Bookshelf vs LockDown Browser
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bookshelf
Access and study your digital textbooks on your iPad or iPhone. This app allows for offline reading, note-taking, flashcard creation, and customizable reading settings. Sync your progress across devices for a seamless study experience.
- Offline reading
- Customizable highlighters and notes
- Flashcard creation
- Personalized reading settings
- Read Aloud feature
- Cross-device syncing
Read full descriptionHide full description
With Bookshelf, you can enjoy a digital-first, comprehensive study experience from the convenience of your iPad or iPhone. Access all of your VitalSource textbooks and study anytime, anywhere. Bookshelf Features: • Download books to your iOS device for 100% offline reading. • Customize highlighters and add notes for a rich study experience. • Create flashcards with text and images to learn concepts faster. • Personalize font, font size, and background colors to make reading easier. • Listen to your books and learn on the go with Read Aloud. • Sync your current reading position and all your work across devices so you can easily pick up where you left off. • Built with accessibility in mind. Requirements: • VitalSource Bookshelf account • Access to one or more VitalSource textbooks • iOS 17+
LockDown Browser
This application creates a secure browser environment for online exams, preventing access to other applications, websites, or device functions. It ensures the integrity of assessments by locking users into the exam until submission. It is compatible with specific learning systems and can be used with proctoring systems if enabled by an instructor.
- Locks down exam environment
- Prevents switching applications
- Blocks access to other URLs
- Disables screenshots
- Prohibits copying or printing
- Integrates with learning systems
Read full descriptionHide full description
LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the exam environment within specific learning and assessment systems. When LockDown Browser is used during an online exam, you are unable to go to other URLs, switch applications, take screenshots, copy questions or print. It essentially locks you into the exam until it’s submitted for grading. Important: This application can only be used with the Respondus Monitor proctoring system if your instructor has enabled the use of an iPad for the exam. If your instructor hasn't enabled the use of an iPad for the exam, you will be unable to use this application with it. While LockDown Browser isn’t the most exciting app available, it does make online assessments possible. And, hey, you can download it for free. This is NOT a limited-feature version and there are NO advertisements of any type.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bookshelf at 4.7 against LockDown Browser's 1.2. Bookshelf also leads on ratings volume (78K vs 4K) and review sentiment (21% vs 8%). LockDown Browser's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Bookshelf holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshelf has 78K ratings behind it against 4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Bookshelf's written reviews are positive against 8% of LockDown Browser's.
Bookshelf ships an update every 6 weeks, LockDown Browser every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.
| Parameter | Bookshelf | LockDown Browser |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (78K ratings) — better | 1.2 (4K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews — better | 7.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 78K — better | 4K |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #89 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 185 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | VitalSource Technologies, Inc. | Respondus Inc. |
Customer experience
Bookshelf
LockDown Browser
User reviews
Bookshelf
From 78K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📚 Convenient access to textbooks
- 🔍 Useful search functionality
- 📚 Offline reading capability
- 🔖 Bookmark and note-taking features
- 🔊 Text-to-speech option
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy highlighting and annotation tools
- 🖋️ Lack of Apple Pencil support
- 📚 Restricted functionality compared to other e-book apps
- 🔍 Inconsistent search and navigation experience
- 🔋 High battery consumption
LockDown Browser
From 4K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works well on iPad
- 🔒 Secures exams
- 👍 Helpful for online tests
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔒 Locks down devices too aggressively
- 👎 Unreliable and glitchy
- 💤 Slow and unresponsive
- 🔋 Drains device battery
Bugs and requests
Bookshelf
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Issues with page loading and scrolling
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices
- Unreliable text-to-speech functionality
Requested features
5 requests- Improved highlighting and annotation tools
- Apple Pencil support for note-taking
- More customization options (e.g., font, layout, night mode)
- Seamless cross-device synchronization
- Enhanced search and navigation features
LockDown Browser
Reported bugs
4 issues- Fails to load tests and quizzes
- Prevents device power off and exit
- Incompatible with other apps like Canvas
- Randomly kicks users out of exams
Requested features
4 requests- Improved compatibility with iPads
- Better error handling and recovery
- Streamlined setup and onboarding
- More user-friendly interface
In-app purchases
Bookshelf
No in-app purchases
LockDown Browser
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Bookshelf free?
Is LockDown Browser free?
Which has better reviews, Bookshelf or LockDown Browser?
Do Bookshelf or LockDown Browser have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bookshelf or LockDown Browser?
Other comparisons
