Comparison

BARD Mobile vs CFR 4

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BARD Mobile

Access a vast digital library of audiobooks, electronic braille books, magazines, and music scores. This service is provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled to eligible US residents and citizens abroad who cannot read standard print.

Highlights
  • Tens of thousands of books
  • Current best sellers and classics
  • Popular magazines
  • Music instruction and scores
  • Audio and electronic braille formats
  • New selections added daily
Read full description

CARRY A LIBRARY IN YOUR POCKET Access tens of thousands of books—from current best sellers to much-loved classics, popular magazines, and music instruction and scores—in audio and electronic braille, with new selections added daily. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? BARD Mobile is a service of NLS. NLS provides free audio and braille reading materials to residents of the US and American citizens living abroad who cannot read regular print. If you are blind or have temporary or permanent low vision or a physical or reading disability that prevents you from holding or reading the printed page, you may be eligible for this program. For more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/eligibility-for-nls-services. HOW DO I GET STARTED? This app allows access for eligible users who have enrolled in the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) at the Library of Congress. To enroll, call 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) and follow the prompts to find your state. Or to learn more at https://www.loc.gov/thatallmayread. If you are already an NLS patron, contact your cooperating NLS library to request a BARD account. You can find your library by visiting https://www.loc.gov/nls/find-a-local-library/. SUPPORT For support and help with BARD account issues, or to report bugs, email NLSDownload@loc.gov. For FAQ, visit https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/bard-access/nls-bard-frequently-asked-questions/. For the User Guides: https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/bard-access/bard-mobile-ios-version/

About

CFR 4

Features
Read full description

Download and access Accounts law. Reference built for lawyers, cops, judges, federal, bar exam, state laws for all jurisdictions with an ever-expanding library of laws, statutes, and regulatory information. INCLUDES: - Offline access - Rich full-text search - Light/Dark Mode - Bookmarks - Highlights --------------------------------------- Includes: Chapter I: Government Accountability Office --------------------------------------- Subscriptions are charged to iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions do not automatically renew. Disclaimer: The information that is presented in this app is not intended to replace the official versions and is subject to revisions and should not be considered legal advice. Information may not be the most recent version. Lyker Labs LLC presents this information without warranties or guarantees about the expressed or implied accuracy, and or but not limited to completeness. When necessary, consult official source material. https://getpocketlaw.com/terms

Screenshots

BARD Mobile2 screens
CFR 44 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BARD Mobile at none against CFR 4's 3. BARD Mobile also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 12 months). CFR 4's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CFR 4 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. BARD Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BARD Mobile ships an update every 3 months, CFR 4 every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
BARD Mobile versus CFR 4: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBARD MobileCFR 4
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (203 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings203 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB59 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperLibrary Of CongressLyker Labs LLC

Bugs and requests

BARD Mobile

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Login credentials cannot be decrypted error
  • Device registration failed when logging in from different locations
  • Downloads stuck in queue indefinitely
  • App crashes on iOS 26 and recent iOS versions
  • VoiceOver focus jumping unexpectedly
Show 15 more
  • Braille books display gibberish or won't advance properly
  • Search results disappear when switching apps or receiving calls
  • Playback stops when screen turns off
  • Wireless headset stop button not responding
  • Sleep timer not working correctly
  • Books not syncing across multiple devices
  • Account marked as suspended without reason
  • Password reset functionality broken
  • Airplay 2 compatibility issues
  • Siri commands inconsistent
  • Playback lag and stuttering
  • Books fail to extract after download
  • Recent downloads cannot be cleared
  • Braille display connection issues
  • Tone adjustment button not functioning

Requested features

18 requests
  • Genre and category filtering for book browsing
  • Cross-device synchronization of bookmarks and reading position
  • Equalizer and pitch shifter controls
  • More playback speed options
  • Volume control within the app
Show 13 more
  • Rewind/fast-forward button customization
  • Favorites list feature
  • Book request/suggestion feature
  • Web browser access within the app
  • Braille text display alongside audio
  • Dark mode for reduced brightness
  • Table of contents for short story collections
  • Customizable reading lists
  • Ability to cleanup recent downloads
  • USB flash drive support for storage
  • Better book series organization
  • Faster book addition to library
  • Book sharing feature between patrons

CFR 4

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BARD Mobile

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

CFR 4

One-time3
  • CFR Title 4 Week$4.99
  • CFR Title 4 Month$12.99
  • CFR Title 4 Year$44.99

Questions

Is BARD Mobile free?
BARD Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CFR 4 free?
CFR 4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BARD Mobile or CFR 4 have ads?
Neither BARD Mobile nor CFR 4 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BARD Mobile or CFR 4?
BARD Mobile ships an update every 3 months, and CFR 4 every 12 months. Most recently, BARD Mobile was updated on October 29, 2026 and CFR 4 on October 25, 2026.

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