Comparison

BorrowBox vs Design Central UK

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BorrowBox

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
Read full description

Discover the Ultimate Library Experience – Borrow eAudiobooks, eBooks, eMagazines, and eNewspapers – All in One Place. With BorrowBox, browsing, borrowing, reading, or listening has never been simpler. Take your library with you, wherever you go, whenever you want. If your local library offers BorrowBox, simply sign in with your membership details to unlock a world of digital reading and listening. ALL YOUR LIBRARY FAVOURITES, ONE APP Explore eAudiobooks, eBooks, eMagazines, and eNewspapers – all the formats your library offers, all in one place. EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE Read or listen to your borrowed titles directly in the app. No extra downloads, no extra steps. MADE FOR YOU Enjoy curated collections and themes that make discovering your next read and listen a breeze. BROWSE IN ANY LANGUAGE Our Language Browsing feature makes it simple to find content in multiple languages, tailored for different audiences. NEVER MISS A RELEASE Subscribe to your favourite eMagazines or eNewspapers, and they’ll be borrowed and downloaded automatically as new issues arrive. STAY IN SYNC Your reading and listening progress seamlessly follows you across all your devices. TAILORED TO YOU Set a sleep timer for your eAudiobooks, add your favourites to your reading lists, and adjust playback speed to suit your listening style.

About

Design Central UK

Features
Read full description

Download the app now and unlock all these great benefits: • Current Collections - Learn the latest trends first-hand and stay ahead of the game. • Craft your dream list of top suppliers! Save and access your favourite picks effortlessly for a truly personalised experience. • Immerse yourself in inspiring Talk Space seminars and workshops that will inform and fire your imagination. • Take snapshots of your favourite designs to create your own gallery of inspiration! • Unleash the power of collaboration! Connect with suppliers and plan your latest design projects. Design Central UK run Luxury Interiors Trade Shows throughout the design calendar. Our expertly curated regional events bring big name brands to our interior design specialists’ doorstep. Embark on a journey of opulence and design brilliance across the interior design calendar. Experience our South West spectacle in March, the grandeur of Design Central Essex in April, and the pinnacle of luxury at our flagship event, Design Central North West, every September. Join with us to celebrate excellence in interior design and unleash your creative brilliance. Our trade only shows are created specifically for the interiors market both residential and commercial. This includes interior designers, interior specialists, interior design bloggers and influencers, master craftsmen, curtain and blind makers, flooring specialists, yacht and hotel specifiers and interior retailers.

Screenshots

BorrowBox4 screens
Design Central UK4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: BorrowBox at none against Design Central UK's shown. BorrowBox also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 14 months) and chart position (#93 vs unranked). Design Central UK's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, Design Central UK every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
BorrowBox versus Design Central UK: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBorrowBoxDesign Central UK
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (865 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews76.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings865 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#93 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size165 MB45 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBolinda digitalCBM Design Central Ltd

Bugs and requests

BorrowBox

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

Design Central UK

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BorrowBox

No in-app purchases

None

Design Central UK

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BorrowBox free?
BorrowBox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Design Central UK free?
Design Central UK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BorrowBox or Design Central UK have ads?
Design Central UK shows ads; BorrowBox does not.
Which is updated more often, BorrowBox or Design Central UK?
BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, and Design Central UK every 14 months. Most recently, BorrowBox was updated on October 20, 2026 and Design Central UK on October 10, 2026.

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