# BorrowBox vs NLB Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: BorrowBox at 4.7 against NLB Mobile's 3.3. BorrowBox also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 41%) and update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). NLB Mobile's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). 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.

BorrowBox holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BorrowBox has 865 ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of BorrowBox's written reviews are positive against 41% of NLB Mobile's.

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, NLB Mobile monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BorrowBox | NLB Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (865 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562/reviews)** | [3.3 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nlb-mobile/id1147053983/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **865** | 35 |
| Positive reviews | **76.6% of reviews** | 41.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#96** | — |
| Size | 165 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bolinda digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/562843565) | [National Library Board Singapore](https://appshunter.io/developer/411883166) |

## What reviewers say

### BorrowBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562)

**Currently charting:** #96 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers (US App Store)

Access a vast digital library of eAudiobooks, eBooks, eMagazines, and eNewspapers from your local library. Browse, borrow, and enjoy content on any device with seamless syncing and personalized features.

**Highlights:** Borrow eAudiobooks, eBooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers, All library formats in one app, Read and listen directly in the app, Curated collections and themes, Multi-language browsing, Automatic new issue downloads, Cross-device syncing, Adjustable playback speed and sleep timer

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient access to books
- 💡 Free service through local library
- 🎧 Great for audiobooks
- 📚 Wide selection of books

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Long wait times for popular books
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🔖 Lack of bookmark/progress tracking features
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🐛 App crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after recent update
- Loses reading progress when switching devices
- Night mode issues with invisible text
- Audiobook controls not working with Bluetooth
- Inconsistent behavior when using sleep timer

**Requested features**

- Add a wishlist or reading list feature
- Improve search and filtering capabilities
- Implement bookmark/progress tracking for audiobooks
- Integrate with Apple CarPlay for safer driving
- Add user reviews and ratings for books


### NLB Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nlb-mobile/id1147053983)

Access a vast collection of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and newspapers. Borrow physical items, take online courses, and manage your library account and family's accounts easily. Discover new digital resources and log in securely with QR Login.

**Highlights:** Read ebooks and audiobooks, Access eMagazines and eNewspapers, Take online courses, Borrow physical library items, Manage library accounts, QR Login for easy sign-in

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BorrowBox free?

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

### Is NLB Mobile free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BorrowBox or NLB Mobile?

BorrowBox is rated higher. BorrowBox averages 4.7 out of 5 from 865 ratings, while NLB Mobile averages 3.3 from 35 ratings.

### Do BorrowBox or NLB Mobile have ads?

Neither BorrowBox nor NLB Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BorrowBox or NLB Mobile?

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, and NLB Mobile monthly. Most recently, BorrowBox was updated on October 20, 2026 and NLB Mobile on October 17, 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.*