Libby review
Borrow free ebooks and audiobooks with your library card
- OverDrive
- Free
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Web
Does it deserve #1?
Is Libby worth it?
Yes. Libby scores 9.1/10 and ranks #1 in Reading & News. It's best for readers and audiobook fans who have, or can get, a public library card. Skip it if you want instant access to every new release without waiting. Price: Free; you just need a card from a participating library.
The verdict
Libby turns your library card into a free ebook, audiobook and magazine app. Borrow titles, place holds and get told when they're ready, download them for offline reading, set audiobook speed from 0.6x to 3x and, in the US, send loans to a Kindle. You can link several library cards at once. The only real cost is patience, since popular books often have long hold queues.
- Ebooks, audiobooks and magazines
- Multiple library cards
- Offline downloads
- Send to Kindle in the US
- Audiobook speed and sleep timer
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Sep 2026Partner libraries switch on automatically, and search checks availability across them
- Aug 2026OverDrive bought Onleihe, bringing its German-language libraries onto Libby
- Aug 2025Inspire Me suggests five titles from your own library's collection
Privacy 9.2/10
App Store label: no tracking. Only crash data is linked to you; product interaction and performance data are collected without being tied to you. Google Play says nothing is shared.
What we like
- Completely free with a library card
- No tracking, and almost no data tied to you
- Clean design that's easy for any age
What could be better
- Popular titles can mean long hold waits
- Catalog depends on your library's collection
- Send to Kindle works only in the US
Readers and audiobook fans who have, or can get, a public library card
you want instant access to every new release without waiting
Questions about Libby
Is Libby worth it in 2026?
Yes. Libby scores 9.1/10 and ranks #1 in Reading & News. It's best for readers and audiobook fans who have, or can get, a public library card. Skip it if you want instant access to every new release without waiting. Price: Free; you just need a card from a participating library.
Is Libby free?
Yes. Libby is free with no in-app purchases; you only need a card from a library that uses OverDrive.
Can I read Libby books on a Kindle?
In the US, yes. Libby can send ebook loans to your Kindle; elsewhere you read them in the Libby app.
Does Libby work offline?
Yes. You can download ebooks, audiobooks and magazines to read or listen to offline.
What are the best alternatives to Libby?
The closest alternatives are Kindle, The StoryGraph and NetNewsWire. See all of them ranked on our Libby alternatives page.
Where does Libby rank?
Libby ranks #1 of 7 in our Reading & News ranking, with an overall score of 9.1 out of 10.