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Comparison · Book tracking and discovery apps

Douban Books vs Open Library: which is better in 2026?

Douban BooksvsOpen Library

Open Library ranks higher in our list of book tracking and discovery apps (#2 against #3, score 88.5 against 84.0).

Choose Douban Books if you want

Chinese-language reading lists and reviews.

Records books you have read, want to read or are reading, with ratings, tags and recommendations. The site is in Chinese and has iPhone and Android apps, so it suits Chinese-language readers.

Choose Open Library if you want

Free books, an open catalog and a reading goal.

A free, editable catalog with more than 3 million books to read online, plus yearly reading goals and lists. Its code is under AGPL-3.0, though its tracking is simpler than Goodreads.

The main differences

  • Only Douban Books runs on iOS.
  • Only Douban Books runs on Android.
  • Open Library is open source; Douban Books is not.

Side by side

Douban BooksOpen Library
Score84.088.5
Rank in list#3 of 6#2 of 6
PriceFreeFree; no paid plan appears on its homepageFree and open sourceFree to use; code published under AGPL-3.0
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceNoYes
PlatformsWebiOSAndroidWeb, iOS, AndroidWebWeb
Made byNot statedNot stated
Reading trackingYesYes
Best forChinese-language reading lists and reviewsFree books, an open catalog and a reading goal
Strengths
  • Ratings, tags and notes for each book
  • Recommendations based on taste
  • iPhone and Android apps
  • More than 3 million books free to read
  • Editable public catalog
  • Yearly reading goals and lists
Limits
  • Interface is in Chinese
  • Closed source, so the code cannot be checked
  • Tracking features are simpler than dedicated apps
  • Book reviews are less central than on Goodreads
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Douban Books vs Open Library

Is Open Library better than Douban Books?
Open Library ranks higher in our list of book tracking and discovery apps (#2 against #3, score 88.5 against 84.0). Douban Books is best for: chinese-language reading lists and reviews. Open Library is best for: free books, an open catalog and a reading goal.
Which is cheaper, Douban Books or Open Library?
Douban Books: Free; no paid plan appears on its homepage. Open Library: Free to use; code published under AGPL-3.0.
Do Douban Books and Open Library run on the same platforms?
Douban Books supports Web, iOS, Android. Open Library supports Web.