TheLysts vs Goodreads: Why Limit Yourself to Books?
Goodreads has been the go-to for book lovers since 2007, and it shows. With an outdated interface, no AI features, and zero support for anything beyond books, many readers are looking for something better. TheLysts is the modern alternative: an AI-powered list platform that lets you track books, movies, restaurants, travel, products, and anything else in one beautifully designed app. Create lists from URLs, images, or PDFs. Get AI-suggested items and auto-filled data. Share with friends, discover what is nearby, and even monetize your recommendations.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | TheLysts ✅ | Goodreads ❌ |
|---|---|---|
| AI List Creation (from URL, image, PDF) | ✅ Drop any link, photo, or PDF and AI builds your list instantly | ❌ Manual entry only, type every book by hand or scan a barcode |
| AI Smart Columns & Auto-Fill | ✅ AI suggests columns and fills missing data like ratings, prices, locations, and hours | ❌ No AI. Limited metadata pulled from Amazon's book database |
| AI Item Suggestions | ✅ AI recommends items based on your list theme and community trends | ❌ Basic “readers also enjoyed” powered by Amazon recommendations |
| Multi-Category Lists | ✅ Books, movies, restaurants, travel, products, music, wine, workouts, and more | ❌ Books only |
| Near Me / Geo-Discovery | ✅ See friends’ and curators’ recommendations on a map near your location | ❌ No location features |
| Built-In Chat & Sharing | ✅ Send lists via chat, share in groups, or drop a link anywhere | ❌ Basic messaging and clunky sharing |
| Private Groups | ✅ Create private or public groups for family, friends, or communities | ❌ Groups exist but are hard to discover and maintain |
| List Monetization | ✅ Earn from premium lists and exclusive recommendations | ❌ No creator monetization |
| Modern UI / Mobile Experience | ✅ Clean, modern dark-mode design on native iOS and Android | ❌ Commonly criticized as outdated |
| Free to Use | ✅ Free on iOS and Android | ✅ Free (ad-supported, Amazon-owned) |
Where Goodreads Falls Short
It's stuck in 2013
Goodreads was acquired by Amazon over a decade ago and has barely evolved since. Users frequently complain about the dated UI, limited ratings flow, and a mobile experience that feels like an afterthought. The platform also centers Amazon incentives.
Books only, nothing else
Love a restaurant? Found an amazing hiking trail? Want to save favorite movies? Goodreads cannot help. It is a single-category tool in a world where people curate across many interests. TheLysts lets you build lists for anything.
No AI, no intelligence
TheLysts uses AI to create lists from input, suggest smart columns, auto-fill missing data, and recommend new items. Goodreads still requires manual search and shelving for each entry.
Zero monetization for creators
Book influencers, BookTok creators, and literary curators build audiences around recommendations, but Goodreads does not offer monetization for those creators. TheLysts turns expertise into income.
Who Should Switch from Goodreads to TheLysts?
You should switch if you want to track more than books, if you are tired of Goodreads’ clunky interface, if you want AI to handle list creation work, if you care about modern social sharing, or if you are a creator who wants to monetize curated knowledge.
TheLysts — Everything Goodreads Should Have Been
TheLysts is not just a Goodreads replacement. It is a different approach to recommendations: AI-powered list creation, multi-category support, social discovery, near-you relevance, and creator monetization in one app.
Free on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play).
Ready to upgrade from Goodreads?
Download TheLysts free and start building smarter lists today.