# Freading vs BorrowBox

Freading and BorrowBox both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of BorrowBox's written reviews are positive against 16% of Freading's. BorrowBox also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 9 months) and chart position (#83 vs unranked). Freading's advantage is ratings volume (2.8K vs 858) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 — 4.6 for Freading against 4.7 for BorrowBox. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.8K and 858 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 16% of Freading's written reviews are positive against 77% of BorrowBox's.

Freading ships an update every 9 months, BorrowBox every 6 days. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freading | BorrowBox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freading/id485015785/reviews) | **[4.7 (858 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 858 |
| Positive reviews | 16.1% of reviews | **76.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#83** |
| Size | 20 MB | 146 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Library Ideas, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/485015788) | [Bolinda digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/562843565) |

## What reviewers say

### 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

**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


### BorrowBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562)

**Currently charting:** #83 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access a vast digital library of eAudiobooks, eBooks, eMagazines, and eNewspapers from your local library. Browse, borrow, and enjoy content on any device with seamless syncing and personalized features.

**Highlights:** Borrow eAudiobooks, eBooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers, All library formats in one app, Read and listen directly in the app, Curated collections and themes, Multi-language browsing, Automatic new issue downloads, Cross-device syncing, Adjustable playback speed and sleep timer

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient access to books
- 💡 Free service through local library
- 🎧 Great for audiobooks
- 📚 Wide selection of books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Long wait times for popular books
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🔖 Lack of bookmark/progress tracking features
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🐛 App crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after recent update
- Loses reading progress when switching devices
- Night mode issues with invisible text
- Audiobook controls not working with Bluetooth
- Inconsistent behavior when using sleep timer

**Requested features**

- Add a wishlist or reading list feature
- Improve search and filtering capabilities
- Implement bookmark/progress tracking for audiobooks
- Integrate with Apple CarPlay for safer driving
- Add user reviews and ratings for books


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freading free?

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

### Is BorrowBox free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Freading or BorrowBox?

BorrowBox is rated higher. Freading averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while BorrowBox averages 4.7 from 858 ratings.

### Do Freading or BorrowBox have ads?

Neither Freading nor BorrowBox shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Freading or BorrowBox?

Freading ships an update every 9 months, and BorrowBox every 6 days. Most recently, Freading was updated on September 26, 2026 and BorrowBox on September 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.*