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OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024
OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks app received 77 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks? Can you share your negative thoughts about overdrive: ebooks & audiobooks?
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OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks for Negative User Reviews
✓ Just okayIf it weren’t for the fact that it allows me to check out books for free, I would give it only 1 star. The user interface requires a lot of trial and error to figure out. The most surprising deficiency is that when you try to read a sample book to decide if you want to check it out, it lets you review the first few pages most or all of which are the title page, copyright, blurb, table of contents. 80 percent of the time you don’t get to see an actual sample of the writing so it’s impossible to decide if you want to check it out without checking it out first. This is especially problematic if someone else has checked it out and all you can do is place a hold. Or not. This is important when trying to find books for children to read, to see if the text is within their reading level. Speaking of reading level, when filtering a search by reading level, the results are all over the place. Rarely are they accurate. I have mentioned this to the developers in feedback but have not received a response. Needless to say, this drastically reduces the utility of this app for finding books for children..Version: 3.7.4
✓ Pros and consIt easy to borrow books, the app doesn't crash and have a good range of interesting books, the only problem is the time that you can have the book, is too short, would be better to extended from 14 days to a month so the people can be sure to read the book, other thing is that I didn't finish to read “flat broke with 2 goats” and the book is not available any more :(..Version: 3.7.6
✓ Love the app but...I went to a local library and they asked if I’ve used Overdrive and I said no. They gave me the info on how to download it and try. I downloaded and was instantly hooked, however, I quickly found that with some books there is only 1 copy to serve 120 counties in my state. I put a book on hold and after a 4 month wait for it, I forgot about it, and when I least expected it showed up but I just deleted it. Why is there only copy of some books and so many of others? From what I understand, libraries have to pay big money to be able to participate in Overdrive so there should be multiple copies of all the media that allow people to check out. I can understand a brick and mortar library not having multiples but we’re talking digital here. As a plus though it keeps me from having to drive twenty miles just to check out a book. Otherwise, I would have given the app 5 stars..Version: 3.7.7
✓ Very clumsy to use.I find this app somewhat clumsy to use. I much preferred RBDigital over this app. There are less audiobooks to borrow from this app also..Version: 3.10.0
✓ Frustrating!Mostly ok for ebooks. But trying to get an audiobook in English is driving me mad. I have scroll through pages and pages of titles in Chinese! It’s impossible to put in your preferences so you end up with some very weird stuff. It does not catch on to what you are reading so again you have to scroll through pages and pages of the same offerings that you have no interest in..Version: 3.7.4
✓ Didn't get better.The version from 5 years ago was better. This has gone from bad to worse. Fortunately there is Libby so that's what saves the day and me to tell you how bad this trashy app now became. But it gets a few more points for ability to get the mp3 files on the computer..Version: 3.10.1
✓ Bugs from the last update didn’t fix anythingSo the bugs that were meant to be fixed last update - namely the forgetting where you were up to when the app is open in the background fix - has not been fixed but has started actually happening now. I never had a problem before! I’ve just returned one book last night and tried to download another I’ve just borrowed and I can’t even download it! It shows up in my borrowed list, but it will not show up in the bookshelf or in the download files area. I hope this issue is fixed soon as I would like to read my book before it expires (and I can’t return it and try borrowing again as there is a big wait list on the book)..Version: 3.10.0
✓ Truly heinous typographyThis is an app to read books (among other media), so you would think they would have a typographer involved. Apparently not. The type is very poorly done. Spacing is bad, fonts are limited (you have all the iOS system fonts available, why not use them?), and worst of all, everything is fully justified—words are spaced out unevenly to make each line go all the way across the ‘page’ from the left margin to the right margin. That’s fine if you have a professional typesetter touching every detail to make sure it all remains readable, or even a good bit of software to handle it, but this is just dumb “we have three words on this line, so let’s have huge spaces even larger than those words to force them all the way across the ‘page.” Just stupid and unreadable when it happens across the entirety of a novel. If the developers insist on including this cardinal sin of typography, they could at least allow me to set it to ragged right margins (left-aligned) by myself, but no such option exists. …not to mention the terrible letter and line-spacing, on top of the terrible word-spacing justified type introduces. Fixing the type is not optional. The app is utterly broken until they hire a typographer to pull their heads out of their asses. iBooks gets this so invisibly right. Surely Overdrive can too..Version: 3.7.0
