# Freading — user reviews > 124 indexed App Store user reviews of Freading by Library Ideas, LLC, rated 4.56/5 from 2,830 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freading/id485015785/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freading/id485015785.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2,070 · 4★ 438 · 3★ 111 · 2★ 27 · 1★ 116 ## What do users think of Freading? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to use - 📚 Wide selection of books - 🕰 No late fees **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs - 📱 Difficult to navigate and use - 🔍 Poor search and discovery - 📚 Limited book selection - 🔒 Login and authentication issues **Commonly reported bugs** - Books fail to download or open - App crashes when trying to access downloaded books - Login process is unreliable and inconsistent **Most requested features** - Improve app stability and reliability - Enhance user interface and navigation - Expand book selection and search capabilities - Streamline login and authentication process ## Newest reviews (17 of 124) ### 1/5 — Can’t sign up; No way to report problem *2024-09-26, version 3.0.2* Writing a negative review because the developer link is dead and there is no other way to get help or contact them — no link for support on Freading.com. When I try to sign up in the app, no confirmation email is ever sent. Yes I checked my spam and suspicious email folders. Nothing there. So the app is useless. I can’t use it and I can’t get any help. ZERO star rating would be more accurate. Maybe freedom should be removed from the App Store? ### 1/5 — Brutal *2024-07-17, version 3.0.2* This app is terrible. Books won't open, there is no help or direction. Not sure why my library pays for this. Does anyone actually read or respond to these comments?? ### 1/5 — This is a joke right!!? *2024-06-17, version 3.0.2* The text size is so tiny even with my phone zoomed all the way in I still need a magnifying glass. Fix this please. Like........ this is a joke right!?! And the things that should help do literally nothing. Either match the default of the phone or format the app to ask what you're reading on so the text can actually fit the damn screen. ### 1/5 — Crappy app *2024-06-09, version 3.0.2* Books say they are downloaded but can’t find them anywhere, certainly aren’t in this app ### 2/5 — Freading *2024-04-27, version 3.0.2* Once you have a book it’s OK but I can find zero information about navigating the site and it’s very easy to get marooned on pages outside the book’s text with no way out. An unwanted pdf from another location has found its way onto the screen with my loans& I can find no way of deleting it. Expired loans are included in the list and the method of deletion is so effectively disguised I haven’t been able to find it. It seems the time spent wasted by these frustrations is almost equal to that spent reading! ### 2/5 — Broken app *2024-04-04, version 3.0.2* The app is seriously broken. It tells me to log in - so I do. Then when I download a book, even the prices finished the app again said I need to log in. I do that and the app says the book is downloaded, but it doesn't show up anywhere. Horrible experience ### 1/5 — Horrible app… can’t read anything on it *2024-01-04, version 3.0.2* This is the app our public library uses for ebooks, and after going through the hassle of installing the app and signing up for it, I downloaded a couple books, but have no way of reading them! I click on the library button, but the books I downloaded don’t show up there for me to read! Very frustrating! Now that I read a few other reviews it appears I’m not the only one with this issue… 😡 ### 1/5 — An update (and still one star) *2023-11-09, version 3.0.2* As a former applications programmer I’d like to know if anyone even bothered to test this before releasing it! Trying to use the Settings to get the page to be readable is almost impossible to use. I have the font size up to its maximum and the size is still incredibly small. Many times when I try to make a change (e.g. the line height), the screen goes blank except for the settings themselves—which are then unusable—and in order to get out of it I need to close the app and reopen it. If any developer is reading this I want them to know that I’m on a 5th generation iPad using the latest iPad OS 14. Please fix this as soon as possible because I can’t possibly read anything on your app until something is done. And by the way, please implement double columns in landscape mode. Thanks. UPDATE: This observation may lead the developers to a fix. I couldn’t get Catherine Aird’s “The Calleshire Chronicles, Volume 3” in any of my other online libraries, so I was forced to use Freading. When I try to increase the