Comparison

ARC Bookshelf vs Reading Public Library App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ARC Bookshelf

This eReader app provides access to award-winning books designed for young learners. It supports children in Kindergarten and first grade as they develop reading confidence and independence through teacher-vetted content.

Highlights
  • Access to American Reading at Home books
  • Designed for Kindergarten and first-grade levels
  • Gradual removal of reading support
  • Builds reading confidence
  • Independent learning
Read full description

This easy-to-use app gives children the ability to read books from American Reading at Home, the award-winning, school-based program that has been teacher-vetted, parent-approved, and kid-tested in thousands of schools and homes across America. PLEASE NOTE: Requires an American Reading at Home account (for individuals) or SchoolPace subscription (for schools). Our books are specially designed for children learning to read at the Kindergarten and first-grade reading levels. The books work just like training wheels on a bicycle. A child will gain confidence by using books at the “just right” level of challenge; as he/she develops new skills, the “training wheels” are gradually removed. Because so much of the reading support is provided by the actual books, children can do much of the learning on their own. This provides the child with tremendous confidence and a sense of ownership of their own learning. It also makes learning to read fun and enjoyable!

About

Reading Public Library App

Access your local library's digital collection, search the catalog, and manage your account. Store your digital library card, browse events, and find library locations and hours.

Highlights
  • Search library catalog
  • Access digital collection
  • Manage multiple accounts
  • Store digital library card
  • Browse events calendar
  • Find locations and hours
Features
Read full description

With the Reading Public Library Mobile App, you can: · Request, renew, and search for items in the Library catalog · Access our digital collection · Research with our mobile databases · Manage multiple accounts and easily switch between users · Store your digital library card in your device wallet · Browse our events calendar and manage event registrations · Find locations and hours · Connect with us on social media · Reserve rooms and manage reservations · Ask us a question

Screenshots

ARC Bookshelf3 screens
Reading Public Library App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Reading Public Library App at 4.2 against ARC Bookshelf's 3.6. Reading Public Library App also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 34%). ARC Bookshelf's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (38 vs 10). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reading Public Library App holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of ARC Bookshelf's written reviews are positive against 67% of Reading Public Library App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ARC Bookshelf ships an update every 2 months, Reading Public Library App every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ARC Bookshelf versus Reading Public Library App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterARC BookshelfReading Public Library App
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (38 ratings)4.2 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.0% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings38 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAmerican Reading CompanyReading Public Library

Customer experience

ARC Bookshelf

All ratings36 ratings
Positive63.9%
Neutral8.3%
Negative27.8%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive34.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative56.0%

Reading Public Library App

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

ARC Bookshelf

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Cannot make an account
  • Keeps asking to log in
  • Page stuck in two-page model
  • Books do not load
  • App closes and goes home
Show 9 more
  • Login problems occur frequently
  • Server is always down
  • Crashes after first use
  • Keeps crashing
  • Crashing after first use
  • Cannot resize to display full pages
  • Cannot log in
  • Incorrect password messages
  • Cannot contact servers

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more books
  • Add more reading levels
  • Add option to zoom
  • Add themes
  • Add bookmarks
Show 1 more
  • Allow resizing for full pages

Reading Public Library App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ARC Bookshelf

No in-app purchases

None

Reading Public Library App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ARC Bookshelf free?
ARC Bookshelf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reading Public Library App free?
Reading Public Library App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ARC Bookshelf or Reading Public Library App?
Reading Public Library App is rated higher. ARC Bookshelf averages 3.6 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Reading Public Library App averages 4.2 from 10 ratings.
Do ARC Bookshelf or Reading Public Library App have ads?
Neither ARC Bookshelf nor Reading Public Library App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ARC Bookshelf or Reading Public Library App?
ARC Bookshelf ships an update every 2 months, and Reading Public Library App every 5 months. Most recently, ARC Bookshelf was updated on October 23, 2026 and Reading Public Library App on October 3, 2026.

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