# CW MARS Libraries vs The Palace Project

The clearest difference is rating: The Palace Project at 4.6 against CW MARS Libraries's 3.8. The Palace Project also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 26). CW MARS Libraries's advantage is review sentiment (56% vs 27%). 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.

The Palace Project holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Palace Project has 5.2K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of CW MARS Libraries's written reviews are positive against 27% of The Palace Project's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CW MARS Libraries ships an update every 4 months, The Palace Project fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on June 3, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CW MARS Libraries | The Palace Project |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cw-mars-libraries/id1434646418/reviews) | **[4.6 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-palace-project/id1574359693/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **56.3% of reviews** | 26.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#84** |
| Size | 10 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kenneth Cox](https://appshunter.io/developer/1400443993) | [The Palace Project](https://appshunter.io/developer/1574359695) |

## What reviewers say

### CW MARS Libraries

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cw-mars-libraries/id1434646418)

Access the shared catalog of libraries across Central and Western Massachusetts. Requires a library card and password from a participating CW MARS member library to use.

**Highlights:** Access shared library catalog, Search for books and materials, Manage library account, Find participating libraries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Palace Project

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-palace-project/id1574359693)

**Currently charting:** #84 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access and enjoy e-books and audiobooks from your local library for free. Discover new titles, borrow them instantly with your library card, and read or listen anywhere. Even without a participating library, enjoy a collection of free books.

**Highlights:** Borrow e-books and audiobooks, Access local library collections, Read or listen to books, Free Palace Bookshelf collection, Requires library card for full access

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great selection of books
- 💡 Convenient access to library books
- 👍 Simple and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent glitches and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔍 Poor search functionality
- 🤯 Inconsistent user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Books not downloading properly
- Losing place in audiobooks
- Crashing and freezing issues
- Incompatibility with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to track read/listened books
- Improved audiobook playback controls
- Dark mode option
- Integration with Kindle


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CW MARS Libraries free?

CW MARS Libraries is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Palace Project free?

The Palace Project is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CW MARS Libraries or The Palace Project?

The Palace Project is rated higher. CW MARS Libraries averages 3.8 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while The Palace Project averages 4.6 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do CW MARS Libraries or The Palace Project have ads?

Neither CW MARS Libraries nor The Palace Project shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CW MARS Libraries or The Palace Project?

CW MARS Libraries ships an update every 4 months, and The Palace Project fortnightly. Most recently, CW MARS Libraries was updated on June 3, 2026 and The Palace Project on September 25, 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.*