font size, only the chapter name and number increase while the main text remains the same. I hope this leads to a solution. Please, please fix this! ### 3/5 — app crashes, and needs some updates *2023-10-27, version 3.0.2* The app crashes whenever you delete a book/file from your library. Also, I wish it was possible to sync non-library files between devices. ### 1/5 — Freading is Useless on iPad *2023-10-12, version 3.0.2* I don’t know why my library even has this service. I have tried repeatedly to check out and download Books to my iPad, and I have never had success with it. ### 1/5 — Not accessible *2023-09-17, version 3.0.2* Red text on a dark red background is woefully inaccessible to basically anyone. Impossible to tell what the icons are with no way to change the color scheme. Definitely does not meet US ADA compliancy. Not sure how public libraries are getting away with using it. ### 1/5 — Worst app ever *2023-09-01, version 3.0.2* Seeing the review rating for this app makes me feel like I am a part of some practical joke that hasn’t yet been revealed to me. It is hands down the most poorly developed, unusable, horrible piece of garbage I have ever used. I’d rather read a book infested with bed bugs than try to navigate this horrendous app because then I could at least read an actual book. As a developer I am dumbfounded to how the App Store approved this as it is completely unusable. Everyone involved with this should be embarrassed. ### 1/5 — Book doesn’t download *2023-08-08, version 3.0.2* I set app up on my iPhone and downloaded a book. I had to try twice before it actually downloaded. Then I thought I’d be better reading it on my iPad and tried to download it there. By searching online it says you have to get tech support if a book has been downloaded more than twice but there is no link to get tech support. I also see no way to actually return the book soixante even return it and check it back out. Needs to be more user friendly. ### 1/5 — Not good *2023-08-07, version 3.0.2* When I try to download a book it’s says I have to sign in. Then it says you entered the wrong user name or password. Which they made me create and is different from my library ID. So I can’t use it. ### 1/5 — Infuriating 🤬 *2023-07-07, version 3.0.2* I can’t sign in. It just takes me in circles.. can’t log in.. send code to email.. enter code.. can’t log in… send new code to email… can’t log in… resend code…………… brutal. DELETE ### 1/5 — Cannot access downloads on iPad or Kindle *2023-05-28, version 3.0.2* Our country library uses Freading for ebooks. Worked wonderfully for several years but suddenly fails either to download or find downloaded books. Will delete app and not reload. ### 1/5 — App Won’t Sync to My Account *2023-05-12, version 3.0.2* I’ve never had any issues with Overdrive and Libby but the ebook I want to borrow from the library is only available on Freading. So I went through the setup account deal for my library and verified the account. It will log me in on the website and it will let me see my title I borrowed in the app, but whenever I try to redownload it through the app (the only way I can figure out how to read it) it gives me an error I’m not logged in, even though it shows my account details. So I’m stuck in an infinitive loop and unable to read the ebook I checked out. I much prefer Overdrive. I guess I’ll just have to purchase this specific title since I can’t seem to access it through Freading. Please please please fix your app so that it functions. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Not user friendly *2026-07-19, version 3.5* This app is horrendous. It does not work. The app developers make it impossible to read the downloads. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-03-27, version 3.0.2* I cannot get this app to download the books for me to read. They said they’re downloaded, but they already in the library. It also keeps telling me to sign in even though I am and then sometimes it force closes. ### 1/5 — Poorly written *2025-12-28, version 3.0.2* This app freezes and jumps around all over the place. Why would any publisher, library, or author choose this format? ### 1/5 — Download failure *2025-12-17, version 3.0.2* Just tried downloading a book and the pages will not download, blank pages. ### 1/5 — Great titles, TERRIBLE App! *2025-11-03, version 3.0.2* Once again I tried giving Freading a chance because I like how there are no wait times for books. However, it keeps saying I cannot have more books when I clearly still have more “ tokens” or whatever to borrow. It will say 1/5, meaning I can still get four books but it won’t let me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve redownloaded this app to my mobile phone. Same issue with my