Many of us audiobook fans are always on the lookout for new ways to get audiobooks for less. And Hoopla makes a lot of promises. Let’s take a look at what this digital library service really has to offer – and how to get access even if your local library doesn’t participate!
What is Hoopla?
Hoopla is a digital borrowing service that lets you use your library card to access audiobooks, ebooks, movies, music, and more. Unlike other library apps, Hoopla has no holds or waitlists! If your library offers it and you have borrows available, you can access content instantly.
The catch? You’re limited to a set number of borrows per month (typically 3-10 items, depending on your library). Once you hit your limit, you wait until next month. But when you do borrow something, it’s yours immediately – no waiting for the person ahead of you to finish.
Quick comparison to Libby: Libby (OverDrive) also uses your library card, but works differently. With Libby, you can borrow more items (limits are usually higher), but popular titles have holds and waitlists. With Hoopla, there are no waits, but you have fewer total borrows.
Many libraries offer both services, so you get the best of both worlds.
How Does Hoopla Work?
Hoopla is available in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. If your library participates, here’s how it works:
1. Download the Hoopla app (iOS, Android) or visit hoopladigital.com/register
2. Sign in with your library card number from a participating library
3. Browse and borrow instantly – no holds, no waitlists. Audiobooks, ebooks, movies, music, comics.
4. Borrowed content is available for 21 days (for audiobooks), then automatically returns. No late fees!
5. Your monthly borrows reset on the first of each month.
The app lets you download content for offline access, which I find essential for trips and areas with spotty connection.
Do Authors earn from Hoopla Borrows?
I recently saw someone equate borrowing a book from the library to piracy, as – or so they falsely claimed – the authors would not receive royalties. That is so, so untrue! I wanted to include this info here so you can borrow Hoopla audiobooks in good conscience.
Authors and publishers choose which audiobooks to offer in Hoopla, and they can decide how they want to be compensated, either per download or by selling a high-priced library copy that includes a set number of downloads.
So yes, authors absolutely earn royalties from every Hoopla borrow. Every download benefits them, either because they get paid directly or because your download indicates to the library that it is a popular book.
Is “Free” really free?
People often talk about Hoopla as “free audiobooks”. However, Hoopla requires a library card from a participating library.
For many people, their local library card is truly free (funded by local taxes). But not all libraries participate in Hoopla. And even among those that do, borrow limits vary widely.
I pay $50/year for my library card (Queens Public Library in New York), and I consider it money extremely well spent. That’s about $4/month for 10 audiobook borrows, plus access to Libby with 30 borrows.
If your local library doesn’t offer Hoopla, don’t give up! You have options. Even if you have to pay a fee for your library card with Hoopla access, it’s still one of the best ways to get cheap audiobooks.
How to Get a Library Card for Hoopla (Out-of-State Options)
If your local library doesn’t offer Hoopla or has a low borrow limit, you can often get a library card from another library – even out-of-state. Non-resident cards typically cost $25-50/year, which is still an amazing deal compared to audiobook subscriptions.
Here are libraries that offer non-resident cards with Hoopla access:
Libraries That Offer Hoopla Access to Non-Residents (2025)
Fairfax County Public Library (Virginia)
- Cost: $50 for 1 year, $75 for 2 years, $100 for 3 years
- Hoopla Borrow Limit: 30 items per month
- Notes: One of the most generous Hoopla limits in the U.S. Includes audiobooks, ebooks, movies, music, and comics. Available to anyone in the U.S. who doesn’t live in Fairfax County or a reciprocal jurisdiction.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (North Carolina)
- Cost: $45/year
- Hoopla Borrow Limit: 10 items per month
- Notes: Paid non-resident card includes full Hoopla access
Broward County Library (Florida)
- Cost: $38/year
- Hoopla Borrow Limit: 3 items per month
- Notes: Non-resident cardholders get full access
Queens Public Library (New York) – This is my library!
- Cost: Free for NYC residents, $50/year for out-of-state (works worldwide)
- Hoopla Borrow Limit: 10 items per month
- Notes: Includes audiobooks, ebooks, movies, music. Also has excellent Libby access.
Important: Always check the library’s website for current pricing and policies before applying, as these can change.
Is Hoopla Worth It?
If your library offers Hoopla for free: Absolutely yes. Download the app and start borrowing.
If you need to pay for a non-resident library card: Let’s do the math.
- Fairfax County ($50/year): 30 borrows/month = 360 items/year for $50 = $0.14 per audiobook
- Charlotte Mecklenburg ($45/year): 10 borrows/month = 120 items/year for $45 = $0.38 per audiobook
Even if you only use half your monthly borrows, you’re getting an incredible deal, paying only a fraction of what an audiobook in a deal costs.
Hoopla is a great match for:
- Any audiobook listener with a free library card with Hoopla access
- Budget-conscious listeners willing to pay $25-125/year for a non-resident card
- Anyone who also wants ebooks, movies, and music (Hoopla has all of these)
- Audiobook fans who want instant access (no holds/waitlists)
Hoopla does not work as your only audiobook service if:
- You listen to 10+ audiobooks per month (you’ll hit your limit fast)
- You prefer owning audiobooks permanently (Hoopla borrows expire)
There are really very few downsides to Hoopla, especially when you can get it for free. For me personally, I use both Hoopla and Audible. Hoopla gives me instant access to books I’m curious about, and Audible gives me premium titles and Originals.
Want to see what’s available on Hoopla? Check out my curated list: The best audiobooks in Hoopla
Hoopla is also featured in these guides:
Eline Blackman (pronouns: she/they) fell in love with books as a child – with being read to and reading herself. 11 years ago, she bought her first Audible book. It was love at first listen! An average of 200 audiobooks per year has become the new normal, and you will rarely see Eline without a wireless earbud. Romance and Fantasy are the go-to genres for this audiobook fan.