# Aspen LiDA vs MetroShare Libraries

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Aspen LiDA at 235 against MetroShare Libraries's 7. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 1.4 for Aspen LiDA against 1.4 for MetroShare Libraries. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aspen LiDA has 235 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 9% of Aspen LiDA's written reviews are positive against 17% of MetroShare Libraries's.

Aspen LiDA ships an update monthly, MetroShare Libraries every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Aspen LiDA | MetroShare Libraries |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.4 (235 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aspen-lida/id1581124727/reviews) | **[1.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metroshare-libraries/id1637680746/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **235** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 9.2% of reviews | **16.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 56 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ByWater Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465780740) | [Benbrook Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/719655169) |

## What reviewers say

### Aspen LiDA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aspen-lida/id1581124727)

Discover books, movies, and games from your library anywhere. Search the full catalog, including digital content, to find titles, place holds, and manage your loans.

**Highlights:** Search entire library catalog, Discover books, movies, and games, Access eContent, Place holds on items, Check due dates, Renew eligible titles

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 App works fine for ordering books
- 👍 Can see other books in series (Libby feature comparison)
- 👍 App is convenient for library card access
- 👍 App allows placing and renewing holds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App frequently crashes
- 🐛 App logs users out repeatedly
- 🐛 App is slow to load
- 🐛 App freezes
- 🐛 App does not save login info

**Reported bugs**

- App kicks users out
- App doesn't renew books with holds
- App doesn't renew all books even when Renew All is pressed
- App won't open, shows spinning wheel
- App freezes

**Requested features**

- Show position in hold queue
- Allow saving login information
- Implement facial/fingerprint recognition for login
- Improve search functionality for genres/topics
- Allow managing multiple library cards


### MetroShare Libraries

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metroshare-libraries/id1637680746)

Access your local library's catalog from your mobile device. Search for books, movies, and games, place holds, and manage your account by checking due dates and renewing items.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Find books, movies, games, Place holds on items, Check due dates, Renew eligible titles, Explore eContent

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Aspen LiDA free?

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

### Is MetroShare Libraries free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Aspen LiDA or MetroShare Libraries?

MetroShare Libraries is rated higher. Aspen LiDA averages 1.4 out of 5 from 235 ratings, while MetroShare Libraries averages 1.4 from 7 ratings.

### Do Aspen LiDA or MetroShare Libraries have ads?

Neither Aspen LiDA nor MetroShare Libraries shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Aspen LiDA or MetroShare Libraries?

Aspen LiDA ships an update monthly, and MetroShare Libraries every 5 weeks. Most recently, Aspen LiDA was updated on October 30, 2026 and MetroShare Libraries 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.*