✓ DisappointedI have used Overdrive for several years but recent updates have me downloading books with giant text font that I am unable to change... a book that would typically be 400 pages or so is coming in at 5500 pages long. Disappointing at best..Version: 3.10.1
✓ Bad app since updateThis used to be my favourite app for borrowing from my library. Since the last update it is time consuming to log on. Now it says I have no loans. I was in the middle of reading a book and had quite a few borrowed and on hold. It also says I have no history. You have ruined a very good reading ap for me. I am rating it one star because there is nothing lower..Version: 3.8.4
✓ OverdrivenI have used ebooks, Kobe’s, for five years. After the first then the second started having problems I switched to using my phone and the overdrive app. There has always been issues with placeholders, both Kobo and on phone, that was just more than a nuisance. This problem has escalated to multiple page turns and on reopen half a chapter from where the book was closed. As this and Kobo software interface, Adobe, is free there is no support..Version: 3.8.4
✓ Second rateTo review the app rather than library ebooks, I find that the company has focused on other apps to the detriment of Overdrive. The dictionary is crap, there is no Wikipedia lookup. When you go to your bookshelf you lose your spot browsing the library collection. Newer versions of Overdrive tend to not be compatible with older devices. They did add a keep your page synced across devices feature a few years ago, which is nice. I also like support for having multiple libraries, though better syncing across them would be nice. Also, the possibility of using multiple accounts for the same library (e.g. for when I want to put a title on hold for my kid) would be nice. Finally, keeping your page across borrows would be great - I only occasionally finish a book in the allotted time, so keeping the last page I read would help immensely. Kindle does it! Overall, it's just okay. I sort of worry they take advantage of my library..Version: 3.7.5
✓ Difficult to return booksWhy is it so difficult to return a book? It isn’t in the right hand menu or the left and it does not seem to be available from bookshelf. Eventually, at some point, it will pop up, but no idea what the trigger is. And no, i may not have finished reading the book before returning it..Version: 3.8.6
✓ Long time user- but currently troubledI would give this app a 10 if I could as I’m a long time user. I’ve tried other apps in hopes to get more of a selection only to realize this is the best. I’m troubled as I recently changed my selection from General adult to teen to change up the selection of titles. Only to find that I can’t change back. I’ve switched to general adult, too all titles, and mistakenly to kids. Nothing works. Now I’m stuck on Kids and teens and can’t search for authors of adult literature. I’ve logged out and turned off my device. The app was updated today so if this was a glitch I expected to have it fixed. Maybe no one else complained so that’s why I’m finally submitting a review. My current work around is to borrow books on my secondary device. Once the book has made it to my loan section I can then download to my primary device. My holds work in this same fashion so I’m still able to enjoy them when available. My next plan is to save my history, delete the app, reboot my device, and then download again. Oh! Can you bring back the ability to search by alphabetical title or author? It’s a time sync to have to click through 100’s of titles or authors if you want to look within the center of the alphabet. I sort by author usually..Version: 3.7.8
✓ IneffectiveI am unable to use the app on my ipad or samsung smartphone, I keep getting a message “Library server message - An unexpected error has occurred” every time I try to login using my library card number. Until yesterday it worked fine on my samsung smartphone. I could get it to work on my Huwai tablet but that’s not so handy to carry around..Version: 3.10.0
✓ Good but has it’s FaultsOverdrive is great mainly because it gives me access to the online library service. With due credit since I first started using it they have improved it in a few ways but it took me ages, and actually finding an independent article by randomly searching a question on Google, to work out how to share a book I had downloaded between my two idevices. It is very cumbersome to do and my assumption was that the sync mode would automatically share the book but instead you have to go to Loans and download it on the separate device. See, unnecessarily complicated especially when you first start using it. Also the latest fault I have is that the sync has stopped working. In the past I could upload the book to my iPad for at home and my phone when I’m out and each time I log in it would remember where I was in the book. Now it refuses to do this at all and actually you can’t even note the page number you’re on because the page numbers are literal to the device therefore more pages and different page numbers on the iPhone than on the iPad. It’s great for all those library books we have access to but I’m sad to say there is a lot they could do to make it simpler to use. It could be so Mogadishu otherwise. Also please fix the syncing bug!.Version: 3.7.3
✓ Ok but needs more workThis is the only option I have for borrowing e-books/audio books from my library so it’s not one I chose personally. (have no idea if this app is just for libraries or other resources) It’s ok to navigate but wish there were options such as being able to create a wish list for audio books and a wish list for print, or a way to separate them when viewing. Limitations on the number of books on hold is too low when you consider that there could be 30+ holds in front of you and that holds can be placed prior to a book being released. Again, this might be a function of my library, not sure. When searching for books it is difficult to exclude sub-genres such as vampires. Also have issues with transferring from “loan” to “file” - at times downloading locks up my iPhone or iPad and I have to close out the app and try again. On numerous occasions I will be half or 3/4 of the way through an audio book and it will randomly delete ALL files. Not only do I have to download the entire audiobook again I have to figure out where I left off. Frustrating. IMO it could be much more user friendly..Version: 3.7.4
