# Elsevier eLibrary Reader vs Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource

The clearest difference is rating: Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource at 4.7 against Elsevier eLibrary Reader's 1.0. Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource also leads on ratings volume (9.4K vs 80) and review sentiment (16% vs 0%). Elsevier eLibrary Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). 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.

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource has 9.4K ratings behind it against 80, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Elsevier eLibrary Reader's written reviews are positive against 16% of Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource's.

Elsevier eLibrary Reader ships an update every 4 months, Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elsevier eLibrary Reader | Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (80 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsevier-elibrary-reader/id893996694/reviews) | **[4.7 (9.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsevier-ebooks-on-vitalsource/id1147791956/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 80 | **9.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **16.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 62 MB | 188 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/551008824) | [Elsevier Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/367031326) |

## What reviewers say

### Elsevier eLibrary Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsevier-elibrary-reader/id893996694)

Access and read Elsevier's ebooks on your mobile devices. Organize your library into shelves, customize your reading experience with notes and highlights, and easily navigate through content. Download books directly from the eLibrary website.

**Highlights:** Read Elsevier ebooks on mobile, Organize books into shelves, Customize reading experience, Add notes and highlights, Bookmark pages, Search for keywords, Navigate via table of contents

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Unable to log in
- ❌ Invalid credentials error
- ❌ App is useless
- ❌ Frustrating user experience
- ❌ Falling behind technologically

**Reported bugs**

- Login failure
- Invalid login credentials
- App does not work
- Cannot sign into apps
- Credentials not being accepted

**Requested features**

- Fix the login issue
- Improve app functionality
- Make the app compatible with online books


### Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsevier-ebooks-on-vitalsource/id1147791956)

Access and read Elsevier textbooks on your iOS device. Download books for offline study, search your entire library, and add notes and highlights. Sync your progress across devices for a seamless learning experience.

**Highlights:** Download books for offline reading, Search entire library, Create notes and highlights, Sync across devices, Pinch to zoom figures

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient digital access
- 📚 Helpful study tools (e.g., flashcards)
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 📱 Poor mobile app experience
- 🔍 Difficult navigation and book access
- 🔊 Subpar text-to-speech quality
- 💻 Compatibility problems across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Repeated sentence/paragraph playback
- Highlighted text disappearing across devices
- Inability to download or access purchased books

**Requested features**

- Allow handwritten notes and annotations
- Improve page-turning and scrolling functionality
- Enhance diagram and image viewing experience
- Integrate seamless cross-device synchronization
- Provide more customization options (e.g., font, layout)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elsevier eLibrary Reader free?

Elsevier eLibrary Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource free?

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Elsevier eLibrary Reader or Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource?

Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource is rated higher. Elsevier eLibrary Reader averages 1.0 out of 5 from 80 ratings, while Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource averages 4.7 from 9.4K ratings.

### Do Elsevier eLibrary Reader or Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource have ads?

Neither Elsevier eLibrary Reader nor Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elsevier eLibrary Reader or Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource?

Elsevier eLibrary Reader ships an update every 4 months, and Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource every 3 months. Most recently, Elsevier eLibrary Reader was updated on November 1, 2026 and Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource on November 4, 2026.

---

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