# Amazon Kindle vs Libby, the library app

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Libby, the library app at none against Amazon Kindle's 12. Libby, the library app also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 68%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.0). Amazon Kindle's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Amazon Kindle sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month. Libby, the library app asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Amazon Kindle against 4.9 for Libby, the library app. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.8M and 4.4M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Amazon Kindle's written reviews are positive against 84% of Libby, the library app's.

Amazon Kindle ships an update fortnightly, Libby, the library app monthly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Amazon Kindle | Libby, the library app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (5.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amazon-kindle-reading-app/id302584613/reviews) | **[4.9 (4.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.8M** | 4.4M |
| Positive reviews | 68.1% of reviews | **83.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #4 | **#2** |
| Size | 198 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [AMZN Mobile LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/297606954) | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) |

## What reviewers say

### Amazon Kindle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amazon-kindle-reading-app/id302584613)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access a vast library of eBooks, magazines, and comics on your mobile device. Customize your reading experience with adjustable text, brightness, and page-turning options. Look up words, track progress, and sync across devices.

**Highlights:** Read purchased eBooks, Access Kindle Unlimited, Customizable text and display, Built-in dictionary and lookup, Track reading progress, Sync reading across devices, Listen to Audible books

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kindle Unlimited | $13.99 | per month |
| Kindle Unlimited | $13.99 | per month |
| 140 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $1.39 | one-time |
| 100 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $1.39 | one-time |
| 140 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $1.99 | one-time |
| 368 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $3.49 | one-time |
| 300 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $3.99 | one-time |
| 368 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $4.99 | one-time |
| 770 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $6.99 | one-time |
| 770 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $9.99 | one-time |
| 900 Tokens - Kindle Vella (US) | $11.49 | one-time |
| 2000 Tokens - Kindle Vella(US) | $23.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Huge library of books
- 📱 Portable and convenient
- 🔍 Useful features like dictionary lookup and highlighting
- 🌙 Adjustable reading settings (font, brightness, etc.)
- 🔁 Seamless syncing across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🛒 Cannot purchase books directly in the app
- 🗂️ Difficulty organizing and managing large book libraries
- 🔍 Inconsistent behavior when highlighting/taking notes
- 🔄 Unreliable syncing between devices
- 🔌 Drains device battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes when switching between apps
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Dictionary lookup feature not working reliably

**Requested features**

- Ability to create and manage collections/folders for books
- Option to easily see which books have been read vs unread
- Improved highlighting and note-taking functionality
- Better syncing between Kindle devices and apps
- Dark mode and other customization options


### Libby, the library app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access millions of free ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. Borrow titles instantly with your library card, download for offline enjoyment, and enjoy a customizable reading and listening experience.

**Highlights:** Borrow ebooks and audiobooks, Download for offline access, Send ebooks to Kindle, Adjust reader settings, Customize audio player, Create book lists

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Extensive library of books and audiobooks
- 🔍 Convenient search and browsing features
- 🔖 Easy to manage holds and returns
- 🔄 Seamless syncing across devices
- 🕰️ Automatic returns to avoid late fees

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Long wait times for popular titles
- 🔍 Confusing search and filtering options
- 🤯 Buggy and unstable performance
- 🔒 Lack of offline reading/listening
- 📚 Limited selection in some genres

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Issues with downloading and syncing content
- Unreliable playback controls for audiobooks
- Inconsistent behavior when placing holds
- Disappearing reading history and bookmarks

**Requested features**

- Ability to search across multiple libraries
- Custom reading/listening speed controls
- Improved recommendation and discovery tools
- Option to purchase unavailable titles
- Customizable reading experience (fonts, themes)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Amazon Kindle free?

Amazon Kindle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Libby, the library app free?

Libby, the library app is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Amazon Kindle or Libby, the library app?

Libby, the library app is rated higher. Amazon Kindle averages 4.9 out of 5 from 5.8M ratings, while Libby, the library app averages 4.9 from 4.4M ratings.

### Do Amazon Kindle or Libby, the library app have ads?

Neither Amazon Kindle nor Libby, the library app shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Amazon Kindle or Libby, the library app?

Amazon Kindle ships an update fortnightly, and Libby, the library app monthly. Most recently, Amazon Kindle was updated on September 25, 2026 and Libby, the library app on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Amazon Kindle or Libby, the library app?

Amazon Kindle currently peaks at #4 in the App Store charts, and Libby, the library app at #2. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*