# Libby, the library app vs Book Haven

The clearest difference is update cadence: Book Haven at every 4 days against Libby, the library app's monthly. Libby, the library app's advantage is ratings volume (4.6M vs 2) and chart position (#2 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 5.0 for Book Haven. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Libby, the library app has 4.6M ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, Book Haven every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Libby, the library app | Book Haven |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (4.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-haven/id6602883308/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.6M** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 83.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) | [Gov Glance Foundation Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683413055) |

## 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 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.

**Highlights:** Borrow ebooks and audiobooks, Download for offline access, Send ebooks to Kindle, Adjust reader settings, Customize audio player, Create book lists

**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)


### Book Haven

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-haven/id6602883308)

A free, minimalist ebook reader and digital library for classic literature. It offers AI-assisted reading, note-taking, and quizzes, with all books pre-downloaded for offline access. Expand your knowledge with a personal collection of timeless stories.

**Highlights:** AI-assisted reading, Digital library of classics, Note-taking functionality, In-app quizzes, Offline reading support, Minimalist interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, 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 Book Haven free?

Book Haven is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Libby, the library app or Book Haven?

Book Haven is rated higher. Libby, the library app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.6M ratings, while Book Haven averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Libby, the library app or Book Haven have ads?

Neither Libby, the library app nor Book Haven shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Libby, the library app or Book Haven?

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, and Book Haven every 4 days. Most recently, Libby, the library app was updated on October 29, 2026 and Book Haven on October 7, 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.*