✓ Very frustratingActually reading a book and switching between phone and tablet is good. But, and in my eyes it is a big but, you only get the book for 14 days. You cannot renew it straight away! You then have to request the book again and wait for it to be available. I’m am waiting to borrow a book for the third time so I can finish it ( I only have a few pages to go) - and so far I have been waiting 5 weeks this time (and I’m still not at the front of the queue) and I waited 4 weeks last time. It hugely detracts from a great read when you cannot finish the book because it vanishes from your bookshelf. It is not always possible to read a book in just 2 weeks - life etc gets in the way. I would much prefer to wait longer for the book in the first place and know I can keep it until I have finished it. It is also very difficult to then borrow the next book in a series as you don’t know when you will finish to first one, so you don’t know when to request the next book. Please can we take out books like we do with printed books and renew them after 2 weeks without having to hand them back. This will put people off reading when libraries are meant to encourage reading..Version: 3.7.5
✓ What is going on lately?!?I haven’t been this frustrated with app since the ATT business mobile app. It’s gotten so glitchy!! Frequently when I down load a book, it will stop at the end of every downloaded section and say there’s an error with the next section, so I basically have to read-download each section again as I go. Also, it lost all my library info recently on a road trip, in the middle of listening to an audiobook. It made me log back in to my 2 libraries, accepting neither login. I had to finally to buy books on Audible just to finish the book we had started and had intended to listen to on our road trip. Lastly, the screen kept going back, so I turned my phone on and off. And it stuck...on the boot up screen. After several calls to Apple, I finally had to hard reset my iPhone XR and lose all my data. I’ve re downloaded it and am now getting the error messages again..Version: 3.8.6
✓ No longer syncs between devicesI have a couple issues with this app: -no longer syncs between devices and I have tried everything -cannot organize my bookshelf Used to be a better app but it is not user friendly at all.Version: 3.10.1
✓ Plus and minusThe recent improvements over the past year are making it easier to use and less clunky, however in the past few weeks more books I've downloaded have the error error on line xx at column xx: Opening and ending tag mismatch: style line 0 and appoverride. One book I waited weeks and weeks for. I was sure you used to be able return a book and have a day or two to renew it - I tried this to redownload the book as a possible fix for the error, but it went straight back to wait list :-(. Tried the troubleshooting for this error from the website on a second book with this error, nothing worked. I have an up to date iPad..Version: 3.7.2
✓ E-books inaccessible with voice over screen reader on iPhoneThis app is awesome for searching the collection and reading audio books, but its impossible to use the voice over screen reader with iPhone to read e-books. Visually impaired readers need this app to be entirely accessible since we cannot read print books. Please improve e-book accessibility with voice over for iPhone..Version: 3.8.4
✓ Wayfaring StrangerI too find this app difficult. I am using for audio and have trouble working out whether or not the book is downloaded; where to find my loans to see if they have downloaded; cannot seem to return when I have finished - which would allow others to access before my loan expires. I find Borrow Box much more straightforward. Once I have the book it plays well without any problems but getting there is tricky..Version: 3.8.1
✓ Good but sharing between devices not possibleI love having the means to download and read library books, but when one of my devices died I found I was unable to download the title to another device with the same library account. If there is a way to do it, I couldn’t find it. And because the book was in demand with a number of holds, it’s back to the end of the queue for me. Sharing between devices would be useful..Version: 3.7.4
✓ Hate the new holds “upgrade”I love Overdrive for the most part, but I really hate when a company removes a valuable feature and absurdly tries to pretend that they’re doing us a favor in the process. The auto checkout feature wasn’t removed because you wanted to give us “more control”; it was clearly removed because Overdrive doesn’t want auto checkouts to exist anymore. If not—if it was really done as an altruistic library patron benefit—than of course you would have done the obvious thing: provide an option for us to continue utilizing auto checkout or not. You made it less convenient for patrons by removing a feature that worked. Now instead of simply having a long awaited book waiting for me the next time I sign in, I have to go through multiple steps to retrieve it and have it on my device. The dishonesty bothers me as much as the inexplicable downgrade, so I’m downgrading my 5 star rating to 3 stars for now..Version: 3.8.6
