# Chicago Public Library vs DC Public Library

The clearest difference is rating: DC Public Library at 4.2 against Chicago Public Library's 3.5. Chicago Public Library's advantage is review sentiment (32% vs 18%) and ratings volume (64 vs 19). 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.

DC Public Library holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 19 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 32% of Chicago Public Library's written reviews are positive against 18% of DC Public Library's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chicago Public Library | DC Public Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chicago-public-library/id742936884/reviews) | **[4.2 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dc-public-library/id1003829295/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **64** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | **31.9% of reviews** | 17.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 22 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [City of Chicago](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441580122) | [District of Columbia Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/301077853) |

## What reviewers say

### Chicago Public Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chicago-public-library/id742936884)

Manage your library account, search the catalog, and discover new titles. Track borrowed items, place holds, and find events. Use your digital library card for in-person checkouts.

**Highlights:** Manage checked out items, Place holds on materials, Renew borrowed items, Search library catalog, Track reading history, Browse new titles, Find library events

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and helpful app
- 📚 Love the library and audiobook features
- ✨ Pretty good app for a government agency
- ✅ Easy to reserve books and see waitlist
- 🚀 Seamless public library experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constantly logging out
- 🐛 Cannot log back in
- 🐛 App not opening
- 🐛 Takes user out of audiobook browser
- 🐛 Confusing ebook download process

**Reported bugs**

- App is CONSTANTLY having issues
- Logs me out and I can’t get back in
- Often miss holds due to no notifications
- Repeatedly logged out, or can’t log in at all
- Not opening since 4/2/2024

**Requested features**

- Add notifications for holds
- Add library card to Apple Wallet
- Improve audiobook browser experience
- Provide direct download links for ebooks
- Display library alerts prominently


### DC Public Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dc-public-library/id1003829295)

Access a vast collection of books, DVDs, and digital media from your local library. Manage your account, place holds, and discover nearby branches and events.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Manage library account, Place and cancel holds, Renew checked-out items, Find nearest library branch, Access digital library resources, Browse library events

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chicago Public Library free?

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

### Is DC Public Library free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chicago Public Library or DC Public Library?

DC Public Library is rated higher. Chicago Public Library averages 3.5 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while DC Public Library averages 4.2 from 19 ratings.

### Do Chicago Public Library or DC Public Library have ads?

Neither Chicago Public Library nor DC Public Library shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chicago Public Library or DC Public Library?

Chicago Public Library ships an update every 2 months, and DC Public Library every 2 months. Most recently, Chicago Public Library was updated on October 23, 2026 and DC Public Library on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*