# LibraryThing vs PocketHinman

The clearest difference is rating: PocketHinman at 5.0 against LibraryThing's 3.5. LibraryThing's advantage is ratings volume (278 vs 4). 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.

PocketHinman holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LibraryThing has 278 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, PocketHinman fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and June 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LibraryThing | PocketHinman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (278 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pockethinman/id1370948590/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **278** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 48.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LibraryThing.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/397718884) | [The University of Edinburgh](https://appshunter.io/developer/428517240) |

## What reviewers say

### LibraryThing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489)

Catalog your personal book, DVD, and CD collections. Easily add items by searching or scanning barcodes. Enhance your catalog with high-resolution cover photos and browse your collection visually.

**Highlights:** Catalog books, DVDs, and CDs, Search for media items, Scan ISBN barcodes, Add high-resolution cover photos, Browse collection by cover type

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick barcode scanning
- 👍 Useful for cataloging library
- 🚀 Fast book addition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔍 Limited search and editing capabilities
- 🤖 Outdated and dated UI

**Reported bugs**

- Barcode scanner not working
- Books disappearing from catalog
- Editing and saving issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to create custom collections
- Offline access to library
- Integration with other book apps
- Lending/loan tracking feature


### PocketHinman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pockethinman/id1370948590)

This app simulates the functions of a Hinman Collator using image transparency and flickering. It's designed for users who need to compare images side-by-side with advanced visual tools. Developed with support from the University of Virginia.

**Highlights:** Flickering image comparison, Image transparency overlay, Simulates Hinman Collator functions, Designed for iOS devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LibraryThing free?

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

### Is PocketHinman free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LibraryThing or PocketHinman?

PocketHinman is rated higher. LibraryThing averages 3.5 out of 5 from 278 ratings, while PocketHinman averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do LibraryThing or PocketHinman have ads?

Neither LibraryThing nor PocketHinman shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LibraryThing or PocketHinman?

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, and PocketHinman fortnightly. Most recently, LibraryThing was updated on September 29, 2026 and PocketHinman on June 8, 2026.

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