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• Hoopla Reviews: Is It Worth a Try in 2026?

Hoopla Reviews: Is It Worth a Try in 2026?

These days, more and more kids are used to having cellphones and tablets in their hands instead of books. In this setting, a digital library might be one of the most effective solutions to encourage your child to read. 

As a tutor, I often get asked if the Hoopla app is a solid option. That is why I’ve decided to collect and analyze Hoopla reviews for you to consider when making a choice.

Score summary

• Reliability: 8/10. The app is normally stable, with very rare bugs reported, but daily limitations that pop up in the middle of the day can be an unfortunate surprise for users.
• Content variety: 9/10. Great collection of comics, manga, movies, and music, especially those missing on other platforms.
• Ease of use: 9/10. The interface is user-friendly with only a few comments mentioning minor inconveniences.
• Sustainability: 5/10. The service is paid for by a local library system, not end users, which is forcing libraries to cut borrowing limits or even drop the service entirely due to high costs.
• Support service: 6/10. The app provides help to users, but it might take extra time to solve the problem.
• Cost: 10/10. For end users, it’s a free service, no subscriptions or hidden costs.

⭐Overall rating: 8/10

Math & reading from 1st to 9th grade

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Rating methodology

This review’s ratings are based on five factors: content variety, ease of use, sustainability, reliability, and value for money. Each factor is evaluated according to the most popular opinions in publicly available user feedback from Reddit and other sources.

For example, a 10/10 score means mostly positive feedback from people across different sources with very few complaints, while a 5/10 score indicates that user experiences are divided, with a noticeable share of reviews mentioning dissatisfaction with the app. Final scores illustrate the overall balance between positive and negative comments across all criteria.

How does Hoopla work?

Hoopla works in partnership with local libraries to provide you with books, movies, comics, music, and more. The best part is that this massive media catalog is free for you. Also, you can stream or download content right away. All you are going to need is your library card and the Internet signal.

Hoopla pros and cons

When I started looking for pros-and-cons type of Hoopla reviews, I immediately noticed that users seem to be in consensus about the platform’s abundant catalog of content. For example, as of April 2025, one active reader on Reddit commented that they usually find books on Hoopla, although they also search other apps.

As for audiobooks, it definitely seems to be a strong Hoopla advantage. This comment, published on Reddit in October 2025, praises Hoopla for its audiobooks variety. 

As for drawbacks, the biggest thing I’ve noticed is that alarmingly many reviews of Hoopla express user frustration over their local library system being forced to cut the service completely or, at least, implement strict borrow limitations due to rising costs. Here is a thread on Reddit, as of May 2025, discussing this issue.

Hoopla app reviews: Benefits

Although for some people a variety of content can be subjective depending on preferences and particular titles they are looking for, there are things where Hoopla is clearly on top of the list. Going through different reviews, it’s impossible to miss people complimenting the app for instant downloads and the quality of the audiobooks’ sound.

For example, this review of Hoopla on Reddit (as of October 2025) praises the audiobooks’ sound here.

I also came across a Hoopla audiobooks review from a senior user on Reddit who shares, as of January 2026, how this service might be the only option for people on fixed incomes to listen to audiobooks.

Hoopla reviews: Complaints

As I was looking for the most common complaints users voice, I concluded that technical glitches and daily limits seem to annoy people the most.

Because libraries have to set a limit on how much they can spend per day, you might find that you can’t borrow anything in the middle of the day. This “hidden” restriction can be really frustrating for people who need lots of content. As of February 2025, Hoopla reviews with complaints on Reddit mention this unpleasant scenario.

To add to that, some reviews of Hoopla point out the lack of notifications. This user shares on Reddit (as of January 2026) how you can forget to check out the content you downloaded because the app doesn’t remind you.

⭐Rating: 8/10

As shown by the reviews, the app’s reliability is quite high, but I take two points off for a few complaints about it glitching, issues with the search feature, and borrowing limitations.

