# TLN Library Catalog vs Bookshop.org

The clearest difference is rating: Bookshop.org at 4.8 against TLN Library Catalog's 3.1. Bookshop.org also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 16 months) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 13). TLN Library Catalog's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.4). On price, review sentiment, 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.

Bookshop.org holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshop.org has 2.3K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of TLN Library Catalog's written reviews are positive against 57% of Bookshop.org's.

TLN Library Catalog ships an update every 16 months, Bookshop.org every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TLN Library Catalog | Bookshop.org |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tln-library-catalog/id1444935670/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshoporg-ebook-reader/id6465290096/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **56.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#181** |
| Size | 1 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The Library Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/399128321) | [Bookshop, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706515971) |

## What reviewers say

### TLN Library Catalog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tln-library-catalog/id1444935670)

Access your local library's catalog and account from your mobile device. Search for books, movies, and ebooks, place holds, renew loans, and pay fines. Find library locations and hours, and download digital content.

**Highlights:** Search catalog (books, movies, ebooks), Place holds, Renew loans, Pay fines, Download eBooks, Find library locations and hours

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bookshop.org

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshoporg-ebook-reader/id6465290096)

**Currently charting:** #181 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Read your ebooks and discover new titles while supporting independent bookstores. All ebook purchases made through this platform directly benefit local bookshops, ensuring their continued success in the digital age.

**Highlights:** Read ebooks from your library, Browse millions of ebooks, Add titles to wishlist, Support local bookstores with purchases, Connect seamlessly with Bookshop

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Wonderful app
- 👍 Great alternative to Amazon
- 👍 Supports local bookstores
- 👍 Clean and pleasing interface
- 👍 Solid app for a new release

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Formatting issues (lack of italics, poor paragraph spacing, etc.)
- 🐛 Buggy page turning and navigation
- 🔧 Limited customization options (fonts, themes, brightness, etc.)
- 🔧 Missing essential features (highlighting, note-taking, search, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to remember last page read
- Scrolling issues and unexpected page skipping
- Formatting problems (stripped italics, weird paragraph spacing)
- Settings not persisting between app sessions

**Requested features**

- More font and theme options
- Ability to adjust line spacing, margins, and other formatting
- Implement highlighting, annotation, and note-taking features
- Add search functionality
- Improve page turning and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TLN Library Catalog free?

TLN Library Catalog is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bookshop.org free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TLN Library Catalog or Bookshop.org?

Bookshop.org is rated higher. TLN Library Catalog averages 3.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Bookshop.org averages 4.8 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do TLN Library Catalog or Bookshop.org have ads?

Neither TLN Library Catalog nor Bookshop.org shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TLN Library Catalog or Bookshop.org?

TLN Library Catalog ships an update every 16 months, and Bookshop.org every 5 days. Most recently, TLN Library Catalog was updated on October 29, 2026 and Bookshop.org on October 30, 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.*