# The Garden Guide vs HP Library

The Garden Guide and HP Library both sit at 3.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 64% of The Garden Guide's written reviews are positive against 33% of HP Library's. The Garden Guide also leads on ratings volume (13 vs 3). HP Library's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.6 for The Garden Guide against 3.7 for HP Library. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 3 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of The Garden Guide's written reviews are positive against 33% of HP Library's.

The Garden Guide ships an update every 7 months, HP Library every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Garden Guide | HP Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-garden-guide/id566331679/reviews) | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hp-library/id1528215821/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **64.3% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 36 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Chicago Horticultural Society](https://appshunter.io/developer/566331682) | [City of Highland Park Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/1528215823) |

## What reviewers say

### The Garden Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-garden-guide/id566331679)

Explore the Chicago Botanic Garden with this app. Discover plants, find your way around, and learn about the garden's features through tours and audio guides. It's a helpful companion for both visitors and home gardeners.

**Highlights:** Navigate 385 acres and 26 gardens, Discover plant information by name, color, or characteristics, Access walking tours and audio guides, Pin favorite locations, Track seasonal blooms, Personal garden docent

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### HP Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hp-library/id1528215821)

Access your local library's catalog to search for books, movies, and digital content. Manage your account, renew items, and register for events directly from your device.

**Highlights:** Search catalog for books and movies, Reserve new releases, Manage library account, Renew borrowed items, Access digital content (eBooks, eAudiobooks), Register for library events, Use eCard for on-site checkouts

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Garden Guide free?

The Garden Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HP Library free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Garden Guide or HP Library?

HP Library is rated higher. The Garden Guide averages 3.6 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while HP Library averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do The Garden Guide or HP Library have ads?

Neither The Garden Guide nor HP Library shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Garden Guide or HP Library?

The Garden Guide ships an update every 7 months, and HP Library every 9 months. Most recently, The Garden Guide was updated on September 14, 2026 and HP Library on September 19, 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.*