Hoopla review: Does it match user requirements for a library?

Based on my review research, I would say that people’s views of Hoopla depend heavily on what they are looking for. So, if you’re after the latest, best-selling books, you might have to wait a while or use another service instead. Hoopla mostly has older stuff and things that aren’t very widely known. But if you’re into watching movies, TV shows, comics, and audiobooks, Hoopla is pretty much unmatched.

In terms of titles that aren’t the newest or most popular at the moment, they are the ones students might need for a niche history project or a deep dive into the topic. That’s why Hoopla is usually a better option when looking for such pieces. Here is a Hoopla app review thread on Reddit (featured as of January 2026) of users being amazed by the availability of so many content types and selection.

⭐Rating: 9/10

I give a high score for content variety since the service offers a huge amount of not just books but also comics, music, movies, and TV shows, which is very convenient and saves effort from looking for stuff on other platforms. Still, one point off, as users aren’t usually able to find the newest books.

Hoopla app review: Interface and navigation

To make a Hoopla library review complete, I had to dive into user comments on the app’s interface and overall usability.

People seem to be quite satisfied with the app’s design since I didn’t really find related complaints. Most users enjoy the features and usability. For example, one feature a person mentions in their Hoopla review on Reddit (as of February 2026) is the Binge Pass. Basically, it allows you to borrow a set of content (like a season of a TV show) for just one borrow credit for a week.

⭐Rating: 9/10

I give the app a high score for usability since the service seems to be user-friendly and easy to navigate due to convenient features.

Hoopla digital reviews: Is their support helpful?

Most reviews don’t mention customer support because they seem to rarely need it. However, when things go wrong, like a frozen or blank screen, the Hoopla digital reviews suggest that they can usually be solved by reinstalling the app or switching from Wi-Fi to 5G. Here is a thread on Reddit as of October 2025 discussing these struggles.

Another user in the same thread mentions a similar issue, which turned out to be due to Amazon’s server crash.

However, one user shared an error due to a registration issue, which took a lot of time to solve, even with support’s assistance.

⭐Rating: 6/10

I give the app’s support service 6 out of 10 points. I take 4 points away because, although the app provides help, the issues users face might take quite a long time to be processed and resolved.

How much is Hoopla?

We already know that Hoopla is free for readers. No hidden costs, upgrades, or paywalls. Just straight-up access if your library has it. Get your library card, and you’re good to go. But while you don’t have to pay anything, your local library covers the costs.

⭐Rating: 10/10

I give a high score to the app’s value for money since it’s completely free for readers.

Hoopla cost

So, libraries that partner with Hoopl typically pay between $0.90 and $3.99 per checkout. In total, it can be a huge amount. A thread on Reddit, as of October 2025, notes that it can be so expensive for libraries that they are forced to either introduce limitations or drop Hoopla completely.

Other replies on Reddit (as of the same period) written by library workers claim their libraries are doing the same.

⭐Rating: 5/10

I give sustainability only 5 out of 10 due to the very high cost for local libraries and the risk of the service being either limited or completely dropped.

Why is Hoopla so expensive?

The reason Hoopla is so expensive for libraries is its pay-per-borrow model. Basically, instead of the library buying a copy of an ebook (like they do with OverDrive), they pay a small fee every time you click “borrow”. This leads to unpredictable, high, and rapidly increasing costs. 

This is also why Hoopla might have titles you can’t find on other platforms, and vice versa. Here is a Reddit comment from a librarian (as of April 2025) explaining how that works.

So, is Hoopla safe and free? It is both, if you’re an individual learner. However, you’ll be largely dependent on your library decisions regarding this service.

What is the downside to Hoopla?

To review Hoopla in full, I decided to dig into comments where users who actually like Hoopla share what they consider a downside of the service. I can safely say that there is one thing readers agree on. And that is AI content. Here is a Reddit review from November 2025 complaining that the app does nothing to address this issue.

