SMPL Mobile vs LA County Library
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SMPL Mobile
Access your local public library's collection from your phone. Search for books, e-books, and audiobooks, manage your account, check due dates, and find branch information.
- Search and discover titles
- Manage library account
- Check due dates and renew
- Find e-books and audiobooks
- Browse bestsellers and new arrivals
- Check branch hours and directions
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Keep your favorite public library in your pocket! SMPL Mobile makes it easy to find and discover titles, manage your account, and get the branch and availability information you need, anytime and anywhere. Features: • Quickly search, with filters to help you zero-in on what you want • Get descriptions and community reviews for titles • Save titles to your ‘For Later’ list • Check availability – and map the locations where your title is available now • Instantly check your due dates and renew • Check if your holds are ready • Find and download e-books and audiobooks • Browse bestsellers, new arrivals, and recent reviews • Rate titles with one touch • Check branch hours or get directions to the nearest branch of Santa Monica Public Library
LA County Library
Access a vast collection of books, movies, and music from your local library. Manage your account, place holds, find branches, and discover upcoming events.
- Search catalog
- Place holds
- Manage account
- Find locations
- Reserve study rooms
- View events
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Take LA County Library with you wherever you go! Search our catalog, place holds, manage your account, find a location near you, reserve a study room, view our upcoming events, and more!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: LA County Library at 30% against SMPL Mobile's 0%. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.
SMPL Mobile ships an update every 4 months, LA County Library every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SMPL Mobile | LA County Library |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.1 (78 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 30.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 78 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Santa Monica Public Library | LA County Library |
Customer experience
SMPL Mobile
LA County Library
Bugs and requests
SMPL Mobile
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
LA County Library
Reported bugs
17 issues- 🐛 Screen zooms in during search, making app unusable
- 🐛 Search results page won't scroll down
- 🐛 Tapping on a title loads forever
- 🐛 'Find a copy' button instead of 'Place a hold'
- 🐛 App unable to connect to server
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- 🐛 Linked accounts not retained when app is closed
- 🐛 Unhandled exception: class Java.lang.nullpointerexception on login
- 🐛 Errors out when trying to add library card to Apple Wallet
- 🐛 Search for 'Mifi' or 'Hotspot' doesn't show results, but website does
- 🐛 Cannot log in, credentials not recognized
- 🐛 Constantly logs out and shows incorrect credentials
- 🐛 E-card library numbers and pins not working at login
- 🐛 No option to retrieve ebook from holds
- 🐛 Forces music to pause
- 🐛 Cannot scan barcode or log in manually
- 🐛 Linked family accounts not showing checked out books
- 🐛 App glitches and signs out
Requested features
14 requests- 💡 Need a save book function/list
- 💡 Ability to make lists of books
- 💡 Migrate lists from website
- 💡 Add lists feature
- 💡 Ability to change default branch
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- 💡 Isolate search to one branch
- 💡 Add comment or like a book feature
- 💡 Allow people to read reviews
- 💡 Follow/add friends feature
- 💡 Date range for hold wait times
- 💡 Notifications for due dates
- 💡 Renew items all at once
- 💡 Make searches more accessible
- 💡 Add card to Apple Wallet
In-app purchases
SMPL Mobile
No in-app purchases
LA County Library
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SMPL Mobile free?
Is LA County Library free?
Do SMPL Mobile or LA County Library have ads?
Which is updated more often, SMPL Mobile or LA County Library?
Other comparisons
