SFPL vs RE
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.
RE
Find local options for reusing, repairing, and recycling items like clothing, electronics, and medications. Get answers about curbside bin contents and special collection programs. Discover drop-off locations, hours, and contact details.
- Item-specific recycling guidance
- Curbside bin sorting information
- Special collection program details
- Drop-off location finder
- Hours and contact information
- Reuse and repair options
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RE:Source is Alameda County's go-to app for questions about nearby reuse, repair, recycling and safe disposal options for everything from unwanted clothes and furniture, to electronics, sewing machines, and medications. Wonder what goes in your curbside bins? RE:Source’s searchable database allows you to filter by item and location to find out what goes in your city's curbside recycling, compost, and garbage bins. It also provides information about your city’s special collection programs, including bulky waste pick-up, and debris box/construction and demolition. The app's searchable database provides directions, hours of operation, and contact information for drop-off locations, as well as options for pick-up, buy-back and mail-in services. Reducing your waste footprint starts with the RE:Source app! The guide was created by StopWaste, a public agency serving Alameda County whose mission is to help people reduce waste and conserve resources.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: RE at 100% against SFPL's 28%. RE also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). SFPL's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 43 months) and ratings volume (50 vs 9). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
RE holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SFPL has 50 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of SFPL's written reviews are positive against 100% of RE's.
SFPL ships an update every 4 months, RE every 43 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SFPL | RE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (50 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 27.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 50 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 43 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | San Francisco Public Library | StopWaste.org |
Customer experience
SFPL
RE
Bugs and requests
SFPL
Reported bugs
19 issues- Always logs out and has trouble logging back in
- 403 forbidden error message when clicking links/books
- New message alert shows up each login
- Digital and physical books not showing in history
- Cannot request books through link+ without going to website
Show 14 moreShow fewer
- App lags when changing menus
- Login not saved, asks for card number repeatedly
- Search function not working for specific titles
- App crashes upon opening
- App cuts off when using Safari simultaneously
- App doesn't fit large iPhone screens
- Cannot remove search criteria
- App crashes after a while
- App is unstable and crashes every time
- App is unusable, crashes while opening
- App crashes on start
- App crashes right away
- App keeps logging out
- Search function locates books but cannot place holds
Requested features
9 requests- Bring back 'My List' feature
- Add notification feature
- Add dark mode
- Make library card compatible with Apple Wallet
- Add genre tab
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Improve UI design and styling
- Add alpha sorting in filters for lists
- Wider range of page numbering in lists
- Allow simultaneous login on web and mobile
RE
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SFPL
No in-app purchases
RE
No in-app purchases
