Hoopla

Name: Hoopla
Brand: Hoopla

Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and comics for free with your public library card.

softwareE-Book Readerslibrary ebooksaudiobook streamingdigital lending

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Our Verdict

Best for

Library patrons who want instant, no-wait access to ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and comics through their library card.

Skip if

Your library doesn't subscribe to hoopla, since there's no way to sign up without one.

What is Hoopla?

Hoopla is a digital media service that lets patrons of participating public libraries and schools instantly borrow ebooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, TV shows, and music, with no holds or waiting lists. Content is available immediately the moment you borrow it, unlike traditional library ebook systems where popular titles often have long queues. Hoopla operates as a library-funded service: patrons access it for free through their library card, while the library itself pays for access and typically sets a monthly borrowing limit per patron. It is available through official iOS and Android apps as well as a browser-based player, and it offers offline downloading of borrowed titles for use without an internet connection.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentCloud/SaaS

Key Features of Hoopla

Lets patrons borrow ebooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, TV shows, and music instantly using a participating public library card, with no waiting lists or holds.

Provides official apps for iOS and Android, plus a browser-based web player at hoopladigital.com.

Allows offline downloading of borrowed titles in the mobile apps so patrons can access content without an internet connection.

Sets monthly borrowing limits determined by each partner library, rather than charging patrons directly.

Includes a large, frequently updated catalog spanning major publishers and studios, with a sitemap that regenerates daily.

Offers a dedicated kids' experience with age-appropriate content filtering for younger patrons.

Supports streaming movies and TV episodes in addition to traditional print-based library content like ebooks and audiobooks.

Operates as a library-funded service where public libraries and schools pay for patron access, so the end-user experience itself is free.

Use Cases for Hoopla

Reading ebooks without a wait

Patrons borrow popular ebook titles instantly instead of joining a hold queue like on other library apps.

Audiobooks on the go

Commuters stream or download audiobooks through the mobile app using their library card.

Family movie and kids content

Families stream movies, TV shows, and kids' titles included in their library's hoopla catalog.

Library digital collection strategy

Public libraries and schools license hoopla to give patrons on-demand digital access without managing physical holds.

Pros & Cons of Hoopla

Pros

No holds or waitlists - borrowed titles are available instantly if your library has hoopla.
Covers a wider range of formats than most library apps, including movies, music, and comics.
Completely free for patrons whose library participates, with no subscription fee to the end user.
Offline downloads make it usable for reading or listening without a live connection.

Cons

Only usable if your local public library or school subscribes to hoopla - it cannot be signed up for directly.
Libraries typically cap the number of borrows per patron per month, which can limit heavy users.
Catalog availability and title selection depend on what each library chooses to license, so it varies by library.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a library card to use hoopla?

Yes, you need a card from a public library or school that subscribes to hoopla to create an account and borrow titles.

Are there waitlists for titles on hoopla?

No, hoopla titles are available to borrow instantly, without holds or waiting lists.

Can I download titles for offline use?

Yes, the hoopla mobile apps let you download borrowed ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and more for offline access.

How much does hoopla cost?

It's free for patrons - your library pays for access, and libraries typically set a monthly limit on how many titles each patron can borrow.

Pricing Overview

View full pricing →

Free

Patron Access

Free

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