Libby
by OverDrive, Inc. · Entertainment & Streaming · Reading & Audio
Borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library for free. All you need is a library card.
Quick Answer: Libby has a verified Real Score of 4.5/5 based on 33,500 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.8/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 33,500 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Libby's App Store rating is 0.3 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Completely free
- Beautiful app design
- Wide selection from libraries
- Kindle integration available
Common Complaints
- Popular titles have long wait times
- Selection depends on your library
- Limited number of simultaneous holds
- Loan periods can be short
Verified Reviews (20)
Free books are real
I genuinely cannot believe this app is free. Borrow ebooks and audiobooks from my library without leaving home. No late fees, no cost. How is this not more popular?
Wait times for popular books
The one downside - popular titles can have 20+ week wait lists. Plan ahead or be patient. For less popular titles availability is usually immediate.
Best designed library app ever
Libby is genuinely beautiful. OverDrive made a library app that looks and feels premium. The design quality rivals paid apps from major companies.
Kindle send integration
Borrowing a library book and sending it to my Kindle to read is seamless. Free library books with the best ebook reading experience. Perfect combination.
Multiple library cards = more books
You can add multiple library cards from different library systems. More cards means more selection and shorter wait times. Pro tip everyone should know.
Audiobook quality is great
The audiobook quality is identical to Audible - same productions, same narrators. The only difference is the price: free vs $15/month. No brainer.
Tags system helps organization
Tagging books you want to read creates a personal wishlist. When a tagged book becomes available, Libby notifies you. Smart organization system.
Selection depends on your library
Well-funded urban libraries have huge selections. Smaller rural libraries have much less. Your experience depends entirely on your local library system.
Reading more than ever
Since downloading Libby I read 40+ books per year. No financial barrier means I try books I never would have purchased. My reading life has transformed.
Magazine selection too
In addition to books, many libraries offer magazines through Libby. Current issues of popular magazines for free. Another underappreciated feature.
Support your library by using this
Every Libby checkout shows your library that digital lending matters. Higher usage means more library funding for digital content. Using Libby supports libraries.
Offline downloads work well
Download books for offline reading before trips. Works reliably and the loan period pauses arent an issue for normal reading pace.
Kids books selection is excellent
The childrens book selection is wonderful. Read-alongs with narration for picture books make bedtime stories interactive. Great for young readers.
Best free app on any phone
If you have a library card and dont have Libby installed, youre leaving free books on the table. Literally no reason not to use this app.
Suspend and resume holds
The ability to suspend holds when youre busy and resume when ready prevents books from expiring when you cant read them. Thoughtful feature.
Reading stats are motivating
Seeing yearly reading stats, time spent reading, and books completed motivates me to keep going. The year-in-review is a fun reflection.
Changed my reading habits
Went from reading 5 books a year to 50 because Libby removed the cost barrier. The most impactful free app Ive ever downloaded.
21 day loans feel short
The standard 21-day loan period can feel rushed for longer books. Wish it was 30 days or had more flexibility. Renewals help if no one else is waiting.
Instant availability on some titles
Many books are available instantly without any wait. The "available now" filter helps find immediate reads when you want something right now.
Libraries are alive and well
Libby proves that libraries are thriving in the digital age. Modern, convenient, free. The library of the future is already here.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026