Kitabi vs LibraryThing
Kitabi vs LibraryThing: two ways to catalogue your books
LibraryThing is one of the deepest book-cataloguing services there is: free for any number of books, drawing records from Amazon, the Library of Congress and thousands of other libraries, with a community of nearly three million members.
Kitabi is narrower on purpose. It is a phone app for a reader's own shelf, which keeps working without a connection and treats Malayalam, Tamil and other Indian-language books as first-class.
Side by side
| Kitabi | LibraryThing | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free for any number of books, since March 2020 |
| Where you use it | An iPhone and Android app; every book in the catalogue also has a page on kitabi.in | The website, with apps for iPhone and Android |
| Lending | A lending ledger with due dates, reminders and a Borrowed shelf; lend to another Kitabi reader and both ledgers update | A lending ("circulation") feature with due dates and overdue status |
| Catalogue data | A shared catalogue with Indian-language editions, plus barcode scanning and hand entry | Amazon, the Library of Congress and thousands of other libraries |
| What it catalogues | Books | Books, music and movies |
| Reading | Progress in pages, timed reading sessions, a yearly goal and charts | Reading progress, charts and statistics |
| Community | Private by default, with no public feed | Groups, discussion and the Early Reviewers giveaway programme |
LibraryThing's column is taken from LibraryThing's own pages, read on 16 October 2026 — they are listed under Sources below.
Phone first, and offline
Kitabi keeps your library on your phone. You can add books, lend them and log reading in a basement or on a train, and it syncs when you are back online. Scanning a barcode is the normal way to add a book, not an extra.
Indian bookshelves
Kitabi grew up on Malayalam, Tamil and English shelves. Titles display in their own script, search understands transliteration — typing "Kayary" finds കയർ — and when you own a book and its translation, Kitabi knows they are the same work.
When LibraryThing is the better choice
If you want a library-grade catalogue on a big screen — Dewey or Library of Congress classification, records from thousands of libraries, music and films too, and a large community to talk books with — LibraryThing does far more than Kitabi.
Questions
Is LibraryThing free?
Yes. LibraryThing went free for everyone in March 2020, for any number of books.
Does LibraryThing track lending?
Yes. LibraryThing added a lending feature in 2015 that records who has a book, due dates and overdue status. Kitabi has a lending ledger too, with phone reminders and a shelf for books you have borrowed.
Why would I choose Kitabi over LibraryThing?
If you want your library in a phone app that works offline, with reading progress in pages, timed reading sessions, and Malayalam, Tamil and English books handled properly in their own scripts.
What is Kitabi?
Kitabi is a free personal library app for iPhone and Android, for readers who own books. Scan a barcode to catalogue a book, keep a lending ledger of who borrowed what, log your reading in pages, and import a Goodreads export. It works offline, shows no ads, and is private by default.
Sources
Read on 16 October 2026. Prices and features change — check LibraryThing's own site before you decide.
More about Kitabi
Kitabi vs GoodreadsKitabi vs LibibBook lending trackerAll comparisons
Keep the shelf in your pocket
Kitabi is a personal library app — track what you own, log what you read, and lend a book to a friend without losing it. Free, offline-first, no ads.