The Best Free Goodreads Alternative in 2026
Track what you read, find your next favorite book, and support independent authors — on a modern platform that is not owned by Amazon.
Goodreads has been the default reading tracker for years, but it has not meaningfully changed in a long time — and it is owned by Amazon, which shapes what books get seen. If you have been looking for a Goodreads alternative that feels fresh, treats every book fairly, and puts readers first, Menrva Books is built for you.
Menrva Books is a free, independent book discovery and reading-tracking platform. There are no paid placements in search, no corporate parent deciding which titles to promote, and a modern interface with full dark mode.
Why readers are leaving Goodreads
The most common frustrations we hear are the same ones that brought us together to build Menrva: a dated interface, search that surfaces the same handful of blockbusters, and the sense that indie and self-published books never get a fair shot.
- Independent and reader-owned — not an Amazon subsidiary.
- Organic search with no paid placements — every book competes on merit.
- A modern, fast interface with first-class dark mode.
- Deep support for indie and self-published authors.
Everything you need to track your reading
Menrva gives you a complete reading-tracker toolkit. Mark books as want-to-read, currently reading, read, or did-not-finish, flag favorites, and build the reading life you actually want to keep.
- Reading statuses: want to read, reading now, read, DNF, favorite, and owned.
- Like or dislike books and add community tags that make discovery better for everyone.
- Follow authors and see their catalog, series, and social links in one place.
- Powerful, niche search by genre, subgenre, keyword, and community tag.
Is Menrva Books really free?
Yes. The Explorer tier is completely free and includes book search, browsing, and reading-status tracking. If you want premium extras like comments, favorites, and curated reading lists, the Bibliophile subscription unlocks them — but you never have to pay to track your reading.
Switching from Goodreads
One-click Goodreads import is on our roadmap. In the meantime, most readers get set up in minutes: search for the books you love, mark your favorites and your to-be-read list, and follow the authors you want to keep up with. Because search is organic, you will also start discovering titles Goodreads never showed you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Menrva Books a free Goodreads alternative?
Yes. Menrva Books has a completely free Explorer tier that includes book search, browsing, and reading-status tracking. Premium features like comments, favorites, and reading lists are available with an optional Bibliophile subscription.
How is Menrva Books different from Goodreads?
Unlike Goodreads, Menrva Books is independently owned rather than an Amazon subsidiary, has no paid placements in search results, features a modern dark-mode interface, and actively champions indie and self-published authors so every book gets a fair chance to be discovered.
Can I import my Goodreads library?
A one-click Goodreads import tool is on our roadmap. Today you can quickly rebuild your shelves using our search — mark your favorites, your to-be-read list, and follow your favorite authors in just a few minutes.
Does Menrva Books support indie authors?
Absolutely. Menrva Books was built with indie authors in mind. No book is boosted by paid promotion — search is organic and fair — and authors can manage their own profiles with the Author subscription tier.
Explore Menrva Books
Ready to start your reading journey?
Join Menrva Books free — track what you read, discover your next favorite, and support indie authors.
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