# BorrowBox vs TBR

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BorrowBox at none against TBR's 10. BorrowBox also leads on ads (none vs shown). TBR's advantage is ratings volume (4.4K vs 876). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TBR sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. BorrowBox asks for nothing beyond the download.

BorrowBox holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TBR has 4.4K ratings behind it against 876, 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 71% of TBR's.

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, TBR weekly. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BorrowBox | TBR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (876 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562/reviews)** | [4.5 (4.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tbr-bookshelf/id1614891654/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 876 | **4.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **76.6% of reviews** | 70.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #93 | **#39** |
| Size | 165 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Bolinda digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/562843565) | [TBR - Bookshelf, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559382569) |

## What reviewers say

### BorrowBox

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

**Currently charting:** #93 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


### TBR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tbr-bookshelf/id1614891654)

**Currently charting:** #39 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #85 Top Grossing · Magazines & Newspapers, #144 Top Grossing · Book, #149 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Easily track books you want to read, are currently reading, or have finished. Rate and review books, log favorite moments, and discover new reads. Set yearly reading goals and celebrate milestones with fun animations.

**Highlights:** Track books (to-read, reading, finished), Rate and review books, Log favorite moments and quotes, Browse public ratings and genre-specific insights, Set custom yearly reading goals, Earn achievement stickers, Pro features: tropes, playlists, adaptations

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Access | $5.99 | per month |
| Pro Access | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Pro Access | $39.99 | per year |
| 1500 Gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| 4500 Gems | $5.99 | one-time |
| 20,000 Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gift 6 Months | $19.99 | one-time |
| Gift 1 Year of Pro | $29.99 | one-time |
| Gift Lifetime Pro | $119.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Purchase | $179.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Cute and visually appealing
- 📚 Helpful for tracking reading progress
- 🌟 Unique rating system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 No account/sync option to prevent data loss
- 💰 Too many features locked behind paywall
- 🔍 Limited book database, hard to find some titles

**Reported bugs**

- Books disappearing from shelves
- Inability to edit read dates
- Search function not working properly
- Crashing when trying to access certain features

**Requested features**

- Ability to organize books by series
- Option to view other users' reviews and ratings
- Customizable bookshelves and themes
- Sync across multiple devices
- More genre/category options for ratings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BorrowBox free?

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

### Is TBR free?

TBR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BorrowBox or TBR?

BorrowBox is rated higher. BorrowBox averages 4.7 out of 5 from 876 ratings, while TBR averages 4.5 from 4.4K ratings.

### Do BorrowBox or TBR have ads?

TBR shows ads; BorrowBox does not.

### Which is updated more often, BorrowBox or TBR?

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, and TBR weekly. Most recently, BorrowBox was updated on November 1, 2026 and TBR on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, BorrowBox or TBR?

BorrowBox currently peaks at #93 in the App Store charts, and TBR at #39. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*