Comparison

OpenLibrary Browser vs Open Library Reader

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

Head to head
About

OpenLibrary Browser

Access a vast catalog of books directly from your mobile device. Search for titles, browse collections, and download public domain works for free.

Highlights
  • Search book catalog
  • Browse book collections
  • Download public domain works
  • Mobile client for OpenLibrary
Features
Read full description

A mobile client for the OpenLibrary website. Users can search and browse for books, and download available public domain works.

About

Open Library Reader

Access and read millions of books from an online library. Organize your reading lists, track borrowed books, and discover related titles within a familiar reading interface. Requires an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Browse and check out millions of books
  • Track reading progress and wishlists
  • Built-in search and related title discovery
  • Shelf management and edition changes
  • Checkout tracking for borrowed books
  • Customizable reading interface
Features
Read full description

Open Library is an online library with millions of books to browse or check out. You can track the books that you're reading, want to read, etc. and read many of them right there. PLEASE NOTE: This app is an interface to the openlibrary.org web site — if you don't use that site to read books, you may have trouble figuring out what the app is for. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the site first, and then you'll understand what the app offers. This app is one reader's effort to create the ideal portable experience for taking advantage of Open Library's amazing collection. You'll get the best experience out of this app on an iPad, but you can use it on a smaller screen (if you don't mind squinting). The moment you open the app and log in, any books you've already saved on the Open Library site are laid out on your screen. You can sort them by title, author, publication date, and date saved, see which books are available to read, and open them with a single tap. Once you've opened a book in the familiar reading interface, a tap at the top of the screen will trigger the full screen mode, removing every distraction and expanding the book pages to the limits of your screen for the perfect reading experience. Other features include: - Built-in search: find and add books to your shelves from inside the app. - Shelf management: move books between shelves, remove books, change the edition of a book. - Related title search: choose a book on your shelf and quickly find more books like it. - Checkout tracking: see at a glance how long you have left on limited-access books you've checked out. - Customization: choose which shelves you want to see and manage the size of the books and their titles. This app is essentially an alternative interface to the Open Library site — all of your data is stored there, and the books you read are hosted online, not in the app. As a result, an active internet connection is required when you are using this app. Open Library is an initiative of the Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. The developer of this app has no legal or contractual relationship with Open Library or the Internet Archive, and bears no responsibility for the content found there.

Screenshots

OpenLibrary Browser4 screens
Open Library Reader1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Open Library Reader at 3.0 against OpenLibrary Browser's 1.4. Open Library Reader also leads on review sentiment (26% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Open Library Reader holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 50 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of OpenLibrary Browser's written reviews are positive against 26% of Open Library Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenLibrary Browser ships an update every 3 months, Open Library Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
OpenLibrary Browser versus Open Library Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenLibrary BrowserOpen Library Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.4 (39 ratings)3.0 (50 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews26.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3950 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobert WakefieldLoomis House, LLC

Customer experience

OpenLibrary Browser

All ratings39 ratings
Positive7.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative92.3%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Open Library Reader

All ratings50 ratings
Positive44.0%
Neutral14.0%
Negative42.0%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive26.2%
Neutral19.0%
Negative54.8%

In-app purchases

None

OpenLibrary Browser

No in-app purchases

None

Open Library Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OpenLibrary Browser free?
OpenLibrary Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Open Library Reader free?
Open Library Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, OpenLibrary Browser or Open Library Reader?
Open Library Reader is rated higher. OpenLibrary Browser averages 1.4 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while Open Library Reader averages 3.0 from 50 ratings.
Do OpenLibrary Browser or Open Library Reader have ads?
Neither OpenLibrary Browser nor Open Library Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenLibrary Browser or Open Library Reader?
OpenLibrary Browser ships an update every 3 months, and Open Library Reader every 2 months. Most recently, OpenLibrary Browser was updated on September 9, 2026 and Open Library Reader on September 22, 2026.

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