Hoopla Review: Audiobooks, Music, Videos & E-books

Hoopla is a digital media service that partners with public libraries to offer a vast array of e-books, audiobooks, music, movies, TV shows, and comics—all for free to library cardholders. You could say that Hoopla is a neck competition to Kanopy in educational streaming and only much better with the content library. For someone who is looking for a single subscription for their casual viewing and educational documentaries, you can find them both in this single platform, making it an ideal option.

Of course, we have platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, but they are more focused on casual viewing, and there are only a handful of titles for educational streaming. This is where Hoopla turns out to be a perfect solution for teenagers. Of course, this platform otherwise targets only a handful of nerd adults who also enjoy watching educational streaming and not just Stranger Things and Brokylnn nine-nine.

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Hoopla Review: Stream Audiobooks, Videos, Music & E-Books

Pricing and Plans

Hoopla’s biggest selling point is that it’s completely free for users with access to participating public libraries. There’s no subscription fee, no hidden costs, and no ads. All you need is a valid library card from a supporting library, and you’re good to go. Users are typically allotted a certain number of borrow credits each month, which they can use to check out various titles. The number of credits can vary by library but usually ranges from 5 to 15 items per month.

Each borrowed item has a set loan period:

• Movies and TV episodes: 72 hours
• Music albums: 7 days
• E-books, audiobooks, and comics: 21 days

After the loan period ends, the item is automatically returned, so you never have to worry about late fees. This model makes Hoopla an incredibly cost-effective option for accessing a wide range of digital media.

In comparison to services like Netflix, Audible, or Spotify, which require separate subscriptions, Hoopla offers a unified platform for multiple media types at no cost. However, the limitation on monthly borrows may feel restrictive to heavy users who consume large amounts of content. Which brings us to next factor to consider: the Content library.

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Content Library

Hoopla offers an impressive content library in categories such as e-books, audiobooks, comics, graphic novels, movies, TV shows, and music. 

• E-books and Audiobooks: From bestsellers to classic literature, Hoopla offers a diverse selection of titles across various genres like fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy, and self-help. Popular authors such as J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, and Agatha Christie can commonly be found on the shelves.
• Comics and Graphic Novels: Comic enthusiasts will appreciate the extensive collection from publishers like DC Comics, Image Comics, and Dark Horse. The titles also include popular series like Batman, The Walking Dead, and Hellboy.
• Movies and TV Shows: While Hoopla doesn’t have the latest blockbuster films or trending TV series, it offers a decent selection of independent films, documentaries, classic movies, and some family-friendly content. Lionsgate and Paramount Pictures also contribute to the library, so you can find some great fantasy such as Transformers, Time Bandits, and even Mean Girls.
• Music: The music catalog includes albums across genres like pop, rock, classical, and jazz. Audience can enjoy music from various artists, including Miles Davis and Taylor Swift.

One of Hoopla’s strengths is its huge content library. The platform is ideal for users who enjoy exploring different types of media without switching between multiple apps. However, if you’re looking for the latest releases or exclusive content, Hoopla might feel a little limited for you. 

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User Experience

Hoopla provides a straightforward and user-friendly experience. The interface is clean, with intuitive navigation that makes it easy to browse through different media types. When you log in, you’re greeted with categories like “Featured,” “Popular,” and “Recommended,” helping you discover new content effortlessly.

The search function is rich, allowing you to filter results by format, release date, language, and more. You can also create custom lists and favorite titles for easy access later, just like a wishlist.

One standout feature is the seamless integration across different media types. You can easily switch between reading an e-book, listening to an audiobook, or watching a movie—all within the same app. The multi-format availability of some titles is a bonus; for example, you might read an e-book and then switch to the audiobook version without losing your place. Quite handy.

However, the interface lacks advanced personalization algorithms found in platforms like Netflix or Spotify. While Hoopla offers recommendations, they aren’t as tailored to individual preferences. Also, the design is functional but not particularly stylish, which might be a minor drawback for users who appreciate sleek interfaces.

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Streaming and Reading Performance

Hoopla delivers reliable streaming performance across all its media types. For movies and TV shows, the video quality adjusts based on your internet connection, offering up to HD resolution where available. However, there is minimal buffering, and the playback is generally smooth. We also tested it out with VPN services like NordVPN and ExpressVPN and found a smooth streaming experience with minimal load.

For audiobooks and music, the audio quality is clear, with quick load times. E-books and comics load promptly, and the reading interface is customizable—you can adjust font sizes, background colors, and brightness to suit your preferences.

One of Hoopla’s best features is its offline access. You can download e-books, audiobooks, music, and videos to your device for offline consumption, making it convenient for users on the go or those with limited internet connectivity.

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Exclusive Features

Hoopla offers several features that enhance the user experience. For instance, you can instantly borrow popular items from the shelf, enable kids more for safe browsing, and sync your progress across devices. Let’s quickly give a brief look at all the exclusive features you get with Hoopla.

