# Allegheny County Libraries vs Bookshop.org

The clearest difference is rating: Bookshop.org at 4.8 against Allegheny County Libraries's 3.1. Bookshop.org also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 26%) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 16). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Allegheny County Libraries's written reviews are positive against 57% of Bookshop.org's.

Allegheny County Libraries ships an update every 3 weeks, Bookshop.org every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Allegheny County Libraries | Bookshop.org |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allegheny-county-libraries/id1605208645/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshoporg-ebook-reader/id6465290096/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.9% of reviews | **56.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#188** |
| Size | 24 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Capira Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1010559443) | [Bookshop, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706515971) |

## What reviewers say

### Allegheny County Libraries

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/allegheny-county-libraries/id1605208645)

Manage your library experience on the go with this app. Search the catalog, reserve items, track checkouts, and discover events. Access library hours, locations, and online learning resources from any of the participating Allegheny County libraries.

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

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bookshop.org

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

**Currently charting:** #188 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 Allegheny County Libraries free?

Allegheny County Libraries 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, Allegheny County Libraries or Bookshop.org?

Bookshop.org is rated higher. Allegheny County Libraries averages 3.1 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Bookshop.org averages 4.8 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do Allegheny County Libraries or Bookshop.org have ads?

Neither Allegheny County Libraries nor Bookshop.org shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Allegheny County Libraries or Bookshop.org?

Allegheny County Libraries ships an update every 3 weeks, and Bookshop.org every 5 days. Most recently, Allegheny County Libraries was updated on October 30, 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.*