Why it's an alternative to Goodreads: Modern, independent book tracker and social reading app with lists, stats and Goodreads import.
made by
Ste Dobrescu
Ste Dobrescu2 indie alternatives · Mobile App Makers
Indie alternatives to Goodreads (2026)
Goodreads, owned by Amazon, is the default place to track books but has barely changed in years. Readers look for modern, independent book trackers and better ways to discover books. Below are 2 alternatives built by independent makers — Hardcover and Good Books — with what each does differently, who makes it and any revenue they have shared publicly.
Goodreads alternatives at a glance
Jump to any product for the full write-up.
| # | Product | Maker | Status | Reported revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hardcover | Ste Dobrescu | Active | — |
| 2 | Good Books | Jordan Hughes | Acquired | — |
The 2 best indie alternatives to Goodreads
Each product is made and run by an independent maker or a small, self-directed team.
Why it's an alternative to Goodreads: Curated directory of thousands of book recommendations from well-known people.
made by
Jordan Hughes
Jordan HughesWhy choose an indie-made tool?
You talk to the maker
With a small product, support requests and feature ideas usually reach the person who wrote the code, and many makers build in public and reply to users directly.
Focused and fairly priced
Small teams tend to do one job well instead of bundling every feature into enterprise tiers, and many indie tools offer one-time licenses, open-source editions or free plans.
Built by real people
These 2 alternatives come from 2 makers in France Australia. Paying them funds a sustainable, independent business.
Meet the makers: Ste Dobrescu, Jordan Hughes.
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Goodreads alternatives FAQ
What are the best indie alternatives to Goodreads?
IndieMakerList lists 2 indie-made alternatives to Goodreads: Hardcover (by Ste Dobrescu) and Good Books (by Jordan Hughes).
Why do people look for alternatives to Goodreads?
Goodreads, owned by Amazon, is the default place to track books but has barely changed in years. Readers look for modern, independent book trackers and better ways to discover books.
Who builds these Goodreads alternatives?
They are built by 2 independent makers from 2 countries, including France and Australia, rather than a large company. Each maker has a profile on IndieMakerList with their other products and links.
Are these Goodreads alternatives still maintained?
1 of them is active and run by the original maker. Good Books (acquired) changed hands or status, so check the product site before committing.
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