# BPL To Go vs CW MARS Libraries

The clearest difference is rating: BPL To Go at 4.1 against CW MARS Libraries's 3.8. CW MARS Libraries's advantage is review sentiment (56% vs 33%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

BPL To Go holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 26 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of BPL To Go's written reviews are positive against 56% of CW MARS Libraries's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

BPL To Go ships an update every 3 months, CW MARS Libraries every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BPL To Go | CW MARS Libraries |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bpl-to-go/id663924446/reviews)** | [3.8 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cw-mars-libraries/id1434646418/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **56.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 22 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON](https://appshunter.io/developer/1485296142) | [Kenneth Cox](https://appshunter.io/developer/1400443993) |

## What reviewers say

### BPL To Go

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bpl-to-go/id663924446)

Easily manage your Boston Public Library account on the go. Search the catalog, check item availability and due dates, renew items, and discover events and branch information.

**Highlights:** Search and filter catalog, Manage account and due dates, Renew items, Check holds, Download ebooks and audiobooks, Browse new arrivals and reviews, Find branch hours and events

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### CW MARS Libraries

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cw-mars-libraries/id1434646418)

Access the shared catalog of libraries across Central and Western Massachusetts. Requires a library card and password from a participating CW MARS member library to use.

**Highlights:** Access shared library catalog, Search for books and materials, Manage library account, Find participating libraries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BPL To Go free?

BPL To Go is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CW MARS Libraries free?

CW MARS Libraries is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BPL To Go or CW MARS Libraries?

BPL To Go is rated higher. BPL To Go averages 4.1 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while CW MARS Libraries averages 3.8 from 26 ratings.

### Do BPL To Go or CW MARS Libraries have ads?

Neither BPL To Go nor CW MARS Libraries shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BPL To Go or CW MARS Libraries?

BPL To Go ships an update every 3 months, and CW MARS Libraries every 4 months. Most recently, BPL To Go was updated on September 9, 2026 and CW MARS Libraries on June 3, 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.*