# Darien Library vs SWAN Libraries +

The clearest difference is rating: Darien Library at 5.0 against SWAN Libraries +'s 1.8. SWAN Libraries +'s advantage is ratings volume (75 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.

Darien Library holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SWAN Libraries + has 75 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Darien Library ships an update every 5 weeks, SWAN Libraries + monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Darien Library | SWAN Libraries + |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darien-library/id6447994728/reviews)** | [1.8 (75 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swan-libraries-plus/id6473793650/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **75** |
| Positive reviews | — | 13.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 56 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Darien Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/662973254) | [System Wide Automated Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/1472754657) |

## What reviewers say

### Darien Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darien-library/id6447994728)

Access a vast collection of books, audiobooks, movies, and more from your local library. Search the catalog, place holds, and borrow digital items instantly. New content is added weekly, offering endless entertainment and learning opportunities.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Place and manage holds, Borrow digital items, Access online learning resources, Manage family borrowing, View borrowing history

**In-app purchases:** none


### SWAN Libraries +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swan-libraries-plus/id6473793650)

Access your library account, search a vast catalog, and manage holds and renewals. Download ebooks and audiobooks directly to your device. This app connects you to a consortium of public, academic, school, and special libraries in the Chicagoland area.

**Highlights:** Manage library account, Search library catalog, Renew items, Place holds, Download ebooks, Download audiobooks

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to look up books
- 👍 Can place holds easily
- 👍 Can see checked out books
- 👍 Get notified for pick up
- 👍 Digital library card available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Constantly logs out users
- 🐛 Slow loading times
- 🐛 Filters do not work
- 🐛 Discover section is blank

**Reported bugs**

- Category toggles are tricky and don't reflect changes immediately
- Pick up location changes don't seem to stick
- App logs users out constantly
- Discover section is blank, new content doesn't appear
- Filters to search for items no longer work

**Requested features**

- Fix the issue of being logged out every session
- Improve category toggles and make changes stick
- Fix discover section to show new content
- Make filters work correctly
- Add app support to website


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Darien Library free?

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

### Is SWAN Libraries + free?

SWAN Libraries + is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Darien Library or SWAN Libraries +?

Darien Library is rated higher. Darien Library averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while SWAN Libraries + averages 1.8 from 75 ratings.

### Do Darien Library or SWAN Libraries + have ads?

Neither Darien Library nor SWAN Libraries + shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Darien Library or SWAN Libraries +?

Darien Library ships an update every 5 weeks, and SWAN Libraries + monthly. Most recently, Darien Library was updated on October 24, 2026 and SWAN Libraries + on October 22, 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.*