Libby, the library app
Borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library
by OverDrive, Inc.
About this app
Libby is the easiest way to borrow ebooks, audiobooks and magazines from participating public libraries. Add a library card, search the catalog, place holds and read or listen directly in the app. The app is especially valuable because the content is borrowed through your library instead of purchased title by title. Availability depends on your library's digital collection, but when supported, Libby can save heavy readers a significant amount of money. Libby is not a bookstore replacement like Kindle. It is a library-first reading app, and that focus is exactly why it works so well.
Key Features
Library card access
Connect one or more participating library cards and browse each catalog.
Ebooks and magazines
Borrow digital books and magazines without buying each title.
Audiobooks
Listen with adjustable speed, sleep timer and offline downloads.
Holds and waitlists
Place holds on popular titles and get notified when they are ready.
Offline reading
Download borrowed titles for reading or listening without a connection.
Send to Kindle
In supported regions, send many borrowed ebooks to Kindle for reading.
How It Works
Add your library
Find your local library and sign in with a valid library card.
Borrow or place a hold
Search the collection, borrow available titles or join a waitlist.
Read or listen
Use Libby's built-in reader and player, download offline or send supported books to Kindle.
Detailed Review
Libby succeeds because it makes digital libraries feel simple. Instead of navigating a clunky website, you add a library card once and get a clean app for browsing, borrowing, reading and listening. The experience is friendly enough for casual users but powerful enough for heavy readers.
The biggest benefit is cost. If your library has a strong OverDrive catalog, Libby can provide a steady stream of ebooks, audiobooks and magazines without buying every title. For audiobook listeners, the savings can be substantial.
The reading and listening tools are also strong. The ebook reader includes practical typography controls, while the audiobook player has speed controls, bookmarks and a sleep timer. Offline downloads make it useful for travel, commuting and low-connectivity situations.
The main limitation is availability. Popular releases often have waitlists, and the catalog depends entirely on your library. Two users in different cities can have very different experiences. Libby is also not the same as owning a book; loans expire and some titles may disappear from the catalog.
Our verdict: if you have a supported library card, Libby should be installed. It is one of the rare apps that can genuinely reduce spending while improving access to books.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Our Verdict
Libby is essential for readers with access to a participating library. It is not meant to replace Kindle's store, but for free library ebooks and audiobooks, it is the best app in its category.
