# Edmonton Public Library vs Freading

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Edmonton Public Library at 51% against Freading's 17%. Edmonton Public Library also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). Freading's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). 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.

Edmonton Public Library ships an update every 3 months, Freading every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Edmonton Public Library | Freading |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freading/id485015785/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **50.8% of reviews** | 16.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 22 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Edmonton Public Library (AB)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1489231353) | [Library Ideas, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/485015788) |

## What reviewers say

### Edmonton Public Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/edmonton-public-library/id390969843)

Access library services on the go. Discover new books, manage your account, and find events. Stream or download digital content and check branch information.

**Highlights:** Search library collection with filters, View title details, reviews, and ratings, Check title availability and locations, Place and manage holds, Download/stream eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, music, Manage library account and renewals, Browse new releases and bestsellers, Check branch hours and get directions

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for accessing books
- 👍 Can use app instead of library card
- 👍 Works great, usually doesn't lag
- 👍 Great for reserving books/movies
- 👍 User-friendly and simple

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐌 Slow to open
- 🔄 Spinning thing spins
- 🐌 Sooo slow
- 🐛 App crashes
- 🐛 App is useless

**Reported bugs**

- Server error when logging in
- App crashes when clicking on card
- Login issues (account doesn't exist/password incorrect)
- Borrowing and my shelves tabs do not load
- No app icon on iPad

**Requested features**

- Add notifications for pickup/due dates
- Add dark mode
- Add library card to Apple Wallet
- Add wallet support for library card
- Add wallet support for library card


### Freading

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freading/id485015785)

This app allows users to read EPUB and PDF books downloaded from participating libraries. It supports Adobe DRM and offers a comfortable reading experience with features like page turning and adjustable text size.

**Highlights:** Read EPUB and PDF books, Adobe DRM support, Tap or swipe page turning, Remembers last page read, Selectable text size

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 📚 Wide selection of books
- 🕰 No late fees

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 📱 Difficult to navigate and use
- 🔍 Poor search and discovery
- 📚 Limited book selection
- 🔒 Login and authentication issues

**Reported bugs**

- Books fail to download or open
- App crashes when trying to access downloaded books
- Login process is unreliable and inconsistent

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and reliability
- Enhance user interface and navigation
- Expand book selection and search capabilities
- Streamline login and authentication process


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Edmonton Public Library free?

Edmonton Public Library is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Freading free?

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

### Do Edmonton Public Library or Freading have ads?

Neither Edmonton Public Library nor Freading shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Edmonton Public Library or Freading?

Edmonton Public Library ships an update every 3 months, and Freading every 9 months. Most recently, Edmonton Public Library was updated on October 27, 2026 and Freading on October 26, 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.*