# MCLS vs NetGalley Shelf

The clearest difference is rating: MCLS at 3.5 against NetGalley Shelf's 2.1. MCLS also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). NetGalley Shelf's advantage is ratings volume (87 vs 2) and chart position (#164 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

MCLS holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetGalley Shelf has 87 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MCLS ships an update every 2 months, NetGalley Shelf every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MCLS | NetGalley Shelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcls/id1173097069/reviews)** | [2.1 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **87** |
| Positive reviews | — | 19.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#164** |
| Size | 50 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Muskingum County Library System](https://appshunter.io/developer/1478424446) | [NetGalley, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499581599) |

## What reviewers say

### MCLS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcls/id1173097069)

Access library resources from your mobile device. Search the catalog for books, audiobooks, movies, and more. Manage your account, renew items, and view event calendars.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Place holds on items, Manage library account, Renew borrowed materials, View event calendar, Download ebooks and audiobooks, Get branch directions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### NetGalley Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600)

**Currently charting:** #164 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access and review digital books and audiobooks provided by publishers and authors. Discover new titles, download them for offline reading, or stream audiobooks directly within the app. This platform is designed for book advocates and industry professionals to provide valuable feedback.

**Highlights:** Access digital review copies, Listen to audiobooks, Download books for offline reading, Stream audiobooks, Discover new titles, Request and review books

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works fine for some users
- 👍 Keeps user logged in
- 👍 Audiobooks work well
- 🚀 Able to read ebooks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Narration speed issues
- 🐛 Confusing interface
- 🔒 Login issues
- 🐛 Bookmarks and positions don't sync
- 🐛 No built-in dictionary

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Downloading issues with audiobooks
- Books disappearing from shelf
- Inability to remove expired books
- Inconsistent behavior when opening books

**Requested features**

- Add ability to write reviews within the app
- Improve audiobook playback controls
- Add font size adjustment
- Implement dark mode
- Sync reading progress across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MCLS free?

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

### Is NetGalley Shelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MCLS or NetGalley Shelf?

MCLS is rated higher. MCLS averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while NetGalley Shelf averages 2.1 from 87 ratings.

### Do MCLS or NetGalley Shelf have ads?

Neither MCLS nor NetGalley Shelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MCLS or NetGalley Shelf?

MCLS ships an update every 2 months, and NetGalley Shelf every 6 months. Most recently, MCLS was updated on November 2, 2026 and NetGalley Shelf on November 3, 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.*