# BorrowBox vs illumiBook

The clearest difference is review sentiment: illumiBook at 100% against BorrowBox's 77%. illumiBook also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). BorrowBox's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks) and chart position (#102 vs unranked). 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 ships an update every 6 days, illumiBook every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BorrowBox | illumiBook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (865 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **865** | — |
| Positive reviews | 76.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#102** | — |
| Size | 165 MB | 30 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) | [AppSherpas Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/343714976) |

## What reviewers say

### BorrowBox

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

**Currently charting:** #102 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


### illumiBook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illumibook/id6446170255)

This app enhances the reading experience by blending physical books with digital media, aiding literacy development and comprehension. It offers synchronized reading features and supports museum and gallery tours, making digital devices complementary to real-world exploration.

**Highlights:** Synchronized audio-assisted reading, Enhanced comprehension with physical books, Digital media integration with printed pages, Literacy support for young children, Museum, gallery, and street tours, Focus on real-world engagement

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BorrowBox free?

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

### Is illumiBook free?

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

### Do BorrowBox or illumiBook have ads?

Neither BorrowBox nor illumiBook shows ads.

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

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, and illumiBook every 3 weeks. Most recently, BorrowBox was updated on October 17, 2026 and illumiBook on October 2, 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.*