# SFPL vs Dust

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Dust at 81% against SFPL's 28%. Dust also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Dust holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dust has 542 ratings behind it against 50, 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 81% of Dust's.

SFPL ships an update every 4 months, Dust every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SFPL | Dust |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sfpl/id952828394/reviews) | **[4.9 (542 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dust-a-guide-for-burners/id6456943178/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 50 | **542** |
| Positive reviews | 27.9% of reviews | **80.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 22 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [San Francisco Public Library](https://appshunter.io/developer/1591076880) | [WebNative LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805744003) |

## 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

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Free audiobooks and resources
- 👍 Easy to use for basic functions
- 👍 Good for managing holds and accounts
- 👍 Uncluttered interface compared to website
- 👍 App looks better after recent update

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🐛 App crashes or is unstable
- 🐛 Outdated design and development
- 🐛 Poor UI/UX design
- 🐛 Not optimized for newer devices

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Bring back 'My List' feature
- Add notification feature
- Add dark mode
- Make library card compatible with Apple Wallet
- Add genre tab


### Dust

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dust-a-guide-for-burners/id6456943178)

This offline guide helps you navigate the Burning Man event and regional burns. Discover events, art installations, and theme camps, with map locations and personalized notifications. Plan your experience and stay organized with this essential companion.

**Highlights:** Offline event discovery, Art and theme camp finder, Interactive map with locations, Personalized event notifications, Map pin drops for personal items, Searchable event and art listings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Accurate location tracking and navigation
- 👍 Clean, intuitive, and beautiful user interface
- ⭐ Excellent event discovery and filtering features
- ❤️ Favorites/bookmarking system for events
- 🔒 Privacy-focused with no data harvesting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- 🐛 App restarts unexpectedly
- 🐛 UI elements not fully visible on screen
- ⚠️ Data loss (favorites getting wiped)
- ⚠️ Inconsistent reliability concerns

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently during use
- Freezing and unexpected restarts
- Location permission button not visible/clickable on iOS
- Zoom bug causing navigation to previous page (patched)
- Share button non-functional

**Requested features**

- User notes feature for personal event tracking
- Global map view for all regional events
- Geographic location listings for regional events
- Landscape mode optimization for rotated phones
- Event sharing functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SFPL free?

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

### Is Dust free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SFPL or Dust?

Dust is rated higher. SFPL averages 4.0 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while Dust averages 4.9 from 542 ratings.

### Do SFPL or Dust have ads?

Neither SFPL nor Dust shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SFPL or Dust?

SFPL ships an update every 4 months, and Dust every 8 days. Most recently, SFPL was updated on November 1, 2026 and Dust on November 3, 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.*