Freading vs Libraries Online
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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.
Libraries Online
Access your library's digital catalog to search for books, reserve items, and manage your account on the go. Explore a wide range of online resources directly from your mobile device.
- Search library catalog
- Reserve items
- Manage library account
- Access online resources
Read full descriptionHide full description
Take Libraries Online everywhere you go! -Search the catalog and reserve items -Manage your library account -Access online resources and much more!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Libraries Online at 100% against Freading's 16%. Libraries Online also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Freading's advantage is ratings volume (2.8K vs 139) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). 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.
Libraries Online holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freading has 2.8K ratings behind it against 139, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of Freading's written reviews are positive against 100% of Libraries Online's.
Freading ships an update every 9 months, Libraries Online every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Freading | Libraries Online |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (2.8K ratings) | 4.9 (139 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 16.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.8K — better | 139 |
| 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, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Library Ideas, LLC | Capira Technologies |
Customer experience
Freading
Libraries Online
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
Libraries Online
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Freading
No in-app purchases
Libraries Online
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Freading free?
Is Libraries Online free?
Which has better reviews, Freading or Libraries Online?
Do Freading or Libraries Online have ads?
Which is updated more often, Freading or Libraries Online?
Other comparisons
