Head-to-head
iCollect Books vs CloudLibrary
iCollect Books
65
Winner
CloudLibrary
CloudLibrary
80
CloudLibrary is the better choice for accessing a wide range of digital library books for free, while iCollect Books is a paid app better suited for personal collection management.
Full reviews: iCollect Books · CloudLibrary
CloudLibrary offers free access to a vast selection of library books and audiobooks, though users report occasional glitches and limited Kindle compatibility. iCollect Books is a personal book cataloging app with robust customization, but it has a strict free limit and a significant one-time purchase fee, with some users experiencing data loss and scanning issues.
Head to head
iCollect Books iCollect Books excels at detailed personal collection management, allowing users to track special editions, add custom information, and include photos of their physical books R8. Users appreciate its organization for large collections and the ability to avoid duplicate purchases R2R5R14. However, some users find the sorting options limited and note a lack of specific fields like Library of Congress numbers .
CloudLibrary CloudLibrary provides access to a large selection of ebooks and audiobooks through public libraries R98. Users praise the convenience of listening to audiobooks on daily walks and the ability to adjust font sizes . However, a common complaint is the limited availability of popular or new titles R69R85R87 and the inability to send books to Kindle devices R62R76R78R81.
iCollect Books iCollect Books is generally considered easy to use for cataloging R6, with users appreciating the ability to edit information R8. However, the scanning feature is frequently criticized as clunky, unreliable, or non-functional R1R4R21R39. Some users report issues with data not transferring to new phones or being lost after updates . Offline access is also unreliable for some .
CloudLibrary CloudLibrary is often described as easy to use for finding and downloading books . However, it suffers from frequent glitches, crashes, and freezing, particularly after updates . Users report issues with audiobooks skipping pages or chapters , difficulty navigating within audiobooks , and problems with lock screen controls . Some find the interface clunky and not intuitive .
iCollect Books iCollect Books is a paid app with a very limited free tier, allowing only 30 books before requiring a payment of $29.99 R3R6R13R16. Some users were misled by the 'unlimited' option, finding it still had limits R3. While some find the $30 cost worth it to avoid duplicate purchases , many consider it too expensive for the limited free functionality R19R22.
CloudLibrary CloudLibrary is free to download and use, as it provides access to library resources with a valid library card . Users appreciate getting books for free . The main limitations are related to library policies, such as borrowing limits and wait times for popular books R79.
iCollect Books iCollect Books has mixed reviews regarding support. One user praised their quick response and willingness to offer an opt-out for an inconvenient feature R7. However, others reported customer service as unresponsive R54 or issues with refunds R40.
CloudLibrary CloudLibrary users sometimes seek help from their local library for app issues or downloading problems R98. There is no direct feedback on the app's dedicated customer support, but users note a lack of developer presence when updates cause problems .
Pick iCollect Books if
You have a large personal book collection, including special editions, that you want to meticulously catalog and organize with custom fields and photos, and you are willing to pay a one-time fee of $29.99 for this functionality R8R14.
Pick CloudLibrary if
You want free access to a wide range of ebooks and audiobooks through your local public library, and you primarily read on your phone or tablet, understanding that some popular titles may have waitlists and Kindle compatibility is limited R98.
Evidence note: Reviews for iCollect Books are more detailed regarding specific features and issues, while CloudLibrary reviews, though numerous, often focus on general satisfaction or common glitches across many users.
Frequently asked
How much does iCollect Books cost?
Can I use CloudLibrary with my Kindle?
Does iCollect Books have reliable scanning?
What reviewers actually said
Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.
- [R2] iCollect Books Great for keeping track of books: I love this app for keeping track of my books because sometimes I forget which one I already have in a series and it’s nice to just be able to open my phone and be like ok I already have that one. Especially since I read a lot of manga. 🤣
- [R5] iCollect Books Multiple book purchases: I am so thrilled that I have this app on my phone. It has enabled me to almost completely stop me from buying multiple copies of the same book over the years. I say almost cause the times I buy the same book that I have is due to the fact that I don’t check my list before I purchase “said” book, but I’m getting better at remembering to check my list of books.
- [R8] iCollect Books Great for Special Editions: Was looking for something to track my books, especially special editions. This has found every book but so far. The amount of editing you can do is great too.
