Comparison

LibriVox Audiobooks vs Libby, the library app

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

Head to head
About

LibriVox Audiobooks

Access a vast library of over 45,000 free audiobooks, including classics and bestsellers in over 30 languages. Stream or download titles for offline listening, and organize your favorites into collections.

Highlights
  • Unlimited audiobook access
  • 45,000+ free titles
  • Stream or download
  • Offline listening
  • Browse by author, narrator, genre
  • CarPlay support
  • Sleep timer
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Discover over 45,000 free audiobooks, from beloved classics to hidden treasures. Stream instantly or download to listen offline. Explore stories, history, poetry, and more in over 30 languages. Find Your Next Great Book • Rediscover Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes, and other enduring favorites • Browse by author, narrator, or genre • Explore fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and lesser-known gems • Create and explore collections of books you love Listen Wherever Life Takes You • Download audiobooks for travel and offline listening • Take your favorite books on the road with CarPlay • Unwind at bedtime with the sleep timer • Save memorable moments with bookmarks • Pick up where you left off A Library Made Possible by Volunteers LibriVox volunteers bring public-domain books to life, sharing their love of literature through free recordings. Discover different voices, explore new perspectives, and enjoy a growing library of audiobooks—all free to listen to. Your next great book is waiting.

About

Libby, the library app

Access millions of free ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. Borrow titles instantly with your library card, download for offline enjoyment, and enjoy a customizable reading and listening experience.

Highlights
  • Borrow ebooks and audiobooks
  • Download for offline access
  • Send ebooks to Kindle
  • Adjust reader settings
  • Customize audio player
  • Create book lists
Currently charting
Read full description

Libby connects you to your local library’s collection of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more. With just your library card, you can instantly read or listen to books on your phone or tablet — for free, thanks to your public library! Browse and borrow everything from timeless classics to the latest New York Times bestsellers, and enjoy your next great read anytime, anywhere. What You Can Do with Libby - Browse your library’s digital catalog of books - Borrow and enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines - Send ebooks to your Kindle (U.S. libraries only) - Listen to audiobooks through Apple CarPlay - Download titles for offline reading, or stream them to save space - Use tags to create to-be--read lists or organize your favorite titles - Keep your reading position with automatic syncing across all your devices A Beautiful Reading Experience Enjoy a seamless reading experience with Libby’s elegant, easy-to-use ebook reader: - Adjust text size, background color, and book design to fit your preferences - Zoom into magazines, comics, and graphic novels - Define and search for words or phrases instantly - Read and listen to interactive read-alongs with your kids - Add bookmarks, notes, and highlights to personalize your reading An Immersive Audiobook Player Libby’s audiobook player makes listening effortless and enjoyable: - Slow down or speed up playback (0.6x to 3.0x) - Set a sleep timer for nighttime listening - Swipe easily to skip forward or backward - Add bookmarks, notes, and highlights as you listen Read Anywhere, Anytime Libby is designed for everyone, including kids, teens, and adults. Whether you’re exploring new stories, catching up on bestsellers, or revisiting your favorite books, Libby keeps reading simple, fun, and accessible. Built by OverDrive, Libby proudly supports public libraries and the joy of reading for all. Download Libby today and turn your device into your personal library.

Screenshots

LibriVox Audiobooks4 screens
Libby, the library app4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Libby, the library app at none against LibriVox Audiobooks's 3. Libby, the library app also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (4.5M vs 33K). On price, rating, update cadence 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. LibriVox Audiobooks sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Libby, the library app asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for LibriVox Audiobooks against 4.9 for Libby, the library app. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Libby, the library app has 4.5M ratings behind it against 33K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of LibriVox Audiobooks's written reviews are positive against 84% of Libby, the library app's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LibriVox Audiobooks ships an update every 3 weeks, Libby, the library app monthly. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
LibriVox Audiobooks versus Libby, the library app: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLibriVox AudiobooksLibby, the library app
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (33K ratings)4.9 (4.5M ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.9% of reviews83.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings33K4.5M — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#95#3 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB5 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperBookDesign LLCOverDrive, Inc.

Customer experience

LibriVox Audiobooks

All ratings32,990 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral2.5%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews779 reviews
Positive73.9%
Neutral9.1%
Negative16.9%

Libby, the library app

All ratings4,537,350 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews10,333 reviews
Positive83.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative11.4%

User reviews

LibriVox Audiobooks

From 33K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Lots of free public domain books
  • 👍 Convenient for listening while doing other tasks
  • 👍 Helpful for language learners and students
  • 👍 Variety of readers and book genres
  • 👍 Offline listening available

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Playback issues like crashing, stopping, and restarting
  • 🔊 Loud and disruptive ads between chapters
  • 🔍 Incomplete search and discovery of available books
  • 🔧 Buggy app updates causing problems
  • 🔀 Difficulty keeping track of progress in books

Libby, the library app

From 4.5M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📚 Extensive library of books and audiobooks
  • 🔍 Convenient search and browsing features
  • 🔖 Easy to manage holds and returns
  • 🔄 Seamless syncing across devices
  • 🕰️ Automatic returns to avoid late fees

Room to improve

  • 🕰️ Long wait times for popular titles
  • 🔍 Confusing search and filtering options
  • 🤯 Buggy and unstable performance
  • 🔒 Lack of offline reading/listening
  • 📚 Limited selection in some genres

Bugs and requests

LibriVox Audiobooks

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Playback stops unexpectedly
  • App crashes when trying to listen to certain books
  • Progress is lost when switching between books
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices and OS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add a sleep timer feature
  • Improve the playback progress display
  • Provide an option to disable ads
  • Enhance the search and browsing experience
  • Add support for bookmarking and resuming books

Libby, the library app

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Issues with downloading and syncing content
  • Unreliable playback controls for audiobooks
  • Inconsistent behavior when placing holds
  • Disappearing reading history and bookmarks

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to search across multiple libraries
  • Custom reading/listening speed controls
  • Improved recommendation and discovery tools
  • Option to purchase unavailable titles
  • Customizable reading experience (fonts, themes)
Show 1 more
  • Integration with other e-book/audiobook services

In-app purchases

3 purchases

LibriVox Audiobooks

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Ad-Free$24.99
None

Libby, the library app

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LibriVox Audiobooks free?
LibriVox Audiobooks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Libby, the library app free?
Libby, the library app is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, LibriVox Audiobooks or Libby, the library app?
Libby, the library app is rated higher. LibriVox Audiobooks averages 4.8 out of 5 from 33K ratings, while Libby, the library app averages 4.9 from 4.5M ratings.
Do LibriVox Audiobooks or Libby, the library app have ads?
LibriVox Audiobooks shows ads; Libby, the library app does not.
Which is updated more often, LibriVox Audiobooks or Libby, the library app?
LibriVox Audiobooks ships an update every 3 weeks, and Libby, the library app monthly. Most recently, LibriVox Audiobooks was updated on October 20, 2026 and Libby, the library app on October 20, 2026.
Which is more popular, LibriVox Audiobooks or Libby, the library app?
LibriVox Audiobooks currently peaks at #95 in the App Store charts, and Libby, the library app at #3. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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