Why people leave (and why fear of data loss keeps them)
Common reasons to step away from Goodreads: Amazon ownership, social feed fatigue, privacy defaults that assume an audience, or wanting an offline-first log. The blocker is almost never "I love the ads" — it's "I have 800 books and I don't want to retype them." That fear is solvable. Goodreads will hand you a CSV of your library; Leafed (and several other tools) will import it. Leaving the daily habit does not require burning the archive.
For the product comparison itself, see Leafed vs Goodreads. This page is the migration playbook.
Criteria for a clean exit
- Full export before changing habits — not after you stop logging.
- Mapped import for shelves, ratings, and dates — not title-only dumps.
- Honest delta — know what social and recommendation features you are giving up.
- Ongoing custody — the new home should export too (CSV/JSON), so you're never locked again.
- Optional dual use — discovery on Goodreads, private record elsewhere, is a valid long-term pattern.
Step 1: Export your Goodreads library
Use the website (not the mobile app):
- Sign in at Goodreads and open My Books.
- In the left sidebar under Tools, open Import and Export.
- Click Export Library and wait for the download link (large libraries can take minutes).
- Download the CSV and save a dated copy somewhere you back up.
Gotchas, column quirks, and ISBN edge cases are covered in depth in our Goodreads export guide — read that if the export stalls or editions look wrong after import.
Step 2: Import into Leafed
In Leafed, open Settings and use the Goodreads CSV import. The importer matches books (ISBN when present, otherwise title/author), then maps shelves, ratings, and read dates into your on-device library. Afterward:
- Skim mismatches — Kindle editions often lack ISBNs in the export; title matching usually works but verify odd editions.
- Re-check custom shelves — exclusive shelves and multi-shelf setups can flatten; recreate priority shelves if needed (see organizing a TBR).
- Set a private goal if you used the Goodreads challenge — Leafed annual goals are local, not a public leaderboard (reading goal guide).
Also supported: StoryGraph and Bookmory
Migrating isn't only a Goodreads story. Leafed also imports:
- StoryGraph CSV — if you already left Goodreads once for mood matching and now want a private offline home.
- Bookmory XLSX — another common export path for readers consolidating trackers.
Run one import at a time, keep the source files, and dedupe carefully if you've bounced between apps. The goal is one system of record — not three half-synced histories.
What transfers vs what doesn't
| Data | Typically transfers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title / author | Yes | Core of every CSV row |
| ISBN / ASIN | Often | Missing on many Kindle rows — title match fills gaps |
| Shelves / status | Yes (mapped) | Exclusive shelves may need tidy-up |
| Ratings | Yes | Your stars move; community averages don't |
| Date read / date added | Yes when present | Blank dates stay blank — approximate later if you want |
| Private notes / reviews text in CSV | Often | Depends on export columns and importer mapping |
| Friend activity / likes | No | Social graph stays on Goodreads |
| Recommendation engine | No | You're leaving the network's taste model |
| Public review threads | No | Your text may be in the CSV; the conversation isn't |
Where Leafed wins (and loses) after migration
Wins: Private, offline-first library with no account required; Goodreads / StoryGraph / Bookmory import paths; CSV/JSON export so the next move is also easy; shelves, sessions, and goals without a social feed. Best if the reason you left was noise, privacy, or ownership of the file.
Loses: If what you loved was the network — friends' updates, groups, and the giant review corpus — Leafed will not replace that. Keep Goodreads (or StoryGraph) for discovery if you want; use Leafed as the quiet ledger. That's not failure — it's separation of concerns. Broader privacy alternatives: best Goodreads alternatives for privacy.
After import: make it stick
- Log new finishes only in Leafed for a month so the habit moves.
- Export Leafed once and store that file next to your Goodreads CSV.
- Decide on the account: dormant for discovery, or deleted after you're satisfied the import is complete — deletion is optional, not required for "leaving."
- Fill gaps with barcode scan and title search for books that never hit Goodreads.
Related reading
- How to export your Goodreads library
- Leafed vs Goodreads
- Best Goodreads alternatives for privacy
- How to track books you've read
FAQ
Can I export my entire Goodreads library?
Yes — My Books → Import and Export → Export Library on the website, then download the CSV.
Can Leafed import Goodreads CSV?
Yes, along with StoryGraph CSV and Bookmory XLSX. Shelves, ratings, and dates map into your on-device library.
What doesn't transfer when I leave Goodreads?
Friend activity, the recommendation network, and public review threads. Your catalog rows — titles, shelves, ratings, dates — are the portable part.
Do I have to delete my Goodreads account?
No. Many readers keep it for occasional discovery and use Leafed as the private system of record.