- [R14] iCollect Books The Best Digital Inventory System!!: The iCollect Suite of apps for the various types of items is the best way of quickly and efficiently cataloging a large collection. I have a large library of books, music, and games and all 3 apps let me quickly create and maintain an accurate database of all my collection for ease of reference wither its on the go when shopping and I want to make sure I don’t
- [R1] iCollect Books Wrong the book showed up when I entered the ISBN: The very first book I scanned, came up with the correct cover for the book. I am scanning, the description is for the wrong book. I’m scanning a vintage sunset book called kingdoms for kids, but the description of the book that comes up is for a story, not a how to, something completely different. I don’t know if that’s because I’m scanning a vinta
- [R4] iCollect Books Meh.: The scanning is clunky, but you can add pretty much any information you want.
- [R6] iCollect Books Easy to use: The app is easy to use and has settings to set how you want your list to show. The app, only allows you to add 30 books. Once you’ve added 30 you’ll need to pay. It’s a little more than I was looking to pay, but over all is a nice app.
- [R3] iCollect Books Nice app: This is a nice app but I wish it would have an unlimited option or let the purchaser know the number limits ahead of time. As a teacher I have many books and even after purchasing the supposed unlimited option was only able to put in 50 books and now asking for more money. Makes this teacher not very happy.
- [R13] iCollect Books Not free: You have to pay 29.99 to enter more than 30 books
- [R16] iCollect Books Only 30 books allowed for free: As of 7/19/24, the max allowed of books scanned in for free is 30. This is ridiculous, as anybody who is scanning ISBN’s to add to a list has a large quantity of books
- [R7] iCollect Books Awesome app for large collections!: To tell you how much I love this app, let me start off by saying I don’t pay for apps. If it ain’t free, I don’t use them. But this one so impressed me after reaching my “free limit” of books that I decided to purchase the full version. And I have zero buyers’ remorse! And the one time a feature was added that was inconvenient, they responded quickly and chose t
- [R40] iCollect Books Scam!!!!: The app won’t stay open and they won’t refund me!! Useless also i did not have this issue until I paid for it. The free version did not do it. SCAMM!!!!! If you ask me.
- [R54] iCollect Books Perplexed: With the old app, I had books organized into genres. When the booms were uploaded to the new system, my categories disappeared. In addition, I have yet to figure out how to print my booklist. The Q & A is not not helpful and customer service is unresponsive.
- [R98] CloudLibrary I like this app.: The library apps have all improved over the years, but this one is the best. I love having such a great variety of books to read and/or listen to. Often I listen to books I would not ordinarily read and that opens up new worlds to me. Any time I’ve had a problem with the app or downloading a new one, I’ve been as ble to get help fixing it at my local library. Keep up the good wor
- [R19] iCollect Books Costs $30: $30 to have more than 50. $30. Insane.
- [R22] iCollect Books $30: You can add 30 books for free, after that you ha to lay 30 bucks?
- [R62] CloudLibrary Great resource: Love this app. Only downside is not being able to send the file to your kindle.
- [R76] CloudLibrary No Kindle paper white support!: I do not like that I have to read on my little phone or giant tablet. I wish it supported. Kindle
- [R78] CloudLibrary Good Online Library: I like being able to read a book online but it would be so much better if I could send it to my kindle. I don’t really like having to read on my phone (too little) or my tablet (too big). Also, I can’t find some of the books I’m interested in reading.
- [R81] CloudLibrary Not kindle compatible: No longer working with my kindle since update though it used to. Really wish it would be compatible again
- [R21] iCollect Books Review: The camera to scan books doesn’t work 😕
- [R39] iCollect Books I like it, but some annoying things: I really love the idea of this app. I love that I can list all the books I have on here and organize them by when I last read them. A couple of annoying things though: 1.) You have to manually put in the ISBN of each book which can be tedious. When I tried the camera option, it just told me that the ISBN might belong to another book and to manually put it in a
- [R69] CloudLibrary A lot of books are not available: Books that they do have are good. But not the biggest selection. I can look up titles of newer and older books and they just don’t have them.
- [R79] CloudLibrary Worthless!!!: I’ve yet to see a book or audiobook that can be checked out. Every day “everything” shows up as: Available in 11 days What a joke!!!!!!
- [R85] CloudLibrary This library needs a larger budget to be a decent source.: Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find a book to read in this library . I’m not looking for obscure novels. I’m looking for popular books and popular authors. They’re either not in the CloudLibrary or they are only on audio. I’m not interested in audio. I’m no longer interested in buying books the way I used to. Now once I read them I jus
- [R87] CloudLibrary New reads?: An easier way to request and receive new material. Not enough new books
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store