# The Playground App vs Mid

The clearest difference is rating: Mid at 5.0 against The Playground App's 4.3. Mid also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). The Playground App's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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.

Mid holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

The Playground App ships an update every 8 days, Mid monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Playground App | Mid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-playground-app/id6504211925/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mid-hudson-libraries/id6738960393/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 86 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Kathleen Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573994212) | [Mid-Hudson Library System](https://appshunter.io/developer/1770320161) |

## What reviewers say

### The Playground App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-playground-app/id6504211925)

Discover parks and playgrounds globally with a vast database of nearly one million locations. This app offers satellite and map views, smart filters for amenities, and directions. Track visits, earn badges, and share discoveries with friends and family.

**Highlights:** Nearly 1 million playgrounds globally, No account required, Satellite & map views, Smart filters for amenities, Get directions, Favorites & visited tracking, Earn badges and achievements

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mid

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mid-hudson-libraries/id6738960393)

Manage your library account, search the catalog, and borrow digital content like eBooks and eAudiobooks. Discover library events, get directions, and receive important notifications.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Manage account, Download eBooks and eAudiobooks, Place holds, Find library events and hours, Store multiple library cards

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Playground App free?

The Playground App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mid free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Playground App or Mid?

Mid is rated higher. The Playground App averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Mid averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do The Playground App or Mid have ads?

The Playground App shows ads; Mid does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Playground App or Mid?

The Playground App ships an update every 8 days, and Mid monthly. Most recently, The Playground App was updated on October 18, 2026 and Mid on October 9, 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.*