Kindle— in fact, on the Kindle, it doesn’t open at all!!!! Then I downloaded Adobe Digital Editions to read Freading.com downloaded books on there, but ADE stopped working! I think this is the most horrid app on the market and I’m surprised it’s still here🙄 ### 1/5 — Scam *2025-10-01, version 3.0.2* I’m pretty sure this just works to shovel library money to the developer. I checked out a book, but there is no way to open it. This site/app has not been updated in a decade (regardless of what they claim). I’m a developer, so if I can’t figure out how to open a book that’s been checked out and downloaded, then it’s not a priority of Freeding. A simple “open book” button would do wonders. ### 1/5 — Endless loop *2025-08-02, version 3.0.2* Nothing downloads. It’s an endless loop of sign in, download but you need to sign in. ### 1/5 — Unusable *2025-05-07, version 3.0.2* I’ve tried to download a book several times and it just keeps crashing and forcing me to sign in again and then crashing again before I can download a book. ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2025-04-25, version 3.0.2* Zero stars is not an option so it gets one. I usually use Libby on my iPhone but the book my library has that I want is available only via Freading. I went through the app setup process which was confusing and loaded poorly. I had to do it twice since I got error messages the first time. I finally downloaded the book but now it won’t open in the app. There’s no option to return it and try again. When I click redownload, I get an error message. I closed the app and restarted my phone. Deleted and redownloaded the app. Nothing. Awful experience. The app looks exactly the same as the website. Why bother having an app?! Asking my library to get the book in Libby format which is a MUCH better app. Frustrated. Hate this app. 😤 ### 1/5 — The book of life by krishnamurti *2024-12-11, version 3.0.2* Is not redownloading ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Reading a book has never been easier *2025-01-25, version 3.0.2* If you can’t get to a library, this is the next best thing. I love that I can read it on my phone and don’t have to worry about returning a book that I might not even crack. I get to read it at my leisure and don’t need to worry about wear and tear. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Just the nicest couple *2024-07-27, version 3.0.2* Great book! Good plot twist! ### 5/5 — So pleased *2023-09-06, version 3.0.2* FREADING is just what busy readers are looking for. Books at your fingertips with no waiting. Due to personal time constraints I’d prefer longer download times but overall am pleased with this opportunity ### 5/5 — Freading is awesome *2023-04-05, version 3.0.2* I’m very grateful and pleased for the Freading app And my local library for offering the service… I have been able to read and finish books at the convenience of my fingertips on my phone. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to continue learning and reading and with ease to do it anywhere anytime !!! Thank you ### 5/5 — Downloads stopped working *2021-11-21, version 3.0.1* I have used Freading for several years and especially liked it while libraries were closed. However, the recent changes make it harder to use, and today my downloads stopped working. The login changes mean that I have to log in for every download. In the past, I could download my entire week at once. Now the app kicks me out and I have to log in each time. I can’t find any help for the download glitch. So, even though I have one book left in my weekly supply I can’t access it. ### 5/5 — Dark Theme Fail *2021-10-15, version 3.0.1* I love Freading and have been using it for several years. I opened a book last night with theme set to automatic. It was just a black screen. I knew that I had already started reading this book and that it had downloaded successfully, so where were the words? I tried to edit the dark theme to have the background dark and the font white, but nothing changed. I ended up choosing light theme so I could read. Please look into this and see about getting it fixed. ### 5/5 — All the books *2021-02-13, version 2.6* Easy to use, no late fees, easy to change font and set up the pages the way you want. ### 5/5 — Blank books *2021-02-12, version 2.6* Will not display any pages in any books I check out on my Apple iPad. Tried reinstalling the app but nothing so this is a worthless app ### 5/5 — Simple, easy to use *2020-04-19, version 2.6* I use this app in conjunction with my library to read free books on my iPad. What a great service, thank you! ### 5/5 — Simple *2020-03-31, version 2.6* Other apps should peruse this apps simple features --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-05.*