# Libby, the library app vs Leafcast

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Libby, the library app at 84% against Leafcast's 0%. Libby, the library app also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Leafcast's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). On price, ads, 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.

Libby, the library app holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Libby, the library app has 4.6M ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Libby, the library app's written reviews are positive against 0% of Leafcast's.

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, Leafcast every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Libby, the library app | Leafcast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (4.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606/reviews)** | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leafcast/id6746976062/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.6M** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **83.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) | [Samuel Perales](https://appshunter.io/developer/1819299783) |

## 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)


### Leafcast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leafcast/id6746976062)

Transform your physical books into personal audiobooks with AI narration. Preserve cherished texts or enjoy rare titles on the go. Access a free library of public domain works.

**Highlights:** Convert physical books to audio, AI-powered narration, Upload pages incrementally, No subscription fees, Preserve personal texts, Free classic library access

**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 Leafcast free?

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

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

Libby, the library app is rated higher. Libby, the library app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.6M ratings, while Leafcast averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Libby, the library app or Leafcast have ads?

Neither Libby, the library app nor Leafcast shows ads.

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

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, and Leafcast every 3 days. Most recently, Libby, the library app was updated on November 12, 2026 and Leafcast 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.*