Libby, the library app vs SageCat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Libby, the library app
Access millions of free ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. Borrow titles instantly with your library card, download for offline enjoyment, and enjoy a customizable reading and listening experience.
- Borrow ebooks and audiobooks
- Download for offline access
- Send ebooks to Kindle
- Adjust reader settings
- Customize audio player
- Create book lists
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Libby connects you to your local library’s collection of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more. With just your library card, you can instantly read or listen to books on your phone or tablet — for free, thanks to your public library! Browse and borrow everything from timeless classics to the latest New York Times bestsellers, and enjoy your next great read anytime, anywhere. What You Can Do with Libby - Browse your library’s digital catalog of books - Borrow and enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines - Send ebooks to your Kindle (U.S. libraries only) - Listen to audiobooks through Apple CarPlay - Download titles for offline reading, or stream them to save space - Use tags to create to-be--read lists or organize your favorite titles - Keep your reading position with automatic syncing across all your devices A Beautiful Reading Experience Enjoy a seamless reading experience with Libby’s elegant, easy-to-use ebook reader: - Adjust text size, background color, and book design to fit your preferences - Zoom into magazines, comics, and graphic novels - Define and search for words or phrases instantly - Read and listen to interactive read-alongs with your kids - Add bookmarks, notes, and highlights to personalize your reading An Immersive Audiobook Player Libby’s audiobook player makes listening effortless and enjoyable: - Slow down or speed up playback (0.6x to 3.0x) - Set a sleep timer for nighttime listening - Swipe easily to skip forward or backward - Add bookmarks, notes, and highlights as you listen Read Anywhere, Anytime Libby is designed for everyone, including kids, teens, and adults. Whether you’re exploring new stories, catching up on bestsellers, or revisiting your favorite books, Libby keeps reading simple, fun, and accessible. Built by OverDrive, Libby proudly supports public libraries and the joy of reading for all. Download Libby today and turn your device into your personal library.
SageCat
Access and manage your library account for the Sage Library System. Search for materials, place holds, and review your checked-out items. Requires a library card from a participating SageCat member library.
- Search library catalog
- Place holds on materials
- Review checked-out items
- Renew borrowed items
- Access materials from 70+ libraries
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This catalog is shared by members of the Sage Library System, a group of libraries in 15 counties of Eastern and Central Oregon. SageCat gives you access to library materials from more than 70 libraries in Oregon. To use this app, you must have a library card with a SageCat member library and know your password. SageCat lets you: * Search the catalog * Place a hold * Review the items you have checked out * Renew items
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Libby, the library app at 84% against SageCat's 33%. Libby, the library app also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months) and chart position (#3 vs unranked). 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.
Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, SageCat every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Libby, the library app | SageCat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (4.6M ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.8% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4.6M — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #3 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OverDrive, Inc. | Kenneth Cox |
Customer experience
Libby, the library app
SageCat
Bugs and requests
Libby, the library app
Reported bugs
5 issues- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Issues with downloading and syncing content
- Unreliable playback controls for audiobooks
- Inconsistent behavior when placing holds
- Disappearing reading history and bookmarks
Requested features
6 requests- Ability to search across multiple libraries
- Custom reading/listening speed controls
- Improved recommendation and discovery tools
- Option to purchase unavailable titles
- Customizable reading experience (fonts, themes)
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- Integration with other e-book/audiobook services
SageCat
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Libby, the library app
No in-app purchases
SageCat
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Libby, the library app free?
Is SageCat free?
Do Libby, the library app or SageCat have ads?
Which is updated more often, Libby, the library app or SageCat?
Other comparisons
