1. Home
  2. Topics
  3. Public Library

Best Public Library Apps

248+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.2 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated October 2026

The best public library apps on iPhone average 4.2★ across 248+ titles — we've ranked them by what real users actually keep on their phones. Updated October 2026.

Compare top Public Library Apps (October 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Libby, the library appLibby, the library appFree4.9★ (4.5M)NoNoOct 2026
2New York Public Library (NYPL)New York Public Library (NYPL)Free2.6★ (120)NoNoSep 2026
3Hoopla: Your Library AnywhereHoopla: Your Library AnywhereFree4.8★ (1.4M)NoNoOct 2026
4Los Angeles Public LibraryLos Angeles Public LibraryFree3.1★ (64)NoNoOct 2026
5Miami Dade Public LibraryMiami Dade Public LibraryFree3.9★ (38)NoNoSep 2026
6CloudLibraryCloudLibraryFree4.8★ (259K)NoNoOct 2026
7Oshawa Public LibraryOshawa Public LibraryFree—NoNoSep 2026
8Wichita Public LibraryWichita Public LibraryFree—NoNoOct 2026

Top Picks for Public Library

Libby, the library app#1

Libby, the library app by OverDrive, Inc.

Library audiobooks and ebooks
Editor's Choice
📚 Books
4.9😊(4.5M ratings)
Free
#2in Books
Libby, the library app screenshot 1
Libby, the library app screenshot 2
Libby, the library app screenshot 3
Libby, the library app screenshot 4
Libby, the library app screenshot 5
Libby, the library app screenshot 6

Access millions of free ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. Borrow titles instantly with your library card, download for offline enjoyment, and enjoy a customizable reading and listening experience.

What We Love

  • 📚 Extensive library of books and audiobooks
  • 🔍 Convenient search and browsing features
  • 🔖 Easy to manage holds and returns
  • 🔄 Seamless syncing across devices
  • 🕰️ Automatic returns to avoid late fees
  • 🎧 High-quality audiobook experience
  • 🆓 Free access with library card

Room to Improve

  • 🕰️ Long wait times for popular titles
  • 🔍 Confusing search and filtering options
  • 🤯 Buggy and unstable performance
  • 🔒 Lack of offline reading/listening
  • 📚 Limited selection in some genres
  • 🔙 Unintuitive navigation and UI
New York Public Library (NYPL)#2

New York Public Library (NYPL) by The New York Public Library

Strong Contender
📚 Books
2.6😞(120 ratings)
Free
New York Public Library (NYPL) screenshot 1
New York Public Library (NYPL) screenshot 2
New York Public Library (NYPL) screenshot 3
New York Public Library (NYPL) screenshot 4
New York Public Library (NYPL) screenshot 5
New York Public Library (NYPL) screenshot 6

Access the full power of a major public library from your mobile device. Search the catalog, reserve books for pickup, and manage your account, including renewals and fee payments. Discover nearby branches and upcoming events.

What We Love

  • 👍 Mobile checkout is great
  • 👍 Self checkout is awesome
  • 👍 Easy to reserve books
  • 👍 Good for checking book availability
  • 👍 App has potential
  • 👍 Great graphics (mentioned once)
  • 👍 Magazine search easy
  • 👍 Events virtual accessible
  • 👍 Library hours easy

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy and buggy app
  • 🐛 Far from intuitive
  • 🐛 Poorly organized
  • 🐛 Difficult to use
  • 🐛 Losing functionality
  • 🐛 Not optimized for iPads
  • 🐛 Slow to load
  • 🐛 Freezes often
  • 🐛 Clunky and hard to use
  • 🐛 Doesn't work on work WiFi
  • 🐛 Loading spinner too long
  • 🐛 Crashes constantly
  • 🐛 Mobile checkout issues
  • 🐛 Outdated UI/UX
  • 🐛 Cannot pay fines in app
  • 🐛 Doesn't integrate with Kindle
  • 🐛 Doesn't deal with ebooks
  • 🐛 Requires multiple apps for digital content
Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere#3

Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere by Midwest Tape, LLC

Books, Manga, Movies and More
Worth Considering
📚 Books
4.8😊(1.4M ratings)
Free
#6in Books
Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere screenshot 1
Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere screenshot 2
Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere screenshot 3
Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere screenshot 4
Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere screenshot 5
Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere screenshot 6

Access a vast digital library of books, comics, movies, music, and more, all within a single application. Stream or download content for free with your library card, enjoying an ad-free experience and features like offline listening and dark mode.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Excellent selection of content
  • 👍 Easy to use app
  • 🚀 Convenient access to books, audiobooks, movies, and more
  • 👍 Great resource for reading/listening
  • 👍 Helpful for dyslexic users

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy, crashes frequently
  • 🔍 Limited search and browsing functionality
  • 🔍 Inconsistent syncing across devices
  • 🔍 Unintuitive navigation
  • 🔍 Missing key features like previewing audiobooks

More Public Library apps to explore

FAQ about Public Library

What are the best public library apps for iPhone?
Libby, the library app tops our public library apps ranking as of October 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 4.5M App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top public library apps we rank are free to download, including Libby, the library app and New York Public Library (NYPL).
Libby, the library app has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of October 2026.
We track 248+ public library apps on the iOS App Store as of October 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.

Related searches

new york public librarypublic library of cincinnati & hamilton countychicago public libraryqueens public librarybrooklyn public libraryseattle public libraryphoenix public librarythe public library albuquerquehouston public library