# Bookshelf

> Use Bookshelf by VitalSource® for a comprehensive study experience.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.vitalsource.bookshelf](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.vitalsource.bookshelf)

## Overview

- **ID:** `com.vitalsource.bookshelf`
- **Platform:** Android
- **Type:** Android app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Vital Source Technologies
- **Category:** EDUCATION
- **Downloads:** 5,004,108
- **Rating:** 4.15 / 5 (18,568 ratings)
- **Version:** 11.4.2
- **Last updated:** 2026-08-11
- **First published:** 2012-03-29
- **Publisher country:** US
- **Size:** 192 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-21
- **Store listing:** [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vitalsource.bookshelf)
- **Website:** [https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us](https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/201646123](https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/201646123)

## Description

**Bookshelf by VitalSource®** is your all-in-one digital study companion designed to enhance your learning experience on Android phones and tablets. Access your VitalSource textbooks anytime, anywhere, even offline, enabling flexible study sessions on the go.

Key features include downloadable books for offline reading, customizable highlighters and notes, flashcard creation with text and images to accelerate comprehension, and personalization options for fonts and backgrounds to suit your reading preferences. The Read Aloud feature lets you listen while multitasking, and seamless syncing keeps your progress and study data consistent across devices. Developed with accessibility in mind, Bookshelf ensures a comprehensive and inclusive study environment. A VitalSource account and textbooks are required to get started.

## Rankings

- #24,219 — Overall
- #96 — Education (Free)
- #18 — smartbook

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID`
- `android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION`
- `android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE`
- `android.permission.BLUETOOTH`
- `android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT`
- `android.permission.CAMERA`
- `android.permission.CHANGE_NETWORK_STATE`
- `android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE`
- `android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK`
- `android.permission.INTERNET`
- `android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS`
- `android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`
- `android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED`
- `android.permission.WAKE_LOCK`
- `android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`
- `com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE`
- `com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE`
- `com.vitalsource.bookshelf.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION`

## Review summary

Users praise Bookshelf for its read-aloud capability and basic library features, plus notes/highlighting aiding study. However, many reviews flag serious stability and performance problems—frequent crashes, slow loading, and jittery read-aloud. Navigation bugs (misplaced pages, inaccurate table-of-contents) and unreliable highlighting/search further disrupt reading. The app appears feature-rich and accessible but requires significant stability and UX improvements to deliver a smooth, reliable reading experience.

### Pros

- Read-aloud/text-to-speech with multiple voice options and accessibility benefits
- Easy to study and generally easy to use for reading
- Useful highlighting and note-taking features that aid studying
- Strong library management features to track books / keep an organized collection

### Cons

- Recurrent crashes and stability issues; app often stops responding or won't open
- Highlighting and search are clunky and unreliable with too many irrelevant results
- Slow performance and read-aloud pacing; long pauses and inconsistent speed
- Navigation/UX bugs such as inaccurate table-of-contents navigation and difficulty switching pages

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.vitalsource.bookshelf)