Book club apps compared
There are good tools for book clubs, and the right one depends on what your club does. Here's an honest look at what each is best for. We make Occasionry, so we've stuck to what reviewers and the tools themselves say about the others. Checked October 2026; features change, so check each site too.
What each one is best for
Occasionry
Best for: Clubs that want the book vote, a food sign-up, a chat and a list of every book they've read, in one free place with no ads. Built to be easy for people who aren't good with computers.
It doesn't have a public community for finding new readers, a personal reading tracker, or built-in video calls.
Bookclubs
Best for: Clubs that want book polls, meeting scheduling, RSVPs and calendar sync.
A reviewer found its reading features thin.
Goodreads groups
Best for: Finding a large reading community and joining open groups.
Reviewers find the Groups feature dated, and the site shows ads.
Fable
Best for: Joining big clubs hosted by authors and creators, with active discussion threads.
Its web version is thin, and it's now part of a subscription bundle.
SignUpGenius
Best for: Sign-up sheets of any kind, including who brings what.
It isn't made for book clubs, and its free plan shows ads.
Google Forms
Best for: A quick one-off poll with a tool people already know.
Questions are single choice or checkboxes, and it doesn't keep a reading history.
How to choose
- You meet in person or on a call with people you know. Pick a tool that keeps the vote, the date, the food and the chat together, like Occasionry or Bookclubs.
- You want to meet new readers. Goodreads groups or Fable have big public communities.
- You only need a quick poll. Google Forms or any poll tool will do.
- You only need a food list. A sign-up sheet works, or use Occasionry's, which comes with every book club.
- Some members aren't comfortable with apps. Pick something that works in a web browser with big, clear buttons, and nothing to download.
Questions people ask
What is the best free app for a book club?
It depends on what your club needs. Occasionry is free with no ads and puts the book vote, food sign-up, chat and reading history in one place. Bookclubs is strong for scheduling and RSVPs, and Goodreads groups are good for finding a large reading community.
Is there a book club app without ads?
Yes. Occasionry has no ads.
Which book club app helps plan snacks or a potluck?
Occasionry has a food sign-up built into every book club, next to the book vote. A general sign-up tool like SignUpGenius can also do it, though its free plan shows ads.
Can we just use Google Forms for book club polls?
Yes, for a single poll. Google Forms is free and familiar, but its questions are single choice or checkboxes, and it doesn't keep your club's reading history.
Sources
Free, no ads, nothing to download.
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