# BorrowBox vs Commonshelf

The clearest difference is update cadence: Commonshelf at every 2 days against BorrowBox's every 6 days. Commonshelf also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). BorrowBox's advantage is chart position (#92 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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, Commonshelf every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BorrowBox | Commonshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (876 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrowbox/id562843562/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **876** | — |
| Positive reviews | 76.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#92** | — |
| Size | 165 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Bolinda digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/562843565) | [Vijetha Adhimulam](https://appshunter.io/developer/6803621726) |

## What reviewers say

### BorrowBox

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

**Currently charting:** #92 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


### Commonshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/commonshelf/id6803621724)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BorrowBox free?

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

### Is Commonshelf free?

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

### Do BorrowBox or Commonshelf have ads?

Neither BorrowBox nor Commonshelf shows ads.

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

BorrowBox ships an update every 6 days, and Commonshelf every 2 days. Most recently, BorrowBox was updated on October 31, 2026 and Commonshelf on October 29, 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.*