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Libraries · head to head

Hoopla vs Rollup

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
Rollup logo

Rollup

Web Development

JavaScript module bundler built for libraries

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.; Rollup slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript
  • They diverge on capability: Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, Rollup covers Tree shaking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hoopla and Rollup actually diverge.

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

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Rollup

  • Tree shaking
  • Clean output
  • Multiple output formats
  • Plugin API

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

Rollup

  • Publishing a JavaScript library in several module formatsnot Hoopla
  • Builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speednot Hoopla
  • Producing ES module output for consumers who will bundle it themselvesnot 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.

Rollup

  • Slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript
  • Application concerns like dev servers and hot reloading are not its job, so app builds need Vite on top
  • Configuration for non-trivial applications gets verbose compared with tools that assume more

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

Rollup

Free
  • RollupFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

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 Rollup if

  • You need tree shaking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want clean output.
Rollup review

Questions people ask

Is Hoopla or Rollup better?
Neither clearly leads. Hoopla starts at Free and Rollup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hoopla or Rollup?
Hoopla starts at Free and Rollup at Free.
Does Hoopla or Rollup run on more platforms?
Hoopla runs on iOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV. Rollup runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
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 Rollup is typically brought in for.
What can Hoopla do that Rollup cannot?
Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, Video and music, Monthly borrow cap, Comics and graphic novels. Rollup covers Tree shaking, Clean output, Multiple output formats, Plugin API.

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.

Rollup: Is Rollup free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

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.

Rollup: Rollup or webpack?

Rollup is the usual choice for libraries thanks to cleaner output and better tree shaking. webpack remains stronger for complex applications with heavy asset handling.

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.

Rollup: Do I need Rollup if I use Vite?

Not directly. Vite uses Rollup for production builds, so you already benefit from it.

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