Chicago Public Library vs PLS Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chicago Public Library
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.
- Manage checked out items
- Place holds on materials
- Renew borrowed items
- Search library catalog
- Track reading history
- Browse new titles
- Find library events
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Which branch has the book I want? What's available now from my For Later shelf? When are my DVDs due? Use CPL's app to manage your account and find new titles. Features: - See what you have checked out - Place holds - Renew materials - Search the CPL catalog - Keep track of what you've read and would like to read - Browse new and on order titles - Find upcoming events at your preferred location - View hours, locations and contact information - Use the app to show your library card when checking out materials in person - Scan the barcode of a book, DVD or CD to search for it in CPL's catalog
PLS Connect
Access your library's catalog, eBooks, eMagazines, and streaming video content from your mobile device. Manage your account, check out items, and discover popular titles. You can even apply for a library card directly through the app.
- Search library catalog
- Access eBooks and eMagazines
- Stream video content
- Manage library account
- Checkout, renew, and return items
- Digital library card access
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Pioneer Library System Connect makes it quick and easy to access your library on the go, 24/7. Search the library’s catalog, read eBooks and eMagazines, access streaming video content on-demand, manage your account, and find popular titles instantly. All you need is a PLS library card to get started – which you can apply for with the app! Features include: • Search the Pioneer Library System’s full catalog of print and digital materials. • Access eBooks, eMagazines, and streaming video content instantly on your device. • Manage your library account. • Easily checkout, renew, and return items. • Browse collections of hand-picked popular titles. • Access your library card number and barcode digitally. • See the latest in library news and events for your library. Have questions? Connect with a PLS librarian at https://chat.mosio.com/par/chat/new_chat/PLS for assistance.
Screenshots
Verdict
Chicago Public Library and PLS Connect both sit at 3.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 43% of PLS Connect's written reviews are positive against 32% of Chicago Public Library's. Chicago Public Library's advantage is ratings volume (64 vs 18). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.5 for Chicago Public Library against 3.6 for PLS Connect. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 18 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 32% of Chicago Public Library's written reviews are positive against 43% of PLS Connect's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chicago Public Library | PLS Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (64 ratings) | 3.6 (18 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 31.9% of reviews | 42.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 64 — better | 18 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | City of Chicago | Pioneer Library System |
Customer experience
Chicago Public Library
PLS Connect
In-app purchases
Chicago Public Library
No in-app purchases
PLS Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Chicago Public Library free?
Is PLS Connect free?
Which has better reviews, Chicago Public Library or PLS Connect?
Do Chicago Public Library or PLS Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chicago Public Library or PLS Connect?
Other comparisons