✓ The most frustrating app.I tried this for a while. There is a huge problem with the book borrowing process. If you go to the library you usually have to wait a long time to borrow any popular book. That’s ok I guess, but the issue is with the checkout. The app checks out the books automatically, but it doesn’t notify you. So, you have a book that’s checked out to you but not downloaded. When I go to the library next, I often see it says I checked out books and they are expired. Well I never knew. This is why all the books are on wait list. They are checked out to people that don’t know so they can’t read them. Then you get back on the list. 4 months later it checks out the book but doesn’t tell you, again. Also, many of the books fail in the middle and you can’t read the end. Sometimes by deleting the book and reloading it a few times it will fix it. Basically a useless program that’s destroying libraries system of checking out books. Why?.Version: 3.7.3
✓ AppI’m just going round in circles with this thing, frustrating app!.Version: 3.7.5
✓ The Least of AppsThis app is the worst book finding downloading app I have, It is an absolute swine to use, slow to a fault, and extraordinarily clumsy to operate. As for settings, it seems that they are a one time thing,I have to set the subject every time I open this ridiculous thing. Audiobooks... I hate them and can’t turn them off, so many times I thought a book was there to read only to find that it was the misbegotten child of radio.. an audiobook ! The collection ? my library has now started offering me books I have owned for more than thirty years (not Overdrive’s fault)..Version: 3.7.4
✓ Difficult app to useSays you’ve downloaded a book but can’t read it?? As it dosnt show in your library but shown as downloaded in the account?? Too complicated to try and borrow a book.Version: 3.7.3
✓ Something appears to have gone wrongI have been using this app for ages and it has been perfectly reasonable to read my library books. However, recently a change has occurred where it makes it more difficult to read. Immediately after the chapter start or a break between paragraphs the line spacing goes awry and then returns to normal a paragraph or two later. It cannot be the source book as I also use BorrowBox for another library I am a member of and they appear perfect in that app. Please fix this problem..Version: 3.7.7
✓ Good collection, very confusing structureThe process I have to follow to read a new book is: select my library, go to my library, search for a title, select that book, ask to loan it, then it get put in loans, then I need to go download it, then I have to go to bookshelf(which is a different place), and finally once there I can open my book. This is convoluted. Other Apps can just open the book directly from loaning it. And land you on the search page..Version: 3.7.4
✓ OverdriveI used to love this app, but lately it is so screwed up, I want to tear my hair out. The libraries are wasting their $$ on this app. It takes several tries just to download a book, and then the font is so large the book is unreadable. FIX THIS UP OVERDRIVE!.Version: 3.10.1
✓ Libby OverdrjveWhat a convoluted mess. Cant get out of overdrive. Seems Libby and overdrive are connected so not sure which is which! Need to get technicians that simplify rather than complicate. One website instead of many-ORL, BIBLIOCOMMONS, PRESSREADER, OVERDRIVE, LIBBY. Various phone call help gives different answers. I am fairly tech savvy but this is driving me crazy, like a previous writer said, going around in circles. KISS. Thanks for listening..Version: 3.10.1
✓ Font sizeWith this latest version the font size has gotten so big I can get 10 letters on a page and can’t get it back to normal.Version: 3.10.0
✓ NopeTerrible 😡.Version: 3.10.0
✓ Clunky and confusing dual loginsThe app works ok, once you figure out that its login is only the first step to checking out books. You need a library account for each of the libraries you want to use (I have three). Each of those accounts also need a login for the app to actually connect. It’s never exactly clear which one is in use. Some of the menu choices re-prompt you for a login at a time when you thought you were already logged in. Some books can be read with Kindle, which is much better than the e-book reader that other books might use. Not all books are published in Kindle format. I haven’t used any other app to check out books, so cannot comment on that aspect. Some questions get referred to your library’s help desk, others must be handled by the developers. I have used this app for several years and checked out dozens of books. Not much experience with audiobooks..Version: 3.8.6
✓ Long time user with concernsWhile I have used OverDrive for several years now and have thoroughly enjoyed it, I am now concerned with changes in the app. Since upgrading my phone from iPhone 6 Plus to iPhone eight, the app now does not allow me to adjust the spacing in my e-book. I prefer reading in doublespaced or even triple spaced pages but now all I get are single-spaced pages. What happened? Even when I select double space from the options menu, it comes back single-spaced. I tried deleting the app and reinstalling it once I got my new phone, but then I lost the ability to download the book I had been reading. Even though it was checked out to me, it wouldn’t let me download because it said it was checked out to a different account. I had to call the library and they had to move me up to the top of the waiting list for me to download it again. According to the library tech person I spoke with, this is not an uncommon problem. To add to my frustration, I have found no way to contact overdrive to share these concerns. I guess my only option is to write this review and hope somebody at Overdrive actually reads this and cares enough to try and fix these problems..Version: 3.7.3
