SFPL vs MARINet
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SFPL
Access your local library's catalog from your mobile device. Browse new releases, manage holds, renew borrowed items, and discover upcoming events. Plan your library visits with ease, all from your pocket.
- Browse new titles and recommendations
- Place and manage holds
- Renew checked out materials
- Plan library visits
- See upcoming events
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San Francisco Public Library in your pocket. Browse new titles and recommendations curated by your library staff, place and manage holds, renew checked out materials, plan your visit and see upcoming events, anytime and anywhere.
MARINet
Access your local library's digital collection and manage your account on the go. Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, movies, and more. Find nearby branches and check item availability.
- Search library catalog
- Place and manage holds
- Renew borrowed items
- Access eBooks and audiobooks
- Find library locations
- View library card
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Take MARINet with you wherever you go! Search the catalog, place holds, manage your account, and renew materials. Get instant access to eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV, music, magazines, and more. Find a library location near you: • Belvedere Tiburon Library • College of Marin Library • Dominican University of California's Archbishop Alemany Library • Larkspur Library • Marin County Free Library • Mill Valley Public Library • San Anselmo Public Library • San Rafael Public Library • Sausalito Public Library Features include: • Quickly search the library collection • Browse bestsellers and new items • Check a title’s availability –map the location where your title is available • Place and manage your holds • Renew items • View your library card
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SFPL at 4.0 against MARINet's 3.3. SFPL also leads on ratings volume (50 vs 10). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SFPL holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SFPL has 50 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of SFPL's written reviews are positive against 33% of MARINet's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SFPL ships an update every 4 months, MARINet every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SFPL | MARINet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (50 ratings) — better | 3.3 (10 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 50 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | San Francisco Public Library | MARINet |
Customer experience
SFPL
MARINet
In-app purchases
SFPL
No in-app purchases
MARINet
No in-app purchases
