# SimplyE — The Library E-Reader

> Mobile e-reader for library book borrowing and reading. (iPhone/iPad app by The New York Public Library.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplye/id1046583900 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [The New York Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/433418209)
- Category: Books, Entertainment
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.59/5 from 8,480 App Store ratings · 127 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 30 MB
- Languages: English, German, Italian, Spanish
- Released: 2016-06-13
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplye/id1046583900/reviews.md

## What is SimplyE?

The SimplyE app will be discontinued in August 2025. For more information and alternatives for accessing e-books from The New York Public Library, visit: nypl.org/ebookhelp

SimplyE makes it easy to browse, borrow, and read any eBook in your library’s collection on your mobile device; no need to download multiple apps.

Set up your account in three easy steps:
1. Open the SimplyE app
2. Find your local library 
3. Enter your library card ID to search, borrow, and read!

Don’t have a library card? No problem. Thousands of public domain classics are available as soon as you download the app, no library card required.

SimplyE was created by a partnership of libraries and library consortia across the country, with The New York Public Library currently serving as lead partner. Check with your local library to find out if it offers SimplyE, or download the app now to get started reading from the SimplyE Collection.

## Key features

- Browse and borrow library e-books
- Read on mobile devices
- No need for multiple apps
- Access public domain classics
- Easy account setup

## What do users think of SimplyE?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Great selection of books
- 🚀 Convenient access to library books
- 👍 Ability to reserve books
- 👍 Customizable reading experience
- 👍 Supports multiple libraries

**Cons**

- 🐛 Glitchy downloads and playback
- 🐛 Issues with returning/removing books
- 🐛 Inconsistent bookmarking and navigation
- 🐛 Unreliable notifications
- 🐛 Crashes and stability problems

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Books disappearing from reserved list
- Inability to download or return books
- Incorrect book page counts
- Inconsistent behavior when switching apps

**Most requested features**

- Wishlist or saved books feature
- Reading history and progress tracking
- Better search and filtering options
- Annotations, highlights, and note-taking
- Kindle/ereader integration

## Recent user reviews (10 of 127)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplye/id1046583900/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Reading

*2025-07-06, version 3.9.7*

Im going to miss this app so much. You usually have most books I want to read. Easy to manage. Don’t go please.

### 5/5 — My Favorite Reading App

*2025-07-03, version 3.9.7*

I am sad that NYPL will no longer be using SimplyE.  I love this app and much prefer it to the Libby app which I will have to use now. Thanks for all the great reads, SimplyE.

### 5/5 — So sad they’re retiring this app!

*2025-06-28, version 3.9.5*

I have so enjoyed using this app for many years!

### 1/5 — Unable to borrow or reserve books

*2025-06-22, version 3.9.5*

Unsatisfied

### 5/5 — Love the app

*2025-06-01, version 3.9.5*

I love listening to audiobooks on the app from my New York Public Library account. The quality of the audio is amazing and the selection is fantastic.

### 3/5 — Waitlist

*2025-05-30, version 3.9.5*

I don’t like that I can’t see how long the waitlist is before putting a book on hold. I also can’t find how to change the playback speed of audiobooks.

### 2/5 — Too many issues

*2025-05-27, version 3.9.5*

The app was great until a year ago but hasn’t been updated or fixed for issues since. The books you return remain in your ‘borrowed’ folder and doesn’t allow you to download any new books… I have reached out to Nypl and they don’t seem to get a hold of the problem. I wouldn’t recommend using it.

### 2/5 — Needs a better report system

*2025-05-20, version 3.9.5*

I have two books stuck in my catalog that I can’t download or remove. I’ve been reporting it for months and nothing

### 4/5 — Suggestion

*2025-05-04, version 3.9.5*

I thoroughly enjoy this app. However, the one downfall I see, is when you’ve read a book there should be an indicator that you’ve read something already. That way you don’t have to go through titles, read the synopsis, and try to remember if you’ve read a book before or not. There are a lot of titles here. If you’re an avid reader this could become frustrating and a mundane task to try and sort things out. Just a friendly suggestion! 😊

### 3/5 — Very tiny print and extremely hard to read

*2025-04-25, version 3.9.5*

I love ebooks but the AIPP is freaking ugly to read not user friendly don’t even bother downloading it

## Frequently asked questions about SimplyE

### What does the SimplyE app do?

SimplyE allows you to browse, borrow, and read e-books from your library's collection directly on your mobile device. It consolidates access to various e-books, eliminating the need to download multiple applications for different titles.

### How do I set up my account?

Setting up your account is a simple three-step process. First, open the SimplyE app. Then, locate your local library. Finally, enter your library card ID to begin searching, borrowing, and reading.

### Can I read books without a library card?

Yes, you can. Thousands of public domain classics are available to read as soon as you download the app, even if you do not have a library card. This provides immediate access to a wide range of timeless literature.

### Is SimplyE compatible with my device?

The description does not specify exact compatibility details. However, it is designed for mobile devices, suggesting compatibility with common smartphone and tablet operating systems. It's recommended to check your device's app store for specific requirements.

### What is the cost of using SimplyE?

The SimplyE app is free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned. Access to library e-books is dependent on your library's subscription to the SimplyE service.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.9.7 — 2025-07-02

The SimplyE app will be discontinued in August 2025. For more information & alternatives for accessing e-books from The New York Public Library, visit: nypl.org/ebookhelp

### 3.9.5 — 2023-12-20

Critical bug fixes

### 3.9.4 — 2023-02-13

This release fixes a bug that affected audiobook playback.

### 3.9.3 — 2023-01-09

This release includes the ability to sync audio bookmarks between devices and some code improvements.

### 3.9.2 — 2022-11-14

This release introduces the ability to add bookmarks to audiobooks, so you can return to sections you enjoyed.

## Apps similar to SimplyE

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Libby, the library app](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606) | 4.9 (4,100,940) | Free | Books |
| [Storytel - Audiobooks Library](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storytel-audiobooks-library/id348177651) | 4.7 (10,526) | Free | Books |
| [MyPassion: Read, Listen Novels](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mypassion-read-listen-novels/id1568149521) | 4.5 (34,490) | Free | Books |
| [Apple Books](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-books/id364709193) | 4.4 (70,915) | Free | Books |
| [Little Stories: Bedtime Books](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/little-stories-bedtime-books/id977016099) | 4.6 (4,336) | Free | Books |
| [AlphaNovel - Novels & Stories](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphanovel-novels-and-stories/id1585933612) | 4.7 (67,053) | Free | Books |

## More apps by The New York Public Library

- [Open eBooks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-ebooks/id1033669250)
- [New York Public Library (NYPL)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/new-york-public-library-nypl/id1474533999)

All apps by The New York Public Library: https://appshunter.io/developer/433418209

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*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 2026-06-10.*