✓ Some SuggestionsI use overdrive to check out audio and ebooks using my library card info. It’s great and I’ve read so many more books because I have it. A super downside with overdrive is how popular it is. The waiting list takes forever on popular books. I thought it might help if it were easier to return a book when you have finished. Especially ebooks. I haven’t figured out how to return a book I borrowed so I gave up and will wait until it expires. Anywhere I see the title there should be a return button. And a pop up message that says return book or cancel when you’ve reached the last page wouldn’t be a bad idea either. I also wish there was a way to pass on books when they become available to you but you’re not ready to read them yet. Like I will put a hold on a book and months later I get an email saying it’s available for 2 weeks. Well that also happens to be a busy time for me so I can’t read it and it ends up sitting on my bookshelf checked out until it expires. I have to sign up again for the waiting list and the whole time somebody else could have been reading it. I wish there was a way to let the next person go ahead of you in line until you’re ready to read it. These are my suggestions!.Version: 3.7.3
✓ I love the app. It is a blessing.I have missed my audiobooks cause my library card expired in December and I couldn’t get it renewed. So today I was able to get to a Library that uses the same Library system and overdrive and is a library branch to the original library. Hoping since I was able to keep the same card info and same library system that I could pick up where I left off. Nope.... I’ve AGAIN lost all my recommendations, history of books listened to, wish list, etc. I have to start all over again. 😡🤦♀️. It would be so nice if it was in “my account” would carry over if a library needed to be changed. I understand partly why it doesn’t, but there has to be some way that it could. At least maybe be able to keep the history and give an option of “ would you like to recommend this book to the library since they don’t have it.” Swap the wish list over to the new library and just get in line with theirs with a message that says you have been moved back in line or something like that. This is so frustrating. “Good feeling gone!” (Quote from Nemo, Dori).Version: 3.10.1
✓ Can’t do anythingThis app is driving me bonkers. I went to loan an ebook from my library which was all good until i accidentally selected ePub instead of PDF. It came up with an error saying that my device doesn’t support that type of file. I couldn’t change the format because apparently it had already downloaded but when i went to my bookshelf it wasn’t there so I couldn’t change the format, I couldn’t return it and i cant delete it. I tried to find some sort of support but couldn’t find any. So i went and tried to download another ebook this time choosing PDF BUT it came up with an error again stating that my device doesn’t support PDF, however, i know this isn’t true. I just can’t do anything, its so frustrating..Version: 3.7.0
✓ Please add more slower speed options.I love the simplicity of this app but I can’t understand why there’s multiple options to speed up the audio reading but only one option to slow it down ie to half the speed which is much too slow and distorts the reading. The current book I’m listening to has been recorded so fast that it’s a struggle and I think it is badly read when there’s not much pausing. If I could slow it down to 90% or 80% I could keep up. But I only have the option of half which makes it unbearable too and robotic. Not sure if I can persist with such a fast read even though the story seems really well written. Please add more slower speed options..Version: 3.8.0
✓ Can use some tweakingOverall, I like this app...at least now that I know how it works. I use it almost exclusively for audiobooks, so this review is really about those. It took me a while to figure out how to use the filters and how to go from the search to loans to files to the bookshelf so that I could actually listen to the darn book. It would also be nice if the way to return books early, before the auto return date, was more obvious. I bet the waitlists wouldn't be so long if it was easier to figure it out. My guess is that lots of people don't even realize they CAN return the books early. Also, I tend to like to know how long an audiobook is before I check it out. I haven't found a way to find out in this app. There are definitely some good features. The filters, once you know how to use them, are really, really good. The PLAY screen has forward and back 15 seconds so that if you miss something, you can go back and check it out without getting lost, which is nice. It also goes back a few seconds after it's been paused, so that you can recognize where you were when you stopped last. Overall, once you've got everything figured out though, it works great!.Version: 3.7.3
✓ Print too large since 3.10.0 update on OverdriveReturn print size to previous size. Overdrive has more benefits than Libby as mentioned in many reviews other than here and I prefer to stay with Overdrive, please return print size just prior to 3.10.0 update..Version: 3.10.0
✓ Not so goodFor reading books it's great but when I try to get one from our library it keeps crashing. It takes on average about 6 tries before I can actually borrow a book..Version: 3.8.6
✓ Terrible for MagazinesThe magazine interface is absolutely garbage. I used to have access to RB Digital but my local library has switch to this platform and wow. No. On RB Digital you could switch your screen to a “reader view” which was great for long form journalism like The New Yorker. Now you can only zoom in my using a zoom feature. You aren’t even able to do it by pinching your fingers which has been a feature on touch screen devices since their infancy. Super disappointed. I will not be using this app..Version: 3.10.0
