# Libby, the library app vs Ask Illume

The clearest difference is chart position: Libby, the library app at #3 against Ask Illume's unranked. Libby, the library app also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, 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.

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, Ask Illume every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Libby, the library app | Ask Illume |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (4.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4.6M** | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) | [Jennifer L Perry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1875097000) |

## 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)


### Ask Illume

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ask-illume/id6758808422)

**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 Ask Illume free?

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

### Do Libby, the library app or Ask Illume have ads?

Neither Libby, the library app nor Ask Illume shows ads.

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

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, and Ask Illume every 3 weeks. Most recently, Libby, the library app was updated on November 8, 2026 and Ask Illume on October 31, 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.*