The best audiobook app depends on how you want to get your books: a subscription for regular listeners, a library app if you'd rather borrow, a store if you buy titles one at a time, or a player for files you already own. Ten listening apps follow in no particular order, then tips on finding free titles.
Audiobook apps don't all work the same way, and that's what trips people up. Some give you a monthly allowance, some sell each title separately, some lend books through your library card, and some simply play files you already own. Pick the model first and the app becomes an easy choice.
Below are ten listening apps, alphabetical and in no particular order, from big subscriptions to library apps and small open source players. Each description comes from the app's own website, re-checked today.
Audiobook apps in one table
Yes in the free plan column means the site describes free listening, a free account or a free app, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Library apps are free to you but need a library card, and a store's free account still means buying each title or joining its membership.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Books | Audiobook store and player | Buying titles one by one on Apple devices | Yes |
| Audible | Audiobook subscription | A large mainstream catalogue | Trial only |
| Audiobookshelf | Self-hosted audiobook server | Streaming your own audiobook files | Yes |
| BookBeat | Audiobook subscription app | Listening by hours instead of credits | Trial only |
| Downpour | Audiobook download store | Downloads or CDs from one store | No |
| hoopla | Library audiobook service | Borrowing free with a library card | Yes |
| Libby | Library audiobook app | Loans from your local library | Yes |
| LibriVox | Free public domain audiobooks | Classics read by volunteers | Yes |
| Libro.fm | Indie bookshop audiobook store | Supporting independent bookshops | Yes |
| Voice | Open source audiobook player | Playing your own files on Android | Yes |
Ten audiobook listening apps
Apple Books
Best for: Apple device owners who'd rather buy audiobooks one at a time than subscribe, with free samples and free titles to try.
Audible
Best for: Regular listeners who want a mainstream subscription with a very large catalogue, Originals and podcasts, after a 30-day trial.
Audiobookshelf
Best for: Tech-comfortable listeners who own their audiobook files and want to host them on their own server and stream to Android or iOS.
BookBeat
Best for: Anyone who'd rather pay by hours of listening than by credits, with a 30 day trial that includes listening time.
Downpour
Best for: Buyers who want audiobooks as digital downloads or on CD and MP3 CD, from a store that also offers a membership.
hoopla
Best for: Library members who want to borrow audiobooks, ebooks and comics through their public library card, free to them.
Libby
Best for: Readers with a public library card who want to borrow audiobooks and ebooks for free from their own local library.
LibriVox
Best for: Classics lovers who want free recordings of public domain books read by volunteers, on a computer or mobile device.
Libro.fm
Best for: Listeners whose purchases should support independent bookshops, with free iOS and Android apps and a membership they can pause.
Voice
Best for: Android users with their own audiobook files who want a private, uncluttered player with no account, no ads and no forced cloud sync.
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Why newer books are rarely free to listen to
If you've wondered why free audiobook sites are full of classics, copyright is the reason. The U.S. Copyright Office's FAQ on how long copyright lasts says that for works created after 1 January 1978, protection generally lasts for the author's life plus 70 years. For anonymous, pseudonymous or work-for-hire works, it's 95 years from first publication or 120 years from creation, whichever ends first.
That's the US rule, so check your own country's terms if you're elsewhere, but the lesson holds: free volunteer recordings come from public domain books, so a recent bestseller will almost always mean a library loan, a subscription or a purchase. If a site offers brand new releases free with no library involved, be wary of it.
Picking an audiobook app in six steps
- Count how many books you finish in a typical month.
- Check whether your library card works with a borrowing app before you buy anything.
- If you listen a lot, compare credit-based and hours-based subscriptions against that count.
- If you listen now and then, buying single titles may work better than a subscription.
- Download the app on your phone and play a sample to check the player controls.
- Set a sleep timer and offline downloads before your first long journey.
Four ways audiobook apps work
- Subscriptions: a monthly allowance of credits or hours, made for regular listeners.
- Library apps: free loans with a library card, on your library's own lending terms.
- Stores: buy a title once and keep it in your library.
- Your own files: open source players and self-hosted servers play audiobooks you already own.
Habits that make audiobooks stick
- Pair listening with a routine. A commute, a walk or the washing up gives every book a regular slot.
- Use the speed control gently. A small bump keeps the narrator sounding natural.
- Bookmark as you go. It's the audio version of folding down a page corner.
If you're weighing up reading subscriptions more broadly, my guides on how the Scribd and Everand plans work and an ebook subscription built for study explain the plans and how to cancel them.
Do you make an audiobook app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on audiobook apps
Start with your library card. It's free, it's legal, and it'll show you how much you really listen before you sign up for anything.
If you finish more than a book or two a month, a subscription starts to make sense, so compare credits against hours. If you already own audiobook files, an open source player or your own server keeps them in one place with no account. And if you love classics, volunteer recordings of public domain books are free to anyone who wants them.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free audiobook app?
Yes. Library apps let you borrow for