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Libby

Free#12 of 27 in Ebook Reader Software

Libby: A free, mature choice for borrowing and syncing library books across devices. Ranked #12 of 27 in Ebook Reader Software by our editors (8.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for library borrowers who want reading and syncing.

8.0/10Editor score

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Libby8.0 Visit Libby

At a glance

Editor score
8.0 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Library borrowers who want reading and syncing
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
Free
Annotation tools
Yes
Founded
1986 · Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Facts checked
22 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Free access to participating library ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines
- Syncs progress, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across devices
- Supports offline mobile reading and compatible ereader transfers
Where it doesn't
- Requires a valid library card and participation by a public library
- Offline downloads are limited to eligible mobile titles
- Ereader transfers support compatible EPUB or PDF titles only

Our verdict on Libby

Libby is OverDrive’s reading app for public-library patrons who want to browse catalogs, borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines, and manage loans in one place. Users can sign in with a library card, place holds, read or listen in the app, and organize titles with tags. The service is available through web access, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, making it suited to readers who move between computers and mobile devices rather than relying on a single dedicated reader.

Its strongest practical advantage is the combination of offline access, annotations, and cross-device synchronization. Mobile users can download eligible books and audiobooks for offline use, while reading progress, bookmarks, notes, and highlights can sync across devices after setup. Libby also supports transfers of compatible ebooks in EPUB or PDF format to supported ereaders. That gives library borrowers several ways to continue reading, although the web experience requires an internet connection and offline access is specifically tied to downloaded mobile titles.

The main consideration is access rather than price: Libby is free, but borrowing depends on participation by a public library and a valid library card. Its focus is library lending, not broad personal ebook management, and its ereader transfer path is narrower than its in-app reading options because it applies to compatible EPUB or PDF titles and supported ereaders. Choose Libby if your priority is borrowing from participating libraries across web, desktop, and mobile. Readers seeking a general-purpose reader for books outside that library ecosystem should look elsewhere.

Your product? Our editors can test Libby in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Libby pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on libbyapp.com

Libby fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Supported platforms	web, windows, macos, ios, android
Supported formats	EPUB, PDF
Annotation tools	Yes
Reading sync	Yes
Offline reading	Yes
Library storage	Not verified
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Docs
Built for	Solo (editorial estimate)
Pricing	Free plan
Website	libbyapp.com
Facts checked	22 Sep 2026

Alternatives to Libby

See all Libby alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Libby is listed in our Ebook Reader Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Guides on ebook reader software

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update