Softwr

Libraries · head to head

Hoopla vs OCLC WorldShare Management Services

Hoopla logo

Hoopla

Libraries

Free library streaming app with instant borrowing, capped by a monthly checkout limit set by your library

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OCLC WorldShare Management Services logo

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

Libraries

Cloud-based library management built on WorldCat

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Hoopla has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Hoopla the monthly borrow limit is a hard cap, so a heavy user runs out of checkouts partway through the month and simply cannot borrow more, unlike a queue they can wait out.; OCLC WorldShare Management Services no published pricing; custom quote model based on institutional needs
  • They diverge on capability: Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, OCLC WorldShare Management Services covers WorldCat cataloging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hoopla and OCLC WorldShare Management Services actually diverge.

Attributes where Hoopla and OCLC WorldShare Management Services differ
AttributeHooplaOCLC WorldShare Management Services
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree with a participating library card, capped by monthly borrow limitsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TVWeb, Mobile, Api
FoundedUnknown1967

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Libraries).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Hoopla

  • Instant borrowing
  • Video and music
  • Monthly borrow cap
  • Comics and graphic novels
  • Kids mode
  • Offline downloads

Only in OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • WorldCat cataloging
  • Circulation management
  • Acquisitions and invoicing
  • License management
  • Analytics and reporting
  • Interlibrary loan
  • WorldCat Discovery
  • Mobile circulation

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Hoopla

  • A patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queuenot OCLC WorldShare Management Services
  • A family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card appnot OCLC WorldShare Management Services
  • A light-to-moderate reader whose habits fit comfortably inside a monthly borrow capnot OCLC WorldShare Management Services
  • Someone using a Roku or Fire TV who wants library video content on the living room screennot OCLC WorldShare Management Services

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • Libraries relying on the shared WorldCat catalog for cataloging and resource sharingnot Hoopla

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hoopla

  • The monthly borrow limit is a hard cap, so a heavy user runs out of checkouts partway through the month and simply cannot borrow more, unlike a queue they can wait out.
  • Borrow limits and even Hoopla availability itself vary by library and can be reduced if a library needs to control its licensing costs, sometimes with little notice to patrons.
  • Because libraries pay per checkout, a library under budget pressure may cut its Hoopla limit or drop the service entirely, which is a risk outside the app.
  • The video and music catalogue is decent but noticeably smaller than Netflix or Spotify, so it is a supplement, not a replacement, for those services.
  • Audio and video quality and metadata are sometimes inconsistent, particularly for older or niche titles licensed from smaller distributors.

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • No published pricing; custom quote model based on institutional needs

Pricing, plan by plan

Hoopla

Free
  • HooplaFree
    • Free with an eligible library card
    • Monthly borrow limit set by your library, commonly 5 to 15 items
    • No holds queues, instant availability

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

On request
  • WMS Standard$undefined/year
    • WorldCat cataloging
    • Circulation management
    • Acquisitions
  • WMS Premium$undefined/year
    • Everything in Standard
    • License Manager
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Hoopla if

  • You need instant borrowing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV.
  • You also want video and music.
Hoopla review

Choose OCLC WorldShare Management Services if

  • You need worldcat cataloging.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want circulation management.
OCLC WorldShare Management Services review

Questions people ask

Is Hoopla or OCLC WorldShare Management Services better?
Neither clearly leads. Hoopla starts at Free and OCLC WorldShare Management Services at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hoopla or OCLC WorldShare Management Services?
Hoopla has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hoopla and On request for OCLC WorldShare Management Services.
Does Hoopla or OCLC WorldShare Management Services run on more platforms?
Hoopla runs on iOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV. OCLC WorldShare Management Services runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
Can I use Hoopla for free?
Yes. Hoopla has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OCLC WorldShare Management Services starts at On request.
What is Hoopla best used for?
Hoopla is most often used for a patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queue, a family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card app, a light-to-moderate reader whose habits fit comfortably inside a monthly borrow cap, someone using a roku or fire tv who wants library video content on the living room screen. Of those, a patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queue and a family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card app are not what OCLC WorldShare Management Services is typically brought in for.
What can Hoopla do that OCLC WorldShare Management Services cannot?
Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, Video and music, Monthly borrow cap, Comics and graphic novels. OCLC WorldShare Management Services covers WorldCat cataloging, Circulation management, Acquisitions and invoicing, License management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hoopla: Does Hoopla have holds queues like Libby?

No, everything is available instantly, but your library sets a monthly limit on how many items you can borrow.

OCLC WorldShare Management Services: What is the pricing for OCLC WorldShare Management Services?

OCLC does not publish pricing information for WorldShare Management Services. Pricing is customized based on institutional requirements. Institutions should request personalized guidance from OCLC experts.

Source
Hoopla: What happens when I hit my monthly limit?

You cannot borrow anything further until the limit resets, usually on the first of the next month.

OCLC WorldShare Management Services: How do I get a quote for WorldShare?

Contact OCLC through their website contact form or request personalized guidance from expert consultants to discuss your library's specific needs and receive a customized proposal.

Source
Hoopla: Does Hoopla include movies and music, not just books?

Yes, that is one of its main differences from Libby, which only offers ebooks, audiobooks and magazines.

Share

Related pages

More on Hoopla

More on OCLC WorldShare Management Services

Keep looking

Other head to heads