# The Palace Project vs SCLD Libraries

The clearest difference is rating: The Palace Project at 4.6 against SCLD Libraries's 2.5. The Palace Project also leads on ratings volume (5.5K vs 14) and chart position (#99 vs unranked). SCLD Libraries's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). 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.

The Palace Project holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Palace Project has 5.5K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 27% of The Palace Project's written reviews are positive against 33% of SCLD Libraries's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

The Palace Project ships an update fortnightly, SCLD Libraries monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Palace Project | SCLD Libraries |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (5.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-palace-project/id1574359693/reviews)** | [2.5 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scld-libraries/id6474624114/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.5K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 27.1% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#99** | — |
| Size | 50 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Palace Project](https://appshunter.io/developer/1574359695) | [Spokane County Library District](https://appshunter.io/developer/1472380827) |

## What reviewers say

### The Palace Project

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

**Currently charting:** #99 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


### SCLD Libraries

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scld-libraries/id6474624114)

Access a vast collection of books, movies, music, and more from your local library. Search the catalog, manage loans, place holds, and access your digital library card. Keep track of your interests and manage family accounts.

**Highlights:** Search entire catalog, Manage holds and due dates, Renew eligible items, Access digital library card, Create interest lists, Manage family accounts

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Palace Project free?

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

### Is SCLD Libraries free?

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

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

The Palace Project is rated higher. The Palace Project averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5.5K ratings, while SCLD Libraries averages 2.5 from 14 ratings.

### Do The Palace Project or SCLD Libraries have ads?

Neither The Palace Project nor SCLD Libraries shows ads.

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

The Palace Project ships an update fortnightly, and SCLD Libraries monthly. Most recently, The Palace Project was updated on November 3, 2026 and SCLD Libraries 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.*