• Instant Borrowing: Unlike some library apps that require you to place holds on popular items, Hoopla allows for instant borrowing.
• Kids Mode: Parents can enable Kids Mode to restrict content to age-appropriate titles. This makes Hoopla a safe environment for children to explore books, movies, and music suitable for their age group. These days, there are a lot of mix-and-match streaming apps that may expose your kids to mature content, which makes parents a little anxious, and with Hoopla, that’s not much of a problem.
• Sync Across Devices: Your progress syncs across devices, so you can start reading a book on your tablet and continue from the same spot on your smartphone. Imagine reading an e-book on your phone while you are in transit, we know how strainful it can be to read on a small screen, but then, you can always continue reading on your laptop or bigger screen devices right after reaching your home and without having to look for the page where you left. 
• Bookmarks and Notes: For e-books and audiobooks, you can add bookmarks and notes, which is helpful for students or anyone who wants to reference specific sections later.
• Multi-Format Titles: Some books are available in both e-book and audiobook formats, allowing you to switch between reading and listening seamlessly. So, if you are tired of reading, you can always plug in an ear buddy (earphones, buds, TWS, AirPods, and more) and hit the play button, and the app will read it for you.

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Device Compatibility

Thankfully, unlike most educational streaming apps, Hoopla is available on a wide range of devices. So you can always pick the one which offers you comfort and convenience.

Hoopla is accessible on these devices:

• Mobile Apps: Hoopla is available on iOS and Android. The mobile apps are well-designed and support all media types.
• Web Browser: You can access Hoopla directly through modern web browsers on Windows and Mac computers.Say Chrome or Safari browser on your computer or Mac.
• Streaming Devices: Hoopla supports Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and Roku, making it easy to watch movies and TV shows on your big screen. These devices also help you access other streaming apps right on your television and explore thousands of movies and TV shows. Of course, at a subscription for the desired platform.
• E-readers: While Hoopla doesn’t have dedicated apps for e-readers like Kindle, you can read e-books using the mobile app or browser.

Cherry on the top is the cross-platform syncing, which ensures that your activity is updated across all devices, providing a seamless experience.

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Parental Controls

Hoopla takes family-friendly viewing seriously with its Kids Mode feature. When enabled, Kids Mode restricts content to titles suitable for children aged 12 and under. The selection includes a variety of children’s books, educational materials, family movies, and music.

Parents can easily toggle Kids Mode on or off, and it’s PIN-protected to prevent children from accessing adult content. This feature provides peace of mind for parents who want to ensure a safe and appropriate environment for their kids.

However, the parental controls are somewhat basic and might not offer the granular control some parents desire, such as setting specific age ratings or time limits. A few users suggest using external parental control apps such as Bark or Qustodio, which are also used in most schools to manage content preferences for students and kids, but these don’t directly manage content from streaming services, while they may disallow certain titles that are marked as mature or inappropriate for a set age.

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Customer Support

This is one of the crucial sections as you are paying for a service, you are learning and consuming from it, and what if it suddenly stops working? This is where customer support comes into the rescue to solve your doubts, help with technicals, and also help with other generic and specific queries.

Thankfully, there are a few effective ways to contact the support team, starting with the help center, email support, and even social media responses for queries.

While Hoopla doesn’t offer live chat or phone support, the available resources are generally sufficient for resolving common issues. The platform also encourages users to contact their local libraries for account-related questions, which are the most common questions among the users.

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Competition

Like most streaming apps, Hoopla also has a few competitors that offer similar features and can be a good alternative for your streaming preferences; let’s take a quick look at some of these options.

• OverDrive/Libby: Similar to Hoopla, OverDrive and its app Libby provide access to e-books and audiobooks through libraries. However, OverDrive often requires users to place holds on popular titles, leading to wait times.
• Kanopy: As discussed earlier, Kanopy offers free streaming of movies and documentaries through libraries but focuses more on educational and indie content. You can read our complete review on Kanopy to get a clearer picture.
• Freegal Music: The platform offers free music downloads and streaming through library partnerships but doesn’t include other media types, which is a big downside.

In comparison to these services, Hoopla’s main advantage is its instant access to a wide range of media without wait times. Its multi-format offerings make it a versatile platform, but the monthly borrow limits may be restrictive compared to unlimited services like Kanopy (with Kanopy Plus). Also, it has a huge content library and media types, which are advantageous and helpful for users to find their preferences in one place.

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FAQs: Most Frequently Asked Questions

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Wrapping up: Hoopla is a Little Over the Average

Hoopla is an excellent resource for anyone looking to access a variety of digital media without the burden of multiple subscriptions. Its free access through public libraries makes it a standout option for budget-conscious users. The platform excels in offering a diverse content library, including some hard-to-find titles in comics and independent films.

While it may not replace specialized services for those seeking the latest releases or more extensive libraries, Hoopla’s user-friendly interface, offline access, and multi-format offerings make it a valuable addition to your digital media toolkit.

If you have a library card and your library supports Hoopla, it’s definitely worth exploring the wealth of content available at your fingertips.