Yes, Android is the launch platform
Shellf is on the Google Play Store today. It launched on Android first because that’s where Shellf's first user (my wife) does her reading, and Google Play’s review mechanics are more flexible during the early launch period than the App Store’s.
Every feature works on Android — free tier and Plus tier alike. Nothing is held back for the iOS launch.
What you get on Android
- •AI recommendations with multiple retrieval strategies and AI-written explanations, full implementation
- •Per-trait rating tags with the full 63-trait registry
- •Barcode scanner (uses the device camera)
- •Half-star ratings, custom shelves with optional tag rules, DNF tracking, private notes (with voice dictation)
- •Reading stats and taste fingerprint
- •Goodreads sign-in import (sandboxed WebView), CSV import, StoryGraph CSV
- •Full data export at any time via shellf.app
Under the hood
The mobile app is built with React Native (Expo). The Android build is the same codebase that will produce the iOS build later in 2026 — not a separate native app. This is mostly relevant if you care about feature parity: when iOS launches, it won’t lag Android because they’re the same code.
Shellf is built and operated by a UK Limited company. App data is stored in Supabase (PostgreSQL) servers in the EU. UK and EU data-protection law applies regardless of where you’re reading.
Ready to try it? Install Shellf on Android. iOS launches mid-2026.
Related questions
- →How do I import my library from Goodreads?
- →Is Shellf free?
- →How much does Shellf cost?
- →Does Shellf work on iPhone?
- →How do Shellf's AI recommendations work?