Comparison

SBN UBO vs MLOL Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SBN UBO

Manage your library loans, reserve books, and access digital content directly from your smartphone. This app provides a convenient way to stay connected to your local library, offering features like a digital library card and multilingual support.

Highlights
  • Search and reserve books
  • Manage library loans
  • Access digital content
  • Digital library card
  • Manage multiple accounts
  • Multilingual support
Features
Read full description

With SBN UBO, the Bologna hub puts its libraries in your hands! Explore the catalog, manage loans and access a wide range of digital content, all directly from your smartphone. SBN UBO allows you to stay connected to your libraries quickly and easily. - Find and Reserve Books: search the library hub catalog, request your favorite titles and collect them conveniently. Discover the latest arrivals, wherever you are. - Manage Your Loans: check the status of your loans, extend those that are due and keep track of everything conveniently from the app. - Access with Multiple Accounts: ideal for the whole family, SBN UBO allows you to manage multiple accounts at the same time, offering a shared and easy-to-use experience for parents and children. - Digital Card: say goodbye to the paper card and easily access all your library services without worries. The convenience of having everything in your smartphone! - Multilingual Access: SBN UBO is fully accessible in Italian and English, making library access easy for everyone. - Accessibility for All: SBN UBO is designed to ensure an accessible experience for every user. The beauty of libraries is now within everyone's reach. SBN UBO offers you continuous and complete access to your libraries, allowing you to enjoy a digital reading experience wherever you are.

About

MLOL Reader

Access and borrow hundreds of thousands of ebooks from Italian publishers through a revamped digital reading platform. Connect with your library account to explore vast collections from public, academic, and school catalogs.

Highlights
  • Borrow ebooks from MLOL catalogs
  • Access public, academic, and school libraries
  • Search and borrow from hundreds of thousands of titles
  • Login with existing library credentials
  • Read ebooks from major Italian publishers
Read full description

MLOL Reader è l'app di lettura e ascolto di MLOL: ti permette di prendere in prestito gli ebook e gli audiolibri della tua biblioteca. Se la tua biblioteca aderisce a MLOL (scoprilo su https://www.medialibrary.it), puoi richiedere in biblioteca le credenziali per usare questa app e accedere gratuitamente a un grande catalogo di ebook e audiolibri di tutti i maggiori editori italiani. La nuova versione 2026 dell'app presenta una Homepage arricchita, che raccoglie informazioni sui tuoi prestiti, suggerimenti personalizzati e link per scoprire sezioni interessanti del catalogo. Tutti gli ebook e gli audiolibri che hai scaricato sul tuo dispositivo sono poi raccolti nella Libreria. Con MLOL Reader, il prestito digitale non è mai stato così facile: prendere in prestito una risorsa dal catalogo MLOL è ora più semplice e intuitivo, grazie a un processo pensato per ridurre il numero di click e facilitare l’esperienza d'uso. Con la nuova versione di MLOL e dell’app è possibile rinnovare il prestito di un ebook per 7 giorni (portando così la durata a 21) o restituirlo in anticipo per renderlo così disponibile agli altri lettori. Pensata per la lettura di ebook e l’ascolto di audiolibri, l’app MLOL Reader offre un’esperienza migliorata grazie a nuove funzionalità e all’ottimizzazione di quelle già presenti. Lo fa con un ecosistema accessibile, capace di garantire una fruizione autonoma a tutti gli utenti grazie alla personalizzazione delle impostazioni di lettura o all’uso di strumenti come screen reader e barre Braille.

Screenshots

SBN UBO4 screens
MLOL Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

SBN UBO and MLOL Reader are too close to call on the numbers: across 7 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SBN UBO ships an update every 3 months, MLOL Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
SBN UBO versus MLOL Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSBN UBOMLOL Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews—34.6% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size82 MB25 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperDOT BEYOND SRLHORIZONS UNLIMITED H.U. SRL

Customer experience

SBN UBO

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

MLOL Reader

Written reviews52 reviews
Positive34.6%
Neutral28.8%
Negative36.5%

In-app purchases

None

SBN UBO

No in-app purchases

None

MLOL Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SBN UBO free?
SBN UBO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MLOL Reader free?
MLOL Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SBN UBO or MLOL Reader have ads?
Neither SBN UBO nor MLOL Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SBN UBO or MLOL Reader?
SBN UBO ships an update every 3 months, and MLOL Reader every 2 months. Most recently, SBN UBO was updated on September 5, 2026 and MLOL Reader on September 14, 2026.

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