# Sotheby's vs Harvard Library Checkout

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Harvard Library Checkout at 100% against Sotheby's's 24%. Harvard Library Checkout also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.4) and ads (none vs shown). Sotheby's's advantage is ratings volume (95 vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Harvard Library Checkout holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sotheby's has 95 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Sotheby's's written reviews are positive against 100% of Harvard Library Checkout's.

Sotheby's ships an update every 2 weeks, Harvard Library Checkout monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sotheby's | Harvard Library Checkout |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sothebys/id1061156465/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-library-checkout/id1498147235/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **95** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 24.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 53 MB | 408 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sothebys](https://appshunter.io/developer/393122746) | [Meescan Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609729285) |

## What reviewers say

### Sotheby's

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sothebys/id1061156465)

Access extraordinary art, precious objects, wine, and jewelry from auctions worldwide. Track bids, register for auctions, and explore past and upcoming sales with expert insights.

**Highlights:** Bid in live and online auctions, Track bids and registrations, Browse open, upcoming, and past auctions, Search past and present lots, Manage profile and view purchases, Access favorite auctions and lots

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Beautiful photography and content
- 👍 Easy to navigate (for some)
- ✅ Great for browsing and viewing auctions
- 🤩 Interactive and engaging
- 🖼️ Elegant design

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Core functionality missing
- 📉 Poor user experience
- 🚫 App is useless for many
- 😵 Confusing new format
- 📱 Not compatible with older phones

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot sort auction lots
- Cannot follow, view, or bid
- App crashes on launch
- ID verification camera not focusing
- Photo upload issues

**Requested features**

- Allow sorting of auction lots
- Improve search functionality
- Enable calendar integration
- Make app landscape compatible
- Simplify personalization options


### Harvard Library Checkout

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-library-checkout/id1498147235)

This app allows Harvard Library patrons to check out items from select libraries using their phone's camera to scan barcodes. It automatically recognizes your library location and requires a Harvard ID for login. Some libraries may require additional deactivation steps.

**Highlights:** Barcode scanning for checkout, Automatic library location recognition, Harvard ID login, Item deactivation guidance, Supports multiple Harvard libraries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sotheby's free?

Sotheby's is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Harvard Library Checkout free?

Harvard Library Checkout is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sotheby's or Harvard Library Checkout?

Harvard Library Checkout is rated higher. Sotheby's averages 3.4 out of 5 from 95 ratings, while Harvard Library Checkout averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Sotheby's or Harvard Library Checkout have ads?

Sotheby's shows ads; Harvard Library Checkout does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sotheby's or Harvard Library Checkout?

Sotheby's ships an update every 2 weeks, and Harvard Library Checkout monthly. Most recently, Sotheby's was updated on September 25, 2026 and Harvard Library Checkout on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*