# Libby, the library app vs tale.fyi

The clearest difference is update cadence: tale.fyi at every 3 days against Libby, the library app's monthly. tale.fyi also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 84%). Libby, the library app's advantage is ratings volume (4.6M vs 3) 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 tale.fyi. 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 are what separate them: 84% of Libby, the library app's written reviews are positive against 100% of tale.fyi's.

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, tale.fyi every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Libby, the library app | tale.fyi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (4.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talefyi/id6807911869/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.6M** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 83.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) | [Samuel Cole](https://appshunter.io/developer/6807911871) |

## 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)


### tale.fyi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talefyi/id6807911869)

Immerse yourself in classic literature with this minimalist app. Read or listen to entire novels, with options to download content for offline access. Enjoy a distraction-free experience without signups, ads, or purchases.

**Highlights:** Read classic novels, Listen to audiobooks, Offline download, Minimalist design, No signup required, Ad-free experience

**Features:** 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 tale.fyi free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Libby, the library app or tale.fyi?

tale.fyi is rated higher. Libby, the library app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.6M ratings, while tale.fyi averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Libby, the library app or tale.fyi have ads?

Neither Libby, the library app nor tale.fyi shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Libby, the library app or tale.fyi?

Libby, the library app ships an update monthly, and tale.fyi every 3 days. Most recently, Libby, the library app was updated on October 22, 2026 and tale.fyi 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.*