# Bookshop.org vs BKLYN Library

The clearest difference is rating: Bookshop.org at 4.8 against BKLYN Library's 4.2. Bookshop.org also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 104). On price, review sentiment, 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.

Bookshop.org holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshop.org has 2.3K ratings behind it against 104, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of Bookshop.org's written reviews are positive against 61% of BKLYN Library's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Bookshop.org ships an update every 5 days, BKLYN Library every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bookshop.org | BKLYN Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshoporg-ebook-reader/id6465290096/reviews)** | [4.2 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bklyn-library/id6714283658/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.3K** | 104 |
| Positive reviews | 56.7% of reviews | **61.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#183** | #193 |
| Size | 111 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bookshop, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1706515971) | [Brooklyn Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/1159769406) |

## What reviewers say

### Bookshop.org

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshoporg-ebook-reader/id6465290096)

**Currently charting:** #183 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Read your ebooks and discover new titles while supporting independent bookstores. All ebook purchases made through this platform directly benefit local bookshops, ensuring their continued success in the digital age.

**Highlights:** Read ebooks from your library, Browse millions of ebooks, Add titles to wishlist, Support local bookstores with purchases, Connect seamlessly with Bookshop

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Wonderful app
- 👍 Great alternative to Amazon
- 👍 Supports local bookstores
- 👍 Clean and pleasing interface
- 👍 Solid app for a new release

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Formatting issues (lack of italics, poor paragraph spacing, etc.)
- 🐛 Buggy page turning and navigation
- 🔧 Limited customization options (fonts, themes, brightness, etc.)
- 🔧 Missing essential features (highlighting, note-taking, search, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to remember last page read
- Scrolling issues and unexpected page skipping
- Formatting problems (stripped italics, weird paragraph spacing)
- Settings not persisting between app sessions

**Requested features**

- More font and theme options
- Ability to adjust line spacing, margins, and other formatting
- Implement highlighting, annotation, and note-taking features
- Add search functionality
- Improve page turning and navigation


### BKLYN Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bklyn-library/id6714283658)

**Currently charting:** #193 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access and manage your library account from your mobile device. Browse physical and digital collections, manage checkouts and holds, and utilize mobile checkout features. The app also supports managing multiple library cards.

**Highlights:** Browse physical and digital collections, Manage checkouts and holds, Mobile checkout, Manage multiple library cards, Create booklists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Efficient mobile checkout
- 💡 Scan ISBN barcode to find books
- 💡 Digital library card
- 👍 Great for placing holds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🐛 App becomes slow and unusable
- 🐛 Requires frequent re-downloads
- 🐛 Blank screen or loading issues
- 🐛 Books disappear from checkouts/holds

**Reported bugs**

- App broken, page blank, books overdue
- App stops working after a while, needs re-download
- Mobile checkout involves buffering
- Constantly signing out, need to re-enter details
- Added accounts disappear after re-login

**Requested features**

- Bring back location finder with hours
- Keep users logged in
- Improve branch hours/closures display
- Allow offline access to library card


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bookshop.org free?

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

### Is BKLYN Library free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bookshop.org or BKLYN Library?

Bookshop.org is rated higher. Bookshop.org averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while BKLYN Library averages 4.2 from 104 ratings.

### Do Bookshop.org or BKLYN Library have ads?

Neither Bookshop.org nor BKLYN Library shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bookshop.org or BKLYN Library?

Bookshop.org ships an update every 5 days, and BKLYN Library every 5 months. Most recently, Bookshop.org was updated on October 30, 2026 and BKLYN Library on October 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Bookshop.org or BKLYN Library?

Bookshop.org currently peaks at #183 in the App Store charts, and BKLYN Library at #193. 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.*