Libby vs Ground News
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Libby is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.0. Libby wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Ground News on 0.
Readers and audiobook fans who have, or can get, a public library card
News readers who want to see past any one outlet's framing
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Libby | Ground News |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reading & News | Reading & News |
| Category rank | #1 of 7 | #7 of 7 |
| Developer | OverDrive | Snapwise Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Libby better than Ground News?
Libby is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.0. Libby wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Ground News on 0.
Which is cheaper, Libby or Ground News?
Libby: Free; you just need a card from a participating library. Ground News: Free tier; in the iOS app, Pro starts at $0.99 a month and Vantage is $9.99. On value for money, Libby scores higher.
Do Libby and Ground News work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Libby or Ground News?
Libby scores higher on 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.
Strengths and weaknesses
Libby
- Completely free with a library card
- No tracking, and almost no data tied to you
- Clean design that's easy for any age
- Popular titles can mean long hold waits
- Catalog depends on your library's collection
- Send to Kindle works only in the US
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.
Full Libby review
Ground News
- Shows how each side covers the same story
- Blindspot feed catches stories you'd miss
- Free tier covers the basics
- Bias ratings are per outlet, not per article
- Factuality and ownership data need a paid plan
- Doesn't get you past publishers' paywalls
Ground News groups coverage of the same story from more than 50,000 sources and shows you who's covering it: how much comes from the left, center and right, how factual each outlet is rated, and who owns it. The Blindspot feed surfaces stories one side barely covers. It's a useful check on your own bubble. Ratings are per outlet, not per article, and the best data needs a subscription.
Full Ground News review
