Little Free Library vs LiterallyForBooks
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Little Free Library
Discover nearby book-sharing locations with this app. Find libraries using filters, get directions, and save your favorites. Track your visits and leave notes for stewards. If you manage a library, update its details directly.
- Find nearby book-sharing locations
- Search filters by location
- Get directions and create routes
- Favorite and track visited libraries
- Leave notes in guest books
- Edit library listings in real-time
Read full descriptionHide full description
The Little Free Library app makes it easy to find little library locations near you! Use the search filters to narrow in on little libraries you want to visit, easily get directions to the nearest ones, or create a route. See a library you like? Add it to your list of favorites. Track the libraries you visit using the handy check-ins feature. If you’re a Little Free Library steward, there’s a section of the app just for you that lets you edit your library’s listing in real time! Little Free Library Map: Easy-to-use search filters help you find Little Free Libraries by zip code, city/state, charter number, or your current location. Favorite and Track the Little Libraries You Visit: Keep a list of your favorite little libraries and track the ones you visit using check-ins. Get Directions or Create Routes: Tap the Get Directions button to get step-by-step directions to the nearest Little Free Library book-sharing box, or add multiple little libraries to a route. Sign the Guest Book: After you stop by a particular little library, leave a note for the steward (aka caretaker) in its guest book! The guest book is a fun way to connect with the little library steward and see what other visitors have to say. Features for Little Free Library Volunteer Stewards: If you’re the steward of a registered Little Free Library, the app lets you edit your library’s listing in real time! Add new photos, update your library’s story, include social media links, enable a guest book for your visitors, and much more… all from within the app.
LiterallyForBooks
This app helps you track your reading progress, manage your book lists, and connect with other readers. Organize your library, set reading goals, and discover new books through social features and book clubs.
- Track reading progress
- Multiple goal formats
- Half-star review scale
- Keyword labeling
- Prioritize want-to-read list
- Book club feeds
- Spoiler-protected posts
Read full descriptionHide full description
Book tracking: Track your book progress, multiple formats of goals, half star review scale, label books with keywords, prioritize want to read list with priority. Social: Suggest or request books, generic posts, spoiler protected posters, book clubs with their own feeds and tracking Profiles: Create an about me, favorite genres, profile photos, top 10 of all time, recent favorites, and see your LiterAllies lists and goals Privacy Policy: https://www.literallyforbooks.com/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: LiterallyForBooks at 5.0 against Little Free Library's 3.8. LiterallyForBooks also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). Little Free Library's advantage is ratings volume (199 vs 2) and chart position (#96 vs unranked). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
LiterallyForBooks holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Little Free Library has 199 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Little Free Library ships an update every 3 weeks, LiterallyForBooks every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Little Free Library | LiterallyForBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (199 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 47.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 199 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #96 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 26.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Little Free Library, Ltd | Matthew Dornbos |
Customer experience
Little Free Library
LiterallyForBooks
Bugs and requests
Little Free Library
Reported bugs
18 issues- App crashes on startup or after 2-3 clicks
- Instant crash when opening app
- Loading screen freezes indefinitely
- Check-in submit button spins forever without submitting
- Favorite feature causes immediate crash
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- Search this area button disappears after use
- Map not loading or displaying libraries
- Login causes app to crash
- App kicks user out after few seconds
- Email confirmation links non-functional
- Help ticket submission page broken
- Check-in notifications appear but don't display in app
- Dark mode purple text unreadable
- Steward registration stuck in infinite loop
- Location services not working
- App incompatible with iOS updates
- Routing doesn't follow selected library order
- Incomplete form loading for stewards
Requested features
14 requests- Ability for non-stewards to add missing libraries
- Retroactive check-in date editing
- Children's book category indicator
- Book genre/category specifications
- Want-to-visit list separate from favorites
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Photo update capability for all users
- Library condition status tracking
- Goodreads integration
- Little Pantry location support
- Book availability search feature
- Improved routing that respects selected order
- Better steward portal UX for adding comments
- Reduced banner size on map display
- Full Google Maps integration
LiterallyForBooks
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Little Free Library
No in-app purchases
LiterallyForBooks
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Little Free Library free?
Is LiterallyForBooks free?
Which has better reviews, Little Free Library or LiterallyForBooks?
Do Little Free Library or LiterallyForBooks have ads?
Which is updated more often, Little Free Library or LiterallyForBooks?
Other comparisons
