Comparison

Blueground vs Harvard Library Checkout

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

Head to head
About

Blueground

This app simplifies your stay in a furnished apartment, providing all essential information and services. Manage requests, access apartment details, and connect with support for a seamless living experience.

Highlights
  • Apartment details and access instructions
  • Neighborhood information and directions
  • Request maintenance and services
  • Schedule apartment cleanings
  • In-app messaging with support team
  • Manage booking details
Features
Read full description

If you’re looking to rent an apartment with Blueground, please visit our website, www.theblueground.com Blueground offers beautifully furnished and thoughtfully equipped apartments for a month, a year, or even longer. Our move-in ready homes are all specifically designed to help people show up and start living. From day one, this app will be your guide to your new home. It will answer any questions you might have about amenities and apartment access, as well as provide info about your new neighborhood. Whether you want to report a problem, request a service, schedule cleanings, speak with the support team, or plan or check your booking details, it can all be done via the Blueground Guest App. In order to create a tech-powered living experience, we’ve created this user-friendly app designed to make every tenant’s stay frictionless. It puts all of the most critical information about your Blueground apartment right in the palm of your hand. How It Works After you’ve booked with Blueground, access the app using the same email address used for your reservation. Once you’re in the app, you’ll be able to communicate with our team and enjoy peace of mind in your new home. App Features *Everything you need to know about your stay: Find important details about your property, such as the address, entrance instructions, Wi-Fi password, and building amenities. There will also be neighborhood advice and maps so you can start planning your commute right away. You can even get walking, driving, and public transit directions to wherever you’re planning to go. *Make and manage requests: Whatever you may need, just make a request through the app and our team will respond as quickly as possible. For instance, when you want to schedule an apartment cleaning, or when there is a maintenance issue that needs our attention. You’ll be notified whenever there is an update on one of your requests or reports. *In-App messaging for ongoing support: Speak with a dedicated Client Experience team member in real-time via our in-app instant messaging feature. Your personal notification inbox will house all incoming messages. Whether you have a complaint or just want to share feedback, we look forward to hearing from you!

About

Harvard Library Checkout

This app allows Harvard Library patrons to check out items from select libraries using their phone's camera to scan barcodes. It automatically recognizes your library location and requires a Harvard ID for login. Some libraries may require additional deactivation steps.

Highlights
  • Barcode scanning for checkout
  • Automatic library location recognition
  • Harvard ID login
  • Item deactivation guidance
  • Supports multiple Harvard libraries
Features
Read full description

All patrons with a Harvard Library borrowing account may use the Harvard Library checkout app to check out items from Cabot Science, Tozzer, and Countway Libraries and the Biblioteca Berenson The app will automatically recognize your library location. Download the app to your phone, open the app and login with your with your Harvard ID number (located on the front of your Harvard ID or Harvard Library borrower card) and use your phone’s camera to take pictures of the barcodes on the items you want to check out. Note that at Tozzer Library you will also need to deactivate the checked-out item at the deactivation station before leaving the library.

Screenshots

Blueground4 screens
Harvard Library Checkout4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Harvard Library Checkout at 100% against Blueground's 29%. Harvard Library Checkout also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and device support (3 vs 1). Blueground's advantage is ratings volume (4.1K vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Harvard Library Checkout holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blueground has 4.1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Blueground's written reviews are positive against 100% of Harvard Library Checkout's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blueground ships an update weekly, Harvard Library Checkout monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Blueground versus Harvard Library Checkout: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBluegroundHarvard Library Checkout
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (4.1K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.1K — better2
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB408 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperBlueground Us, IncMeescan Inc.

Customer experience

Blueground

All ratings4,142 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative8.9%
Written reviews160 reviews
Positive28.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative70.0%

Harvard Library Checkout

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Blueground

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App login and functionality issues
  • Unreliable Wi-Fi and smart home features

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improved maintenance request handling
  • Better communication and updates from the company
  • Transparent pricing and fee structure

Harvard Library Checkout

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Blueground

No in-app purchases

None

Harvard Library Checkout

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Blueground free?
Blueground is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Harvard Library Checkout free?
Harvard Library Checkout is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Blueground or Harvard Library Checkout?
Harvard Library Checkout is rated higher. Blueground averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while Harvard Library Checkout averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Blueground or Harvard Library Checkout have ads?
Neither Blueground nor Harvard Library Checkout shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blueground or Harvard Library Checkout?
Blueground ships an update weekly, and Harvard Library Checkout monthly. Most recently, Blueground was updated on September 26, 2026 and Harvard Library Checkout on September 22, 2026.

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