Comparison

Libby, the library app vs RADIX

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Libby, the library app

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
Currently charting
Read full description

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.

About

RADIX

This app offers a contemplative system based on philosophical concepts, featuring original artworks and internal voices. It encourages users to observe their reactions and discover hidden elements over time, with a focus on slow unfolding rather than quick consumption.

Highlights
  • 54 original artworks
  • 6 internal voices
  • Seasonal structure
  • Hidden systems
  • Contemplative practice
  • No notifications or streaks
Read full description

RADIX: The Practice is the official companion to the book RADIX: The Law of Redirected Motivation—a philosophical framework that examines why optimization fails, how attention degrades under pressure, and what it means to rebuild from depth rather than speed.
 RADIX: The Practice is a contemplative system built from 54 original works of art, designed to be encountered over time. The experience moves with the seasons. Some reflections return familiar ground. Others introduce entirely new forms—novel encounters that behave differently, surface unexpected perspectives, or quietly alter how the system responds.
 You draw reflections when something tightens. Or loosens.
Up to three times per day. Then the experiences rests. No notifications.
 No streaks.
 No habit loops.
 No algorithm learning you.
 Every reflection is a commissioned artwork—composed, rendered, and integrated as a structural element of the practice.  These are not prompts or affirmations. You are not asked to interpret, explain, or improve anything. Notice what reacts. That’s enough.
 Beneath the visible layer are hidden architectures. Five internal voices emerge gradually—not through achievement or completion, but through continued presence. Each carries a distinct way of seeing. A sixth—The Mirror—remains concealed longer and reflects what the others cannot.
 There are secrets embedded throughout the system. Some reveal themselves once and never return. Others remain dormant for months. Nothing announces itself. Discovery happens quietly, on its own terms.
 Everything you encounter carries weight. Reflections drawn. Voices met. Covenants held.  The system remembers without narrating. Hold too much for too long and the practice shifts. Composting is how you release—returning what is complete back into the soil. From what you let go, a Garden grows. Clear enough space, and emergence becomes possible.
 Time is part of the design. Some mechanics surface only after seasons have passed. 
RADIX is not meant to be consumed quickly or finished. It unfolds slowly—just as you do.
 Fifty-four original artworks.
 Six internal voices. 
Seasonal structure.
 Hidden systems.
 No subscriptions.  No ads.  No data extraction. Nothing sold but the practice itself.

Screenshots

Libby, the library app4 screens
RADIX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Libby, the library app at Free against RADIX's $4.99. Libby, the library app also leads on ratings volume (4.6M vs 6) and chart position (#2 vs unranked). RADIX's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (100% vs 84%). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Libby, the library app is free to download; RADIX costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Libby, the library app against 5.0 for RADIX. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Libby, the library app has 4.6M ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Libby, the library app's written reviews are positive against 100% of RADIX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, RADIX every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Libby, the library app versus RADIX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLibby, the library appRADIX
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.9 (4.6M ratings)5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.6M — better6
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#2 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB99 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperOverDrive, Inc.Alexander Perrin

Customer experience

Libby, the library app

All ratings4,593,109 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews10,611 reviews
Positive83.7%
Neutral5.0%
Negative11.4%

RADIX

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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)
Show 1 more
  • Integration with other e-book/audiobook services

RADIX

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Libby, the library app

No in-app purchases

None

RADIX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Libby, the library app free?
Libby, the library app is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RADIX free?
RADIX costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Libby, the library app or RADIX?
RADIX is rated higher. Libby, the library app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.6M ratings, while RADIX averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.
Do Libby, the library app or RADIX have ads?
Neither Libby, the library app nor RADIX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Libby, the library app or RADIX?
Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, and RADIX every 3 days. Most recently, Libby, the library app was updated on October 31, 2026 and RADIX on October 24, 2026.

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