# Barnes & Noble vs APLApp

The clearest difference is rating: APLApp at 3.4 against Barnes & Noble's 1.8. APLApp also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Barnes & Noble's advantage is ratings volume (2.4K vs 8) and chart position (#10 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

APLApp holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barnes & Noble has 2.4K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 8% of Barnes & Noble's written reviews are positive against 0% of APLApp's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barnes & Noble | APLApp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barnes-and-noble/id1477515079/reviews) | **[3.4 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aplapp/id1548992958/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.4K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **7.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | — |
| Size | 70 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Barnes & Noble](https://appshunter.io/developer/320214165) | [Capira Technologies, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1010559443) |

## What reviewers say

### Barnes & Noble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barnes-and-noble/id1477515079)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access a vast selection of books, eBooks, audiobooks, and more. Discover new releases, bestsellers, and personalized recommendations. Shop for toys, gifts, and home items, with options for home delivery or in-store pickup.

**Highlights:** Shop millions of books, Browse eBooks and audiobooks, Discover new releases and bestsellers, Scan barcodes for product details, Digital member card, Store locator, Manage account and wishlists

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient app for shopping
- 📚 Great selection of books
- 🚀 Smooth browsing experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- ⚠️ Buggy and unreliable app
- 🕰️ Slow performance and loading times
- 📤 Logging out issues
- 🤔 Confusing user interface

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Cart items disappearing
- Inability to log in or stay logged in
- Inconsistent behavior across features

**Requested features**

- Add Face ID/Touch ID login
- Improve search and filtering options
- Integrate order tracking and digital receipts
- Allow in-app ebook purchases


### APLApp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aplapp/id1548992958)

Access your local library's catalog, manage your account, and discover events and resources on the go. Reserve items, track checkouts, and explore online learning materials from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Reserve items, Manage multiple library accounts, View and register for events, Access online learning resources, View library hours and locations

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barnes & Noble free?

Barnes & Noble is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is APLApp free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Barnes & Noble or APLApp?

APLApp is rated higher. Barnes & Noble averages 1.8 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while APLApp averages 3.4 from 8 ratings.

### Do Barnes & Noble or APLApp have ads?

Neither Barnes & Noble nor APLApp shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barnes & Noble or APLApp?

Barnes & Noble ships an update every 3 weeks, and APLApp every 3 weeks. Most recently, Barnes & Noble was updated on October 26, 2026 and APLApp on October 24, 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.*