Reader Zone vs. Beanstack
for public libraries.
Compare two platforms for library reading programs. Find the right fit for your readers, staff, and budget.
A comparison by Reader Zone · Reviewed
Reader Zone and Beanstack, side by side
Compare the essentials.
Participation, program management, reporting, and support, side by side.
| What matters | Reader Zone | Beanstack |
|---|---|---|
| Reader participation | ||
| Readers & families | App and web participation, multiple readers in a family account, and a reading timer. The mobile app supports English and Spanish. | App and web participation, family accounts, and reading tracking for different ages. [2] |
| Paper participation & self-service | Staff-managed reader accounts (Internal Readers) can become self-managed accounts with reading history preserved. | Staff can log for patrons. Its specific offline-account type supports one reader and cannot be converted to self-service. [3] |
| Programs, raffles & reporting | ||
| Programs that fit your community | Programs, Groups, and Activities with custom goals, dates, metrics, and Awards. Reuse templates or clone programs. | Customizable reading challenges, templates, activities, milestones, and community goals for summer and year-round programs. [2] |
| Raffles & incentives | Random drawings from all participants or readers eligible through an Award or Task. Run multiple drawings and retain results. | General drawings and ticket drawings, including tickets readers allocate among prize choices. [4] |
| Reporting | Live progress views, Reader, Award, Group, and Program spreadsheet reports, and shareable Progress Badges. | Configurable Insights and CSV exports, plus detailed Reports. Insights refreshes daily; Reports offers up-to-minute detail. [5] |
| Staff & branches | Unlimited staff accounts (Authorized Users), with access scoped to Programs and Groups. Use those structures for branches and age groups. | Library staff roles, including branch administrators, and branch reporting. [6] |
| Pricing & support | ||
| Pricing & plans | Published pricing based on reader capacity, with Annual, Monthly, and 90-day Summer plans. | Beanstack does not publicly list exact pricing. Contact Beanstack for a library quote. [1] |
| Onboarding & support | Onboarding and support included, with help from the Reader Zone team by email, chat, or phone. | Onboarding, training, and ongoing support from a dedicated client success manager included. [1] |
Reader Zone for public libraries
Build the program
your library wants to run.
Keep familiar age groups, reading goals, and staff workflows. Reader Zone lets your library configure the program and give patrons a choice of app, browser, or staff-assisted participation.
Explore Reader Zone for libraries →
One summer program, different reading goals.
Example: reading goals for children, teens, and adults.
- Children
- Track books read and recognize milestones with Awards.
- Teens
- Set a minutes-based goal and add reading Activities.
- Adults
- Use a reading log or set a goal that fits your program.
Give each age group its own Group or Activity. Programs and Groups can also organize branches, with staff access scoped to the areas they manage.
Help a family or enter a paper log.
Families manage multiple readers in one account. Staff can add reading for Internal Readers and later hand over the account with its history preserved. The mobile app supports English and Spanish.
How staff-managed readers work →Send a program update.
Write an email or push message for a Program, Group, Activity, or selected readers. Send it now or schedule it. Messages are staff-controlled; behavior-triggered automatic reminders are not currently supported.
Emailing readers →Report on participation
while your program runs.
Review reader records, logged reading, and Awards by Program, Group or Activity, reader, and date range.
Export spreadsheet reports for board updates and program reviews, or share community reading progress with a Progress Badge.
How to build and export a report →
Incentives your staff can manage
Awards, prize fulfillment,
and drawings.
Connect reading progress to your library’s incentives. Awards recognize milestones, internal Tasks help staff manage prize fulfillment, and Raffles give eligible readers a chance to win.
Draw winners from all participants or readers eligible through an Award or Task. Retain drawing history, run additional drawings, and have staff contact the winners.
Explore Awards, Tasks, and Raffles →Inside Reader Zone
Choose who enters the drawing.
Reader Zone uses eligibility-based drawings; Beanstack also offers patron-selected raffle tickets.
Supporting library reading programs.
Nebraska Library Commission
A statewide subscription makes Reader Zone available to Nebraska’s public, school, and academic libraries.
See the statewide program →Montgomery County Memorial Library System
Its 2026 summer program offered Reader Zone and paper logging, with events across seven library locations.
Read the summer program announcement →Get your next program started.
Choose capacity and program duration.
Reader Zone publishes reader-capacity pricing with Annual, Monthly, and 90-day Summer plans. Internal Readers count toward capacity; a parent account used only to manage children does not. All onboarding and support are included, with help by email, chat, or phone.
See plans and included services →Plan a move from Beanstack.
Reader Zone can import your users and reading data from Beanstack. Our team helps you make a smooth transition.
Review privacy and access.
Review how Reader Zone handles account information, access, and data retention.
Reader Zone privacy policy →See your program in action.
Bring your branch structure, reporting needs, and accessibility requirements to a library demo.
Library evaluation checklist →Before you choose
Library comparison FAQs.
Can Reader Zone support multi-branch library systems?
Yes. Reader Zone supports multiple Programs and Groups, including structures for library branches, with scoped staff permissions and unlimited Authorized Users on library plans. Bring your branch structure and reporting requirements to a demo so we can show how your program would work.
Can patrons participate without downloading an app?
Yes. Patrons can use Reader Zone through a web browser. Staff can record reading for people who use paper logs or need assistance through Internal Reader accounts. An Internal Reader can later become a self-managed account with their reading history preserved.
Can we bring our Beanstack data into Reader Zone?
Yes. Reader Zone can import users and reading data from Beanstack. Our team helps you make a smooth transition.
How do Reader Zone raffles compare with Beanstack ticket drawings?
Reader Zone draws winners from all participants or readers who meet an Award or Task criterion, and keeps drawing history. Beanstack also offers ticket drawings where readers choose which prizes receive their tickets. Reader Zone does not currently offer that patron-selected ticket allocation.
How do Reader Zone and Beanstack pricing compare?
Reader Zone publishes prices based on reader capacity, with Annual, Monthly, and 90-day Summer plans. Beanstack does not publicly list exact pricing. Compare its quote with the Reader Zone plan for your reader count and program duration.
Can Reader Zone support multi-branch library systems?
Yes. Reader Zone supports multiple Programs and Groups, including structures for library branches, with scoped staff permissions and unlimited Authorized Users on library plans. Bring your branch structure and reporting requirements to a demo so we can show how your program would work.
Can patrons participate without downloading an app?
Yes. Patrons can use Reader Zone through a web browser. Staff can record reading for people who use paper logs or need assistance through Internal Reader accounts. An Internal Reader can later become a self-managed account with their reading history preserved.
Can we bring our Beanstack data into Reader Zone?
Yes. Reader Zone can import users and reading data from Beanstack. Our team helps you make a smooth transition.
How do Reader Zone raffles compare with Beanstack ticket drawings?
Reader Zone draws winners from all participants or readers who meet an Award or Task criterion, and keeps drawing history. Beanstack also offers ticket drawings where readers choose which prizes receive their tickets. Reader Zone does not currently offer that patron-selected ticket allocation.
How do Reader Zone and Beanstack pricing compare?
Reader Zone publishes prices based on reader capacity, with Annual, Monthly, and 90-day Summer plans. Beanstack does not publicly list exact pricing. Compare its quote with the Reader Zone plan for your reader count and program duration.
See Reader Zone with your library’s program in mind.
Bring your reader count, a program you want to run, and your prize rules. We’ll walk through the participant experience, Raffles, and the reports your staff needs.