# LibraryThing vs Darien Library

The clearest difference is rating: Darien Library at 5.0 against LibraryThing's 3.5. LibraryThing's advantage is ratings volume (288 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.1). 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.

Darien Library holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LibraryThing has 288 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, Darien Library every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LibraryThing | Darien Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (288 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/librarything/id948824489/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darien-library/id6447994728/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **288** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LibraryThing.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/397718884) | [Darien Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/662973254) |

## 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- 🤖 Outdated and dated UI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


### Darien Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darien-library/id6447994728)

Access a vast collection of books, audiobooks, movies, and more from your local library. Search the catalog, place holds, and borrow digital items instantly. New content is added weekly, offering endless entertainment and learning opportunities.

**Highlights:** Search library catalog, Place and manage holds, Borrow digital items, Access online learning resources, Manage family borrowing, View borrowing history

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LibraryThing free?

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

### Is Darien Library free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LibraryThing or Darien Library?

Darien Library is rated higher. LibraryThing averages 3.5 out of 5 from 288 ratings, while Darien Library averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do LibraryThing or Darien Library have ads?

Neither LibraryThing nor Darien Library shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LibraryThing or Darien Library?

LibraryThing ships an update every 4 weeks, and Darien Library every 5 weeks. Most recently, LibraryThing was updated on October 21, 2026 and Darien Library on October 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.*