# Libby, the library app vs Lake Forest Library

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Libby, the library app at 4.6M against Lake Forest Library's 7. Libby, the library app also leads on chart position (#2 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Libby, the library app against 4.7 for Lake Forest Library. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Libby, the library app has 4.6M ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, Lake Forest Library every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Libby, the library app | Lake Forest Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (4.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606/reviews)** | [4.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lake-forest-library/id6449719411/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.6M** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 83.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) | [Capira Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1010559443) |

## What reviewers say

### Libby, the library app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access your local library's digital collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines for free. Read or listen on your phone or tablet, download titles for offline use, and personalize your reading experience with customizable settings.

**Highlights:** Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines, Send ebooks to Kindle (US only), Offline reading and listening, Customizable reading experience, Adjustable audiobook playback speed, Sleep timer for audiobooks, Organize titles with tags

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Extensive library of books and audiobooks
- 🔍 Convenient search and browsing features
- 🔖 Easy to manage holds and returns
- 🔄 Seamless syncing across devices
- 🕰️ Automatic returns to avoid late fees

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Long wait times for popular titles
- 🔍 Confusing search and filtering options
- 🤯 Buggy and unstable performance
- 🔒 Lack of offline reading/listening
- 📚 Limited selection in some genres

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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)


### Lake Forest Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lake-forest-library/id6449719411)

Access your library's catalog, manage holds and checkouts, and discover upcoming events. Explore online learning resources and find library hours and locations on the go.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Reserve items, Manage multiple accounts, Register for events, View library hours and locations, Access online learning resources

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Libby, the library app free?

Libby, the library app is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lake Forest Library free?

Lake Forest Library is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Libby, the library app or Lake Forest Library?

Libby, the library app is rated higher. Libby, the library app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.6M ratings, while Lake Forest Library averages 4.7 from 7 ratings.

### Do Libby, the library app or Lake Forest Library have ads?

Neither Libby, the library app nor Lake Forest Library shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Libby, the library app or Lake Forest Library?

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, and Lake Forest Library every 3 weeks. Most recently, Libby, the library app was updated on November 5, 2026 and Lake Forest Library on November 3, 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.*