# BorrowBox vs Bookshelf.nz

The clearest difference is chart position: BorrowBox at #56 against Bookshelf.nz's unranked. BorrowBox also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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, Bookshelf.nz every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BorrowBox | Bookshelf.nz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (871 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **871** | — |
| Positive reviews | 76.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#56** | — |
| Size | 165 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Bolinda digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/562843565) | [Hayden Searle](https://appshunter.io/developer/6780631325) |

## What reviewers say

### BorrowBox

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

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Free · Magazines & Newspapers, #199 Top Free · Book (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


### Bookshelf.nz

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshelfnz/id6780631323)

**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 Bookshelf.nz free?

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

### Do BorrowBox or Bookshelf.nz have ads?

Neither BorrowBox nor Bookshelf.nz shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BorrowBox or Bookshelf.nz?

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, and Bookshelf.nz every 9 days. Most recently, BorrowBox was updated on October 25, 2026 and Bookshelf.nz on October 14, 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.*