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Libby vs Storytel

Libby logo

Libby

Libraries

Free ebook and audiobook app from OverDrive, gated entirely on an active public library card

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Storytel logo

Storytel

Publishing

Unlimited audiobook and ebook subscription, strong in Europe and Latin America, no library card needed

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Libby has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Libby popular and new titles are frequently unavailable for weeks or months due to holds queues, which makes it unreliable for reading something the day you want to start it.; Storytel catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • They diverge on capability: Libby covers Library card authentication, Storytel covers Unlimited streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Libby and Storytel actually diverge.

Attributes where Libby and Storytel differ
AttributeLibbyStorytel
Starting priceFree$14.99/month
Pricing modelFree with a participating library card, no subscriptionPer user per month, unlimited
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Kindle (for ebooks)iOS, Android, Web
CategoryLibrariesPublishing

Identical on both: 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 Libby

  • Library card authentication
  • Holds queues
  • Multi-library support
  • OverDrive Read and Listen
  • Send to Kindle
  • Tags and shelves

Only in Storytel

  • Unlimited streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue
  • Kids profiles
  • Personalised recommendations
  • Multi-device sync

What people use each for

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

Libby

  • A reader who wants free access to bestsellers and is willing to wait weeks in a holds queue for popular new releasesnot Storytel
  • Someone who holds cards for multiple library systems and wants to widen their available catalogue in one appnot Storytel
  • A reader who wants ebooks sent directly to a Kindle without buying themnot Storytel
  • A budget-conscious reader who already pays library taxes and wants to use the benefit fully instead of also paying for Everand or Storytelnot Storytel

Storytel

  • A commuter who listens to several audiobooks a month and finds per-title purchase or credit systems expensivenot Libby
  • A reader tired of library holds queues who wants guaranteed instant access to anything in the cataloguenot Libby
  • A family wanting a shared subscription with separate kids profiles for audio contentnot Libby
  • Someone in a Storytel-strong market such as Sweden, Poland or Brazil where the catalogue depth is greatestnot Libby

Where each one falls short

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

Libby

  • Popular and new titles are frequently unavailable for weeks or months due to holds queues, which makes it unreliable for reading something the day you want to start it.
  • Borrow and hold limits are set per library, so the experience is inconsistent between library systems and can change without notice.
  • Not every library subscribes to OverDrive, and even those that do vary hugely in how many digital copies of any given title they can afford to licence.
  • It requires a real library card tied to residency or another eligibility rule in most systems, so it is not available to everyone regardless of willingness to pay.
  • There is no offline bulk downloading beyond what is borrowed, and loan periods expire automatically, returning the book whether or not you finished it.

Storytel

  • Catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • Access stops the moment you cancel, so a lapsed subscriber loses the ability to continue books they were partway through, unlike owned audiobook purchases elsewhere.
  • Its ebook catalogue is meaningfully smaller than dedicated ebook services, so heavy ebook readers may find it thinner than expected.
  • It competes on unlimited access, so heavy listeners get better value than light users, who may find a credit-based service like Libro.fm or Audible cheaper per book.
  • Pricing and plan structure have changed by market over time, so the number of concurrent profiles and exact price should be checked for your specific country.

Pricing, plan by plan

Libby

Free
  • LibbyFree
    • Free with an eligible library card
    • Borrow limits set by your library, not Libby
    • Holds queues on licensed copies

Storytel

$14.99/month
  • Storytel$14.99/month
    • Unlimited audiobook streaming
    • Smaller unlimited ebook catalogue
    • Offline downloads

Which should you pick?

Choose Libby if

  • You need library card authentication.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Kindle (for ebooks).
  • You also want holds queues.
Libby review

Choose Storytel if

  • You need unlimited streaming.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Storytel review

Questions people ask

Is Libby or Storytel better?
Neither clearly leads. Libby starts at Free and Storytel at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Libby or Storytel?
Libby has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Libby and $14.99/month for Storytel.
Does Libby or Storytel run on more platforms?
Libby runs on iOS, Android, Web, Kindle (for ebooks). Storytel runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Libby for free?
Yes. Libby has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Storytel starts at $14.99/month.
What is Libby best used for?
Libby is most often used for a reader who wants free access to bestsellers and is willing to wait weeks in a holds queue for popular new releases, someone who holds cards for multiple library systems and wants to widen their available catalogue in one app, a reader who wants ebooks sent directly to a kindle without buying them, a budget-conscious reader who already pays library taxes and wants to use the benefit fully instead of also paying for everand or storytel. Of those, a reader who wants free access to bestsellers and is willing to wait weeks in a holds queue for popular new releases and someone who holds cards for multiple library systems and wants to widen their available catalogue in one app are not what Storytel is typically brought in for.
What can Libby do that Storytel cannot?
Libby covers Library card authentication, Holds queues, Multi-library support, OverDrive Read and Listen. Storytel covers Unlimited streaming, Offline downloads, Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue, Kids profiles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Libby: Do I pay for Libby?

No, it is free, but you need an active card from a library that uses the OverDrive/Libby system.

Storytel: Do I need a library card for Storytel?

No, it is a paid subscription open to anyone regardless of library eligibility.

Libby: Why is the book I want unavailable?

Libraries licence a limited number of digital copies, so popular titles go into a holds queue just like physical books.

Storytel: Is access unlimited or credit-based?

Unlimited streaming while subscribed, not a credit system like Libro.fm or Audible.

Libby: Can I use Libby without a library card?

No, a valid card and PIN from a participating library are required for every feature.

Storytel: What happens to my books if I cancel?

You lose access to the catalogue, including anything you were partway through, since nothing is owned outright.

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