Where things stand
Shellf is currently Android-only, available on the Google Play Store. The iOS app should be coming May 2026. Apple App Store enrolment is in progress now.
The reason for shipping Android first: it’s where the original user (my wife, for whom I initially built Shellf) does her reading, and Google Play’s review mechanics are more flexible during the early launch period. iOS will have full feature parity, not a stripped-down version.
What iOS will look like at launch
Same app, same feature set: AI recommendations, per-trait rating tags, taste fingerprint, custom shelves, half-star ratings, barcode scanner, Goodreads / StoryGraph / CSV import, Plus subscription. The mobile codebase is React Native (Expo), so the iOS app is the same code as the Android app.
You’ll be able to sign into the same account on iPhone that you use on Android, and everything syncs — library, ratings, taste profile, custom shelves — so switching platforms is friction-free. Android and iOS use the same backend.
If you’re on iPhone today
A few options while you wait:
- •Sign up for the waitlist. You’ll get a single email when the App Store version is live. No promotional emails in the meantime.
- •Try the AI tool on web. The AI book recommendation generator on shellf.app is the headline feature in browser form. No account required to try it.
- •Use Goodreads or StoryGraph for now. Both have good iOS apps, and your library will import cleanly into Shellf when it launches — no re-cataloguing needed.
Why May 2026, specifically
App Store enrolment, then a closed TestFlight beta with a small group, then the public App Store launch. The timeline hinges on App Review — Apple review can take days or weeks unpredictably, so the public launch date stays soft until the beta is stable. I’ll update this page when there’s a firmer date.
Want a heads-up when iOS launches? Sign up for the iOS waitlist on the homepage. No spam, one email when it’s live.
Related questions
- →How do I import my library from Goodreads?
- →Is Shellf free?
- →How much does Shellf cost?
- →Does Shellf work on Android?
- →How do Shellf's AI recommendations work?