# Biblioteket vs Libby, the library app

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Libby, the library app at 4.6M against Biblioteket's 20. Libby, the library app also leads on chart position (#3 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Biblioteket against 4.9 for Libby, the library app. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Libby, the library app has 4.6M ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Biblioteket ships an update every 5 weeks, Libby, the library app monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Biblioteket | Libby, the library app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biblioteket/id827729275/reviews)** | [4.9 (4.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **4.6M** |
| Positive reviews | — | 83.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#3** |
| Size | 39 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Redia](https://appshunter.io/developer/483560087) | [OverDrive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/366869255) |

## What reviewers say

### Biblioteket

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biblioteket/id827729275)

Access your local library's vast collection of books, films, music, and more. Search, reserve, and manage your loans, including e-books and audiobooks. Discover new materials, events, and library news.

**Highlights:** Search and reserve books, films, music, Access e-books and audiobooks via eReolen, Manage loans and reservations, View library opening hours and events, Find inspiration with featured materials, Read reviews and author portraits

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Libby, the library app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/libby-the-library-app/id1076402606)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access your local library's digital collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines for free. Read or listen on your phone or tablet, download titles for offline use, and personalize your reading experience with customizable settings.

**Highlights:** Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines, Send ebooks to Kindle (US only), Offline reading and listening, Customizable reading experience, Adjustable audiobook playback speed, Sleep timer for audiobooks, Organize titles with tags

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Extensive library of books and audiobooks
- 🔍 Convenient search and browsing features
- 🔖 Easy to manage holds and returns
- 🔄 Seamless syncing across devices
- 🕰️ Automatic returns to avoid late fees

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Long wait times for popular titles
- 🔍 Confusing search and filtering options
- 🤯 Buggy and unstable performance
- 🔒 Lack of offline reading/listening
- 📚 Limited selection in some genres

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Issues with downloading and syncing content
- Unreliable playback controls for audiobooks
- Inconsistent behavior when placing holds
- Disappearing reading history and bookmarks

**Requested features**

- Ability to search across multiple libraries
- Custom reading/listening speed controls
- Improved recommendation and discovery tools
- Option to purchase unavailable titles
- Customizable reading experience (fonts, themes)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Biblioteket free?

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

### Is Libby, the library app free?

Libby, the library app is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Biblioteket or Libby, the library app?

Biblioteket is rated higher. Biblioteket averages 4.9 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Libby, the library app averages 4.9 from 4.6M ratings.

### Do Biblioteket or Libby, the library app have ads?

Neither Biblioteket nor Libby, the library app shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Biblioteket or Libby, the library app?

Biblioteket ships an update every 5 weeks, and Libby, the library app monthly. Most recently, Biblioteket was updated on November 1, 2026 and Libby, the library app on November 10, 2026.

---

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