# BorrowBox vs Open Library Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BorrowBox at 77% against Open Library Reader's 26%. BorrowBox also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). Open Library Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 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 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BorrowBox has 863 ratings behind it against 50, 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 26% of Open Library Reader's.

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, Open Library Reader every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BorrowBox | Open Library Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (863 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562/reviews)** | [3.0 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-library-reader/id1573989409/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **863** | 50 |
| Positive reviews | **76.6% of reviews** | 26.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#96** | — |
| Size | 166 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bolinda digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/562843565) | [Loomis House, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573989411) |

## 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


### Open Library Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-library-reader/id1573989409)

Access and read millions of books from an online library. Organize your reading lists, track borrowed books, and discover related titles within a familiar reading interface. Requires an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Browse and check out millions of books, Track reading progress and wishlists, Built-in search and related title discovery, Shelf management and edition changes, Checkout tracking for borrowed books, Customizable reading interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BorrowBox free?

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

### Is Open Library Reader free?

Open Library Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BorrowBox or Open Library Reader?

BorrowBox is rated higher. BorrowBox averages 4.7 out of 5 from 863 ratings, while Open Library Reader averages 3.0 from 50 ratings.

### Do BorrowBox or Open Library Reader have ads?

Neither BorrowBox nor Open Library Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BorrowBox or Open Library Reader?

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, and Open Library Reader every 2 months. Most recently, BorrowBox was updated on October 12, 2026 and Open Library Reader on October 12, 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.*