Freading vs Blackstone Unlimited
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Freading
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.
- Read EPUB and PDF books
- Adobe DRM support
- Tap or swipe page turning
- Remembers last page read
- Selectable text size
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The Freading application is for reading EPUB books and PDF books. The application was developed for users of the Freading Ebook Service. The Freading (free reading) Ebook Service was developed by Library Ideas, LLC and is sold to libraries of all types around the world. End users are registered cardholders of participating libraries. Check with your local library for participation. The end user should use their browser to navigate the library website, then download the book from a library website into this application. Once in the application, the EPUB or PDF book can be explored and read. The Freading application is designed to lend full support for Adobe DRM and uses Adobe ID for Authentication. The Freading application includes many features that you would expect for a good reading experience such as tap or swipe to turn pages, remembering the last page read, and selectable text size.
Blackstone Unlimited
Access a vast digital library of bestselling audiobooks for free using your library card. Enjoy instant borrowing with no holds or waiting periods, and download titles for offline listening. Discover new arrivals regularly from an award-winning catalog.
- Free audiobook borrowing
- No holds or waiting
- Instant access to catalog
- Download for offline listening
- Passwordless login
- Award-winning titles
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Never wait to check out an audiobook again— your library card ensures you’re always first in line! Welcome to Blackstone Unlimited, a digital library platform. Borrow bestselling audiobooks for free with your library card and listen anytime, anywhere. Our award-winning catalog is available to you instantly with no holds or waiting. With over 7,000 titles to choose from and fresh new arrivals coming in regularly, you’re sure to find the perfect listen for every mood. Contact your local library today to see if they participate in the Blackstone Unlimited program. Getting set up is quick and easy. Our login and sign-up process is easier than ever with passwordless login— more secure, faster, and free of the hassle of remembering passwords. Don’t let a lack of WiFi get in the way of your plans! Download audiobooks for listening on the go.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Blackstone Unlimited at every 3 weeks against Freading's every 9 months. Blackstone Unlimited also leads on review sentiment (26% vs 17%). Freading's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (2.9K vs 635). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Freading holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.9K and 635 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of Freading's written reviews are positive against 26% of Blackstone Unlimited's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Freading ships an update every 9 months, Blackstone Unlimited every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Freading | Blackstone Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (2.9K ratings) — better | 4.3 (635 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 16.8% of reviews | 26.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.9K — better | 635 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Library Ideas, LLC | Blackstone Audio, Inc |
Customer experience
Freading
Blackstone Unlimited
User reviews
Freading
From 2.9K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 📚 Wide selection of books
- 🕰 No late fees
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 📱 Difficult to navigate and use
- 🔍 Poor search and discovery
- 📚 Limited book selection
- 🔒 Login and authentication issues
Blackstone Unlimited
From 635 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Free audiobooks from the library
- 👍 No wait times for books
- 👍 Wide selection of choices
- 👍 User-friendly interface (mentioned by one user)
- 👍 Good for commutes and escaping reality
Room to improve
- 🐛 App won't open after update
- 🐛 No books available (reported by one user)
- 🐛 Limited content selection (less than most popular titles)
- 🐛 Poor category discovery and browsing
- 🐛 No CarPlay support
Bugs and requests
Freading
Reported bugs
3 issues- Books fail to download or open
- App crashes when trying to access downloaded books
- Login process is unreliable and inconsistent
Requested features
4 requests- Improve app stability and reliability
- Enhance user interface and navigation
- Expand book selection and search capabilities
- Streamline login and authentication process
Blackstone Unlimited
Reported bugs
7 issues- App won't open after latest update
- App crashes frequently
- Error messages displayed
- App doesn't work with Bluetooth devices
- Audiobooks randomly stop playing
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- Unable to create an account
- Unable to use browse or genre tabs
Requested features
4 requests- Favorites list functionality
- Customizable playback speed options (more granular control)
- Improved browsing and genre discovery
- More international book selection (UK, Australia, NZ, Canada)
In-app purchases
Freading
No in-app purchases
Blackstone Unlimited
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Freading free?
Is Blackstone Unlimited free?
Which has better reviews, Freading or Blackstone Unlimited?
Do Freading or Blackstone Unlimited have ads?
Which is updated more often, Freading or Blackstone Unlimited?
Other comparisons
