Side by side
Libby vs Anna's Archive
Libby
173 positive (85%) · 20 mixed (10%) · 11 negative (5%)
Trust + time weighted: +79%
AI summary — not a quote
Libby is a highly praised app that allows users to borrow ebooks and audiobooks for free through their local library systems. It is frequently recommended as a superior, cost-free alternative to paid services like Audible. While the app's interface is generally well-regarded, the user experience is heavily dependent on the specific digital collections and wait times of the libraries a user is affiliated with.
Pros
- Provides free access to ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines
- Significant cost savings compared to paid subscription services
- Allows users to link multiple library cards to find the shortest wait times
- Seamless integration with Kindle and other e-reader devices
Cons
- Popular titles often have long wait lists and weeks-long hold times
- Book selection is entirely dependent on the user's specific library catalog
- Some users find the hold system frustrating when seeking immediate access
Top excerpts
libby is just the app. the actual book selection depends entirely on what each specific library has purchased and can vary wildly.
I would suggest getting some kind of e-reader and seeing if your library has a Libby program!
Depending on where you live and work, you may qualify for additional library cards that you can load onto Libby, and Libby will choose the library with the shortest wait time for you (right now I have 15 cards)
If you have Libby you can go in a limit it to those under 4 hours in the two genres that you like and sort by popularity. Plus, they are free if you have a library card.
easy to borrow books thru your library using Libby, I don’t bother with paid subscription services at all.
Anna's Archive
8 positive (80%) · 2 mixed (20%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +80%
Top excerpts
Anna's archive can get you those books.
That is if you really want to bother with that instead of just getting a superior product from Anna's Archive.
I think Anna's Archive might have us all beat
The shadowy library known as Anna’s Archive has officially expanded its reach beyond just books. Dubbed the largest music leak in history, this group has unveiled a staggering 300TB "Preservation Archive" that includes nearly the entire Spotify catalog.
Anna's Archive has apparently backed up all of Spotify