✓ No more physical trips to the libraryWhich is great if your library isn't really close by. There is a lot of room for improvement in this app, most of which has been covered by others. The feature I want to see is an addition of a 10 minute option in the sleep timer. 5 minutes is too short and 15 is too long as I often fall asleep before it finishes and have to backtrack the next day. I also wish that if books are part of a series, that the entire series would be available. I hate starting a series only to find that books 3-5 are missing. Or only the third book of a trilogy is available through the app. The one feature that is an absolute necessity, is an option for consecutive downloads for audio books instead of concurrent. My internet connection is slow and when all parts of a book are downloading at once, it takes an hour or more before I can start listening..Version: 3.7.0
✓ Worst company experience.I'm writing an overdrive review of the whole online experience since they've disabled your ability to review anywhere else. Worst online experience I've ever had to navigate. They need to hire some competent IT people to make their websites and apps actually work. I wish I could get back all the useless hours I've spent trying to make this garbage program work. Have fun digging in the depths of their site!.Version: 3.7.5
✓ Please fix the update.I’ve used this app for years but with the latest update, the font has blown up in size and I have over 4000 pages instead of the hundreds. What is going on? Will wait for a reply before deleting, as I really enjoyed this app..Version: 3.10.1
✓ OverdriveHi can anyone help me with this app. I am trying to sync my iPad and my iPhone to this app, which it says I can do, but it keeps telling me that I have downloaded this e-book using a different card. I have logged out of both units and resigned in with the same library and same card. It shows me all the same books on both units. So how do I get them to sync help please..Version: 3.8.1
✓ FrustratingWas assured that overdrive was now much easier to use, so have wasted an hour fluffing around with it. After looping through the sign in process at least four times (sign in with your library card; sign into overdrive; library card etc etc grrr) I can finally borrow. But it’s stuck on teens. Pressed every darn thing on screen, but still stuck on teens. When I finally borrowed something, it wouldn’t download. No wonder I always recommend the other library app to my patrons..Version: 3.7.3
✓ ObsoleteThis worked fine with our 1st gen iPad mini until yesterday. Is it really necessary to remove support from more basic platforms? The very nature of libraries and being able to borrow books is surely to enable and empower everyone to access literature. By deciding not to support more basic devices you deprive those experiencing digital poverty and prioritise those able to access literature in its various forms anyway. This doesn't feel right, particularly at a time when jobs are under threat, money is tight and the opportunities to buy new devices as a result has plummeted. All at a time when access to resources in a digital environment is soaring because people have no option to engage in social activities in real life. Please reconsider making your app available to all regardless of their financial status..Version: 3.9.0
✓ Clunky and difficultI find this app annoying to use. There are too many steps to getting your book downloaded. Once you’ve chosen your book, you then have to find your account, then the loans page and download your titles. This isn’t the end though. You then have to go & download them. On a few occasions they have not downloaded & Ive given up on the title. I love having access to the library books, but would love the app to be more intuitive..Version: 3.7.3
✓ Why Not all booksITS SOOO ANNOYING FOR THE BOOK to be gone and theres not alot of books aweful app😡😡😡😠😠😠.Version: 3.10.0
✓ Mixed emotionsI struggled between giving the app of four or three. I love being able to have book on my phone and tablet. However, there are some difficulties in learning how to navigate the website. The biggest difficulty I have had and it took me five years to figure it out, with how to return books early. Let me clarify that, return books early that I’ve started. If I have an open them it easy to return them. The other bit of a rub for me is a shortage of books and some areas. You can request them and that’s great. Sometimes you get them, and sometimes you don’t get them. And I understand why that is the way it is. What is difficult to request is audiobooks. Plus in series of books, they may have some in the series, and not others in the series. This is frustrating. All that being said, I enjoy the service of being able to have Books easily and effortlessly. And, I don’t have to worry about being overdue..Version: 3.7.3
✓ Overdrive over the topI have used this program for several years now and find it is confusing, difficult to get books etc. it takes about 5 pages to get you chosen book into your bookcase which then lets you borrow a book or up to ten books for 21 days. If I find easier sites to use I will be gone from overdrive..Version: 3.8.1
✓ Completely inaccessible.As a severely site impaired user, totally reliant on voice-over, I have to say that the OverDrive app is totally inaccessible. There is no logic to the way it is set out, searching for books is almost impossible and when you do find the book you want, trying to listen to it is a minefield. This is such a shame, audiobooks offer blind people chance of some entertainment, but this app is so frustrating to use, I just wish the developers had a little bit more intuition with regards to accessibility..Version: 3.7.3
