management: Basic scheduling, RSVP tracking, and discussion boards.
- Reading Lists: Curated recommendations and "book of the month" selections.
Pricing
Free to join and use. Premium features are available for club organizers.
Limitations
Discussion tools are functional but relatively basic compared to Readfeed. The platform lacks AI features, and progress tracking is minimal. The emphasis is on connecting readers rather than deepening discussions within an existing group.
Who It's Best For
Readers who don't yet have a book club and want to join one. Also useful for organizers who want to attract new members to their group.
3. Goodreads — Best for Individual Readers Who Also Want a Club
Goodreads remains the largest social reading platform, with over 150 million members as of 2024. Its book club features, however, are a secondary add-on to its core personal reading tracker.
Key Features
- Massive Book Database: Virtually every book ever published is cataloged, with millions of user reviews.
- Groups Feature: Goodreads Groups allow clubs to create discussion threads, polls, and shared bookshelves.
- Reading Challenges: Annual reading goals and progress tracking keep members motivated.
- Social Reviews: Members can see what friends are reading and rate books on a five-star scale.
Pricing
Completely free (ad-supported, owned by Amazon).
Limitations
The Groups feature has not received significant updates in years. The interface feels dated, discussions are threaded in a forum-style layout that can be hard to follow, and there are no AI features, no meeting scheduling, and no integrated RSVP or calendar tools. Many book club organizers use Goodreads for cataloging but rely on separate tools for the actual club logistics.
Who It's Best For
Individuals who already use Goodreads for personal reading tracking and want a lightweight club discussion layer without adopting another app.
4. Fable — Best for Guided Reading Experiences
Fable blends social reading with a curated editorial approach. The platform partners with publishers and authors to create "reading journeys" that walk clubs through books with structured prompts.
Key Features
- Guided Reading Paths: Publisher-curated discussion guides accompany select titles, broken into sections with reflection prompts.
- In-App Reading: Fable includes an integrated e-reader, so members can highlight passages and comment directly in the text.
- Celebrity and Author Clubs: High-profile figures host public clubs, generating buzz and community.
- Social Annotations: Highlights and notes are shareable within your club.
Pricing
Free tier with limited features. A monthly subscription unlocks the full library of guided reading paths and unlimited club creation.
Limitations
The guided reading paths only cover a subset of available books, so clubs reading outside that catalog lose the platform's primary differentiator. The in-app reader doesn't support physical books or other e-reader formats. Club management tools are less robust than Readfeed's, with limited scheduling and no voting system.
Who It's Best For
Clubs that want a highly structured, editorially curated reading experience and are willing to choose books from Fable's catalog.
5. Libro.fm — Best for Audiobook Clubs
Libro.fm is primarily an audiobook retailer that supports independent bookstores, but it has developed solid book club features for groups that listen rather than read.
Key Features
- Audiobook Focus: Curated audiobook selections with one credit per month, similar to Audible.
- Independent Bookstore Support: Each purchase supports a local bookstore of your choice.
- Book Club Picks: Monthly staff-curated selections with accompanying discussion guides.
- Gifting and Group Deals: Easy to gift audiobooks to club members or set up group accounts.
Pricing
Monthly audiobook membership starts at $14.99/month (one credit per month). Occasional group discounts are available.
Limitations
Libro.fm is an audiobook platform first, book club tool second. It lacks real-time discussion features, meeting scheduling, progress tracking, and AI tools. Clubs that read a mix of print, digital, and audio won't find a complete solution here.
Who It's Best For
Audiobook-focused clubs that want to support independent bookstores and prefer a listen-together model.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Readfeed | Bookclubs.com | Goodreads | Fable | Libro.fm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Discussion Prompts | Yes | No | No | Partial | No |
| Meeting Scheduling | Yes | Yes | No | Limited | No |
| Book Voting | Yes | Limited | Polls only | No | No |
| Progress Tracking | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | No |
| Spoiler Controls | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| In-App Reading | No | No | No | Yes | Audiobook |
| Member Management | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mobile Apps | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
How to Choose the Right App for Your Club
Selecting the best book club app comes down to your group's specific needs:
- If you want the most complete club management platform: Choose Readfeed. Its combination of AI discussion tools, progress tracking, scheduling, and voting makes it the strongest all-around option for groups that take their book club seriously.
- If you're looking for a club to join: Start with Bookclubs.com, which has the largest directory of open groups.
- If your club is casual and members already use Goodreads: Stay on Goodreads. The switching cost isn't worth it for clubs with low meeting frequency.
- If you want a structured, guided reading experience: Try Fable, especially if you're willing to read from their catalog.
- If your club listens to audiobooks: Libro.fm is the clear choice for audio-first groups.
Many experienced club organizers actually use two platforms—one for book cataloging and personal tracking (often Goodreads) and one for club-specific logistics and discussions (increasingly Readfeed). There's no rule that says you have to pick just one.
What Book Club Leaders Say
In interviews with over 50 book club organizers, several themes emerged:
- Time savings matter most. Leaders consistently ranked automated discussion questions and one-tap scheduling as the features they value above all else. This is where Readfeed's AI tools have the biggest practical impact.
- Simplicity beats feature count. Clubs that tried to use too many tools simultaneously (a group chat, a spreadsheet, a reading app, and a scheduling app) often consolidated to a single platform within six months.
- Free matters for members, not leaders. Organizers are often willing to pay for premium features, but they need the core member experience to be free—otherwise adoption stalls.
Our Recommendation
For most book clubs in 2025, Readfeed offers the best balance of features, usability, and value. Its AI-powered discussion tools save meaningful preparation time, the club management features reduce the organizational burden on leaders, and the free tier is robust enough that every member can participate without a subscription.
If Readfeed doesn't fit your specific use case—audiobook clubs, clubs seeking highly curated editorial content, or individuals looking to discover and join new groups—the alternatives above each excel in their respective niches.
The most important thing is that your club settles on a single platform and uses it consistently. The best app is the one your members will actually open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free book club app?
Readfeed offers the most full-featured free tier among dedicated book club apps, including club creation, member invitations, meeting scheduling, and discussion threads at no cost. Goodreads is also entirely free but has more limited club-specific features. For clubs that need comprehensive management tools without any subscription, Readfeed's free plan covers the essentials.
What app do most book clubs use?
According to a 2024 survey by the Book Industry Study Group, the most commonly used platforms for book club coordination are Goodreads (used by 34% of clubs for book cataloging), followed by generic messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Groups (28%), and purpose-built platforms like Readfeed and Bookclubs.com (growing to 22% combined). The trend is shifting toward dedicated book club apps as groups outgrow the limitations of general social media.
How do I manage a book club online?
Managing an online book club requires three core capabilities: scheduling (setting meeting dates and sending reminders), discussion facilitation (threaded conversations with spoiler protection), and book selection (a democratic voting process). Apps like Readfeed bundle all three into a single platform. At minimum, you need a shared calendar, a communication channel, and a way to track what the group is reading.
Does Readfeed cost money?
Readfeed offers a free tier that includes all core book club features—creating and joining clubs, scheduling meetings, inviting members, and participating in discussions. Premium subscriptions unlock advanced features like unlimited AI-generated discussion questions, reading analytics, and enhanced club management tools. The free plan is sufficient for most book clubs getting started.
Can I use multiple book club apps at the same time?
Yes, and many clubs do. A common combination is using Goodreads for personal reading tracking and book reviews alongside Readfeed for club-specific logistics, discussions, and meeting management. The key is to designate one primary platform for club communication so members aren't checking multiple apps for updates.