LibrariesWest vs TOM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LibrariesWest
Manage your library account on the go. Search the catalog, renew borrowed items, and place holds on new books. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
- Manage library account
- Search catalog
- Renew books
- Reserve books
- Mobile access
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Access LibrariesWest from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Manage your account, search the catalogue, renew and reserve books.
TOM
This app offers a structured approach to home management, helping users stay on top of household tasks without it consuming their lives. It provides daily tasks, an 8-week cleaning plan, guided sessions, and customizable routines to reduce mental load and free up time and energy.
- Daily non-negotiable tasks
- 8-week rolling cleaning plan
- Guided cleaning and cooking sessions
- Customizable routines and task rollover
- Reduces mental load of household chores
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More life. Less housework. The TOM App is your calm in the chaos. Created by Gemma Bray, founder of The Organised Method (TOM), it helps you stay on top of the house without it taking over your life. A smart, structured approach to managing your home, so you’ve got more headspace, more time, and more energy for everything else. Inside the app: Daily Tasks – A simple set of non-negotiables to keep things ticking over. 8-Week Rolling Plan – Clean smarter, not harder, with a focus for each day. TOM Rocks – Guided sessions to keep you company (and on track) while you clean, cook, or get life sorted. Customisable Routines – Add your own tasks, roll over jobs, tailor the plan to your home. Mental Load Lightened – Designed to take the thinking out of what needs doing next. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want a method that actually works, this is home management without the faff. Start your 7-day free trial today. Because there’s more to life than housework Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: TOM at 58% against LibrariesWest's 17%. TOM also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). LibrariesWest's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). 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
Both are free to download. TOM sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. LibrariesWest asks for nothing beyond the download.
LibrariesWest ships an update every 2 months, TOM every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LibrariesWest | TOM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.0 (49 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | 58.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 49 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Somerset County Council Library Service | Mike Bray |
Customer experience
LibrariesWest
TOM
User reviews
LibrariesWest
From App Store reviewsWhat we love
- 👍 Handy for searching
- 👍 Useful for reserving
- 👍 Good for renewals
- 👍 Can check return dates
- 👍 Barcode scanner works
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🐛 App frequently freezes
- 🐛 Slow loading times
- 🐛 Unreliable performance
- 🐛 Linked accounts disappear
TOM
From 49 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Helpful for staying organized
- 🚀 Efficient cleaning method
- 💡 Customizable checklists
- 🎶 Motivating audio guides
- 🤝 Supportive community
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Poor customer support
- 💰 Expensive for limited features
- 🕰️ Unrealistic task timeframes
- 🤔 Lack of flexibility
Bugs and requests
LibrariesWest
Reported bugs
20 issues- Login PIN not recognized
- App freezes and becomes unusable
- Camera not working for verification
- App stops music playback
- FastBack renewal error
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- App won't open unless via App Store
- Unable to connect to server
- Linked accounts repeatedly unlinked
- App doesn't work at night
- Invalid date error when reserving
- Charges appear on returned books
- App stops working after update
- White screen on launch after update
- Hangs on loading screen
- Blank screen with 'image not available'
- Scrolling not working on loans
- Cannot search or reserve
- Linked accounts disappear
- Catalogue search not working
- Barcode scanner not working
Requested features
6 requests- Add loan history section
- Indicate font size in book info
- Add wish list option
- Improve search functionality
- Add browsing by categories
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- Add notes area
TOM
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inability to log in or reset password
- Saved tasks and customizations not persisting
- Timer functionality issues when phone is locked
- Incompatibility with certain devices
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to roll over tasks to next week
- Calendar view for tasks
- Collaboration features for households
- Offline mode for audio guides
- Customizable reminders and notifications
In-app purchases
LibrariesWest
No in-app purchases
TOM
- The Organised Mum7 Days trial$3.991 Month
