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Libraries · head to head

Hoopla vs PDAL

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
PDAL logo

PDAL

Libraries

Open source C++ library and command line tool for point cloud translation and processing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; PDAL it is a library and command line tool with no graphical interface, so anyone expecting to inspect, edit or visualise a point cloud needs entirely separate software.
  • They diverge on capability: Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, PDAL covers Format translation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hoopla and PDAL actually diverge.

Attributes where Hoopla and PDAL differ
AttributeHooplaPDAL
Pricing modelFree with a participating library card, capped by monthly borrow limitOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TVLinux, Windows, macOS

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 PDAL

  • Format translation
  • JSON pipelines
  • Ground classification filters
  • Reprojection
  • Rasterisation
  • Python bindings
  • Streaming mode
  • Cloud-native output

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 PDAL
  • A family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card appnot PDAL
  • A light-to-moderate reader whose habits fit comfortably inside a monthly borrow capnot PDAL
  • Someone using a Roku or Fire TV who wants library video content on the living room screennot PDAL

PDAL

  • A mapping agency building a repeatable pipeline that reprojects, classifies ground and tiles a national lidar datasetnot Hoopla
  • A developer converting client-delivered LAS files into cloud-optimised COPC for streaming to a web viewernot Hoopla
  • A researcher scripting outlier removal and DEM generation from drone lidar inside a Python notebooknot Hoopla
  • A survey firm automating quality checks on incoming point cloud deliveries rather than opening each file by handnot 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.

PDAL

  • It is a library and command line tool with no graphical interface, so anyone expecting to inspect, edit or visualise a point cloud needs entirely separate software.
  • Pipelines are written as JSON with filter-specific parameters, and getting classification results right requires understanding the underlying algorithms rather than tuning a slider.
  • Development depends heavily on a small contributor base and on public sector contract funding, which is a concentration risk for an organisation making it load-bearing.
  • There is no vendor support tier to purchase; paid help means a consulting engagement, which suits an agency with a procurement process and suits a small firm poorly.
  • Error messages and documentation assume geospatial and command line fluency, so the practical adoption cost is staff capability rather than licence fees.

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

PDAL

Free
  • PDALFree
    • BSD licence
    • Library, command line tool and Python bindings
    • No usage or seat limits

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 PDAL if

  • You need format translation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want json pipelines.
PDAL review

Questions people ask

Is Hoopla or PDAL better?
Neither clearly leads. Hoopla starts at Free and PDAL at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hoopla or PDAL?
Hoopla starts at Free and PDAL at Free.
Does Hoopla or PDAL run on more platforms?
Hoopla runs on iOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV. PDAL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Hoopla for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 PDAL is typically brought in for.
What can Hoopla do that PDAL cannot?
Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, Video and music, Monthly borrow cap, Comics and graphic novels. PDAL covers Format translation, JSON pipelines, Ground classification filters, Reprojection.

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.

PDAL: Is PDAL a product I can buy?

No. It is a free BSD-licensed library and command line tool. There is nothing to purchase.

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.

PDAL: Who maintains it?

An open contributor community with development led substantially by Hobu Inc, funded largely through US public sector contracts.

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.

PDAL: Can I get commercial support?

Only by contracting Hobu or an independent consultancy. There is no support subscription.

PDAL: Does it have a viewer?

No. Use QGIS, CloudCompare or a web viewer for visualisation; PDAL handles the processing.

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