✓ Needs some modificationsApp overall is ok because of the large selection but it definitely lacking in some areas. For one, it will tell you the book has 1 day left before it expires but it may just have 15 Min left. Numerous times I’ve thought I had all day but then it expires with just a few min left on the book, today’s expired book had less than 4 Min left. Very frustrating. Also, if the book expires before you finish it and it is available for download again at that time it should ask you if you want to re-check the book. The app should also let you save certain settings, for example if you usually just use the app for audio books, you should be able to save that setting. There should also be just a box you can check for only titles that are available now instead of going through all that stuff in advanced search. There should be something like a holiday genre for books such as Christmas books and so on. And finally, it should download the chapters in order so you can start listening immediately or very soon. Most of the time it starts downloading in the middle sections of the book and the first chapter is usually the last to download. Just my thoughts, hope some updates are on the way..Version: 3.7.3
✓ Clunky app, limited selectionI have been using this app for a long time and I find it be extremely clunky. It takes a long time to load/seems to be frozen sometimes when first opened. Also features like Holds and Loans are too buried. Rather than just clicking the hamburger icon on the top left where you’d think these things would be (along with your Bookshelf), instead you have to select your library, then the hamburger icon on the right, then My Account which takes you to some but not all of your app activities. The location of features is not at all intuitive. And note: “Account” and “My Account” take you to different bits of information... Last but not least, it’s maybe not to be blamed on the app, but my library (in a major city) has such a limited selection, and they’re frequently missing parts of a series! Cringe. I’ll read part 1 and 2 and then 3 doesn’t exist in their collection. So frustrating! And there’s no easy way to make requests to your library through the app..Version: 3.8.4
✓ Libby is betterI used Libby until something happened and it would connect to my libraries anymore. Tech support couldn’t fix it. This reader is harder to navigate. Bookmarks are not reliable. It’s hard to know where you are in a book. Libby does it better. This reader is better than nothing, which is where I would be since Libby stopped working..Version: 3.10.0
✓ Oddly designed but functionalI have been using the app for a while now and it works fine, but it’s clunky and it feels like a few changes would help immensely. For instance. A book is downloaded in parts. You can listen to the book after the first part is downloaded. Why not prioritise downloading the first part before all others? You hang around while all the later parts download before the first one. It seems like common sense. Anyway, improvements can be made but it works okay..Version: 3.8.6
✓ Far more complicated to use than it should beEvery so often I come back to this app because I’ve exhausted the supply of the style of books I like to read. Then I realise why I leave it again. It is terrible to navigate! The interface is frustrating! Once the book is downloaded, you are ready to go, but, my god! The process to get there is frustratingly clunky! I don’t understand how an app can be so bad when apps like BorrowBox and Libby can be a breeze. You need to have a hard look at how to improve this interface for the average reader. It’s a nightmare!.Version: 3.8.6
✓ Over drive? Under perform!!App has very limited features compared to other eReaders I’ve used (e.g. no ‘go to furthest page read’ button), interface can be counterintuitive/confusing, and app is buggy. Two things drive me absolutely mad: 1. there is zero warning that the book you’re reading is about to expire in the next day or two (or even the next hour or two) - no badge, no message, no notification - you just turn the page and get a message to say the title has expired and would you like to delete it from your library (and what a Clayton’s choice that is, there’s only one button to click!) 2. When you return to reading after a few hours, the book doesn’t open to the place you left off. It opens to a blank white page (even if your settings are for black background with white text) at the beginning/end of the chapter. Usually the beginning, but occasionally the end, just to mess with your head! And you can’t get around it by bookmarking your page, because the bookmark will also take you to the beginning/end of chapter rather than actual page. Utterly useless when there are 50 pages to a chapter! The only reason I use it is that my library has titles available on Overdrive that aren’t available elsewhere..Version: 3.10.0
✓ Gone from bad to a real struggle!When trying to sign into overdrive (after using the much easier Libby app) getting it to choose my library was a nightmare. Once you eventually find your cities resources, it then asks for an actual library in my area. The problem is my library was not even listed!? Then it wanted to verify my email. After 3 attempts finally there was an option to accept. Also my files section and history are not working - even after adding a whole heap the night before, and having history. There’s also nothing listed in my bookshelf - when I know there is items borrowed? It would also be good to list actual library books borrowed from my councils library service, and remind you/ability to renew (have push notifications) of when they are due? The interface is also slow and clunky, like a slow browser based interface. A LOT needs improving in this app, that’s for sure!.Version: 3.7.3
✓ Better than othersI’ve been using this app for awhile now mainly to read books offline. Downloading is easy BUT it takes ages to open a book offline. I read on my iPad & I only have wifi at home so at work, in my truck, I don’t have wifi & it can take 1-2mins to open a book. Considering I have downloaded the book it should open within seconds..Version: 3.8.1
