# Libby, the library app vs West Islip Public Library

The clearest difference is update cadence: Libby, the library app at monthly against West Islip Public Library's every 18 months. Libby, the library app also leads on ratings volume (4.6M vs 2) and chart position (#3 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 West Islip Public Library. 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, West Islip Public Library every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Libby, the library app | West Islip Public Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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/west-islip-public-library/id6745330704/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 18 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) | [West Islip Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/1811798101) |

## What reviewers say

### Libby, the library app

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

**Currently charting:** #3 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)


### West Islip Public Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/west-islip-public-library/id6745330704)

Access your local library's catalog, place holds, and manage your account on the go. Discover Hoopla and Libby titles within the catalog search and store your library cards digitally.

**Highlights:** Catalog search, Place holds, Manage account, Register for events, Multiple account management, Integrated eBook search, Digital library cards

**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 West Islip Public Library free?

West Islip Public Library is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Libby, the library app or West Islip Public Library?

West Islip Public Library is rated higher. Libby, the library app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.6M ratings, while West Islip Public Library averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Libby, the library app or West Islip Public Library have ads?

Neither Libby, the library app nor West Islip Public Library shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Libby, the library app or West Islip Public Library?

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, and West Islip Public Library every 18 months. Most recently, Libby, the library app was updated on November 9, 2026 and West Islip Public Library on November 5, 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.*