DC Public Library vs Bookshop.org
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DC Public Library
Access a vast collection of books, DVDs, and digital media from your local library. Manage your account, place holds, and discover nearby branches and events.
- Search library catalog
- Manage library account
- Place and cancel holds
- Renew checked-out items
- Find nearest library branch
- Access digital library resources
- Browse library events
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All DC Public Library has to offer -- in your hands! The DC Library app is your portal to enjoying DC Public Library services on your mobile device. With it, you can quickly search library resources, find information and materials and get full access to your library account -- wherever you are! With the DC Library app, you can: - Search the catalog for books, DVDs and more - Access your account and pay fines - Place or cancel holds on items - Renew checked-out materials - Find the library nearest to you in the District - Access ebooks, eaudiobooks, music, classes and more from our Digital Library - Browse events at your nearest library - Interact with DC Public Library social media
Bookshop.org
Read your ebooks and discover new titles while supporting independent bookstores. All ebook purchases made through this platform directly benefit local bookshops, ensuring their continued success in the digital age.
- Read ebooks from your library
- Browse millions of ebooks
- Add titles to wishlist
- Support local bookstores with purchases
- Connect seamlessly with Bookshop
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Bookshop.org’s mission is simple: We help local, independent bookstores thrive by giving more than 80% of our profits back to our network of 3,000+ stores. In our app, you can read millions of ebooks - and every purchase supports an independent bookstore near you! In the Bookshop app you can: - Read your ebooks in our customizable ebook reader. - Browse millions of titles and discover your next favorite read in romance, thrillers, mystery, fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and more. - Organize your TBR into custom shelves. - Highlight in five different colors, and add notes to your highlighted passages. - Sort & filter highlights and notes by date created, book order, and more. - Save titles to your wishlist so you can read them later. - Shop knowing that over 80% of the profit goes directly to local, independent bookstores. We’re a Certified B Corp, and we’ve raised more than $50 million for independent bookstores nationwide since 2020. Download the Bookshop.org app to support bookstores, not billionaires.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bookshop.org at 4.8 against DC Public Library's 4.2. Bookshop.org also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 18%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Bookshop.org holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshop.org has 2.2K ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of DC Public Library's written reviews are positive against 57% of Bookshop.org's.
DC Public Library ships an update every 2 months, Bookshop.org every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | DC Public Library | Bookshop.org |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (19 ratings) | 4.8 (2.2K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 17.6% of reviews | 56.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19 | 2.2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #168 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 111 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | District of Columbia Public Library | Bookshop, Inc. |
Customer experience
DC Public Library
Bookshop.org
Bugs and requests
DC Public Library
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Bookshop.org
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inability to remember last page read
- Scrolling issues and unexpected page skipping
- Formatting problems (stripped italics, weird paragraph spacing)
- Settings not persisting between app sessions
Requested features
7 requests- More font and theme options
- Ability to adjust line spacing, margins, and other formatting
- Implement highlighting, annotation, and note-taking features
- Add search functionality
- Improve page turning and navigation
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- Provide better dark mode/night reading experience
- Sync reading progress across devices
In-app purchases
DC Public Library
No in-app purchases
Bookshop.org
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DC Public Library free?
Is Bookshop.org free?
Which has better reviews, DC Public Library or Bookshop.org?
Do DC Public Library or Bookshop.org have ads?
Which is updated more often, DC Public Library or Bookshop.org?
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