And here is a very recent Reddit discussion (as of January 2026) of readers also concerned with too many AI titles on the app.

And although users in replies mention that Hoopla now has features to remove or restrict such content, it doesn’t seem to be effective as of now.

How does Hoopla compare to its alternatives?

	Hoopla	Libby (Overdrive)	CloudLibrary
Waitlists	None (Instant)	Yes (Hold lists)	Yes (Hold lists)
Content type	Movies, Music, Books, TV	Books, Audiobooks, Magazines	Books, Audiobooks
Borrow model	Pay-per-borrow	One-copy/one-user	One-copy/one-user
Kindle support	No (Mobile/Tablet only)	Yes (In the US)	Limited
Best for	Diversity of media	Bestselling novels	Consistent book access

Most users compare Hoopla to Libby, so in terms of Hoopla vs Libby debate, the biggest difference besides content itself is that Libby offers Kindle support, but Hoopla allows for instant borrowing without waiting lines. So, users usually choose one or the other depending on their priorities. 

Brighterly as a fully-fledged learning support

While digital libraries are great, getting a book is just the beginning. Especially when it comes to kids. Reading is not always easy for them. This is where the Brighterly math    and reading platform can help. Reading tutors here provide the human assistance and feedback young readers need so much. Here is a Trustpilot review of a parent sharing how their kid loved their experience with the platform.

The Brighterly reading program is a chance to get a personalized learning plan for your kid. The educators work with kids from grades 1 through 9 and know how to make every child feel confident about reading and comprehending stories.

There are also engaging and visual reading worksheets that tutors use to turn reading practice into a game for children. And when the time comes to check progress, teachers offer interactive reading tests that are designed to be interesting and effective, but not stressful.

It’s great if your child uses Hoopla to read comics and listen to audiobooks. But to turn that into academic success, getting a professional tutor to guide their progress can be a great decision.

Hoopla reviews on Reddit

Hoopla reviews on Reddit are basically the main source for Hoopla feedback. Most of them are praising the service, although there are drawbacks we’ve covered above. For example, this Reddit user claims in their feedback as of August 2025 that the platform stands out as a great choice for those starting a new book series.

Another user mentions in their Reddit comment (as of February 2025) that their library dropped Hoopla for an alternative, which didn’t have the titles they wanted.

Verdict: Is Hoopla worth it?

Based on my analysis, I give Hoopla the following scores.

• Reliability: 8/10
• Content variety: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 9/10
• Sustainability: 5/10
• Support service: 6/10.
• Value for Money: 10/10

⭐Overall Rating: 8/10

So, is Hoopla legit and a good choice? If your library offers it, I would definitely encourage you to give it a try. It’s a great, free way to explore books and more, especially convenient for families who want a safe, diverse digital library with instant access to content for both parents and kids.

Hoopla is a good option for you if:

✅ You value instant access and don’t want to wait.

✅ Have kids who love comics, manga, and graphic novels.

✅ Enjoy niche movies and television series.

Hoopla isn’t the best option for you if:

❌ You want the recently released bestsellers from major publishers.

❌ Your library has very low monthly borrow limits for the service.

❌ You want to read borrowed books on Kindle or other ereader.

Next steps: Get personalized reading support with Brighterly

Judging by Hoopla reviews, the app seems to be a wonderful tool for getting kids to pick up a digital book. However, if your child is struggling to move beyond simple comics or is having trouble with school reading tasks, you might consider getting extra help.

While Hoopla is a source of material to read, a Brighterly tutor can be a helping hand that guides a kid through how to read it. The tutors notice your child’s unique learning style and ensure they don’t just read words; they also improve language and critical thinking skills.

So, with Brighterly tutors, you benefit from:

✅ 1:1 lessons adapted to your child’s pace.

✅ Expert educators who specialize in building literacy foundations.

✅ A curriculum that makes learning feel fun.

Ready to see the difference a tutor can make? Book free reading lesson today and see your child enjoy reading more and more.