# SFPL vs Alameda County Library

The clearest difference is rating: SFPL at 4.0 against Alameda County Library's 3.6. SFPL also leads on ratings volume (50 vs 8). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SFPL has 50 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of SFPL's written reviews are positive against 25% of Alameda County Library's.

SFPL ships an update every 4 months, Alameda County Library every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SFPL | Alameda County Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sfpl/id952828394/reviews)** | [3.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alameda-county-library/id1535690205/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **50** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **28.6% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 22 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [San Francisco Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/1591076880) | [Alameda County Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/481165768) |

## What reviewers say

### SFPL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sfpl/id952828394)

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.

**Highlights:** Browse new titles and recommendations, Place and manage holds, Renew checked out materials, Plan library visits, See upcoming events

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Alameda County Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alameda-county-library/id1535690205)

Access your library account on the go. Manage loans, place holds, and discover new books, movies, and audiobooks. Find library hours, locations, and upcoming events.

**Highlights:** Manage library account, Renew items, Place and manage holds, Search catalog, Download eBooks and eAudiobooks, Find library hours and locations, Discover events

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SFPL free?

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

### Is Alameda County Library free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SFPL or Alameda County Library?

SFPL is rated higher. SFPL averages 4.0 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while Alameda County Library averages 3.6 from 8 ratings.

### Do SFPL or Alameda County Library have ads?

Neither SFPL nor Alameda County Library shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SFPL or Alameda County Library?

SFPL ships an update every 4 months, and Alameda County Library every 3 months. Most recently, SFPL was updated on September 8, 2026 and Alameda County Library on September 2, 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.*