# Hoopla

8 Hacker News commenters recommended Hoopla and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Free with a library card, so people recommend it as a no-cost alternative to paid streaming and for borrowing books. Some libraries charge per borrow instead.

## Why people recommend it

- Free through public libraries (3 comments): "My local city's library offers access to several Digital Library apps, including Overdrive, Hoopla, and Libby." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47669030)) "public library apps such as Libby and Hoopla, and government-supported programmes" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48885121)) "which are also free from the library" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47709468))
- Praised as awesome and good (2 comments): "Kanopy and Hoopla are awesome and something everyone who complains here about paid streaming options should be using" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50211356)) "Hoopla is good for this is what I hear as well." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47717638))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Libby](https://hackerapproved.com/p/libby.md): 45 recommend
- [OverDrive](https://hackerapproved.com/p/overdrive.md): 11 recommend

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://www.hoopladigital.com/)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Hoopla", https://hackerapproved.com/p/hoopla/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).