# Freading vs Libraries Online

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freading | Libraries Online |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freading/id485015785/reviews) | **[4.9 (139 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libraries-online/id6739070221/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 139 |
| Positive reviews | 16.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 20 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Library Ideas, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/485015788) | [Capira Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1010559443) |

## 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


### Libraries Online

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libraries-online/id6739070221)

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.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Reserve items, Manage library account, Access online resources

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freading free?

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

### Is Libraries Online free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Freading or Libraries Online?

Libraries Online is rated higher. Freading averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while Libraries Online averages 4.9 from 139 ratings.

### Do Freading or Libraries Online have ads?

Neither Freading nor Libraries Online shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Freading or Libraries Online?

Freading ships an update every 9 months, and Libraries Online every 3 weeks. Most recently, Freading was updated on September 23, 2026 and Libraries Online 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.*