✓ FRUSTRATINGThis is the most frustrating, convoluted, annoying app I have ever used. It sends you in circles. Even after figuring out how to run the app NOT in safari, it still requires too many buttons to figure out. Then it switches screens too many times. You can’t go “back”. You have to start all over. Terminology is inconsistent. Plus you have to go in and out of your library. When you press download it does not download. You have go back out to files to find it, then download. When you click on the file download or the icon of the book in the “files” you cannot open the book!! Then you have go out and try try again. Horrible horrible horrible. It should be this easy: 1. Log in 2. Pick title 3. Press download 4. Start reading/listening 5. The end..Version: 3.7.3
✓ Connect to kindleI would love to ba able to conect this book to my kobo kindle so that I’m not reading with a back lit screen that would make this service absolutely perfect for me..Version: 3.8.1
✓ Used to Work well!Changing my original review from a couple of years ago. This program used to work very well, in fact. This latest update won't even finish starting up on my iPad. Too bad..Version: 3.7.0
✓ Weird glitch since last updateThis app was pretty great - a few too many steps to download a book but oh well. Since the last update there is a weird glitch when you leave a book open on the app. When you come back to it doesn’t return to the page you've left. Mine opens to a blank white screen. When you swipe (either direction) it skips you randomly back several pages or ahead with no rhyme or reason to the number. Super annoying. It’s been commented on by others but bears repeating - PLEASE FIX..Version: 3.10.0
✓ BrightnessLatest update means the brightness setting always defaults to mid range every time even when reduced to the lowest setting - please fix.Version: 3.7.3
✓ Pretty goodI do not understand why there are not unlimited copies of every book, since it is digital it should not be restricted so much. Otherwise it is a good app.Version: 3.9.0
✓ Keeps crashingI enjoy reading. Being able to download books from my local library online and into a reader is just so convenient. The range of books available is quite extensive. However, lately it is crashing too often..Version: 3.7.4
✓ Truly the worst app ever. Wait. No. It’s the worst.This app should not have been released..Version: 3.10.1
✓ Better than not having an app like this, but frustratingI was so happy to hear of this app! However, it has been disappointing. First, it is far from offering the books that I want. So many are just not in “my library’s” collection! If I want them, I still have to buy the ebook or wait for interlibrary loans. Second, there are far more audiobooks than ebooks available, but I prefer reading to listening. Third, as others have commented, why is there such a long waiting list? It’s not like the books are paper and board. Can’t there be a licensing arrangement that allows books to be read by multiple people at once? The more people reading, the lower the fee should be. Fourth, Overdrive on my iPhone and iPad iOS has not been able to remember my sign-in. Fifth, the addition of the Libby app for reading is excellent. But I’m forever going back and forth between Overdrive and Libby, locating all the moving parts. I find it not intuitive and don’t fully understand what each app is for..Version: 3.7.6
✓ Gnashing teeth here tonightBeen using Overdrive for ebooks on my ipad since 2012 then it was" improved" and it was horrendous for approx a year got better but now June 2018 its messing about again. This evening have spent more than an hour trying to sign in, had not signed out but it told me my session had expired on both iPads! Did not like my sign in #s turned off both devices wiped out the previous info, kept telling me my pin # was wrong, tried signing in with Facebook and overdrive options no luck with either finally one "took" original library sign in, but not the other one tried again and again and finally in with both all original library Info. Is it this new privacy stuff that is screwing things around? Mind you it beats BorrowBox now that is clunky on an old ipad..Version: 3.7.5
✓ Doesn’t remember last page read.I have used this app for years and have found it very useful. However, recently it has stopped returning to the last page read when a book is closed and then reopened. Sometimes it opens at the beginning of the last read chapter and on other occasions it goes to the page beyond the last page read. Very frustrating!!.Version: 3.8.5
✓ Poor user interface undermines a good ideaI found this app very counterintuitive. It took me an hour to actually start reading after deciding to try the software. I had to log in 3 times to my library app before realising a separate app was required to actually read something. I am experiencing similar issues with ebooks. The idea is brilliant and makes literature more accessible, but the app itself is so bad that it off putting. I use it on an iPhone and dislike the swipe left to turn a page without the graphics found on google books. It also frequently has errors and you have to log in on a different day. I hope the app improves because the idea is so good..Version: 3.7.3
✓ Cant view holdsThis app doesn’t let you view holds. You have to go into your email to accept a hold that has come in for you. Books in your library don’t automatically sync to the app. Unless you’re checking constantly for whether your books are available, it’s a pain. Sometimes I tried to add them to the app and they just downloaded to my phone, without an option to select the right app. 3 stars because otherwise it’s good..Version: 3.10.0
🙂 OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks Positive Reviews
OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks works most of the time. If it is not working for you, we recommend you excersise some patience and retry later or contact OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks.
⛔ OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks Problems
