# LibriVox Audiobooks vs Libby, the library app

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 (4.6M vs 33K). On price, rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

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.

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 4.6M 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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | LibriVox Audiobooks | Libby, the library app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librivox-audiobooks/id596159212/reviews) | **[4.9 (4.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 33K | **4.6M** |
| Positive reviews | 73.9% of reviews | **83.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #98 | **#3** |
| Size | 91 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [BookDesign LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/596159215) | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) |

## What reviewers say

### LibriVox Audiobooks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librivox-audiobooks/id596159212)

**Currently charting:** #98 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Ad-Free | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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)


## Frequently asked 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 4.6M 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 #98 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*