Libby is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.5. Libby wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Inoreader on 1.
Readers and audiobook fans who have, or can get, a public library card
Researchers and news fans who want to filter and automate lots of feeds
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Libby | Inoreader |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reading & News | Reading & News |
| Category rank | #1 of 11 | #5 of 11 |
| Developer | OverDrive | Innologica |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Libby better than Inoreader?
Libby is the better app overall, scoring 9.1 to 8.5. Libby wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Inoreader on 1.
Which is cheaper, Libby or Inoreader?
Libby: Free; you just need a card from a participating library. Inoreader: Free for 150 feeds; Pro is $7.50 a month billed yearly, or $9.99 monthly. On value for money, Libby scores higher.
Do Libby and Inoreader work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Libby or Inoreader?
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
Inoreader
- Generous free plan with 150 feeds
- Rules and filters do the sorting for you
- Very little data linked to you
- Rules, newsletters and offline reading need Pro
- Busier screens than simpler readers
- AI Intelligence features are a paid add-on
Inoreader is the RSS reader for people who want control. Follow sites, YouTube channels and podcasts in one place, add newsletters and social feeds on Pro, then let rules and filters sort, tag and trim the flood. The free plan covers 150 feeds, and Pro adds monitoring feeds and offline reading. It's busier than Feedly, and its AI Intelligence features cost extra, but it links very little data to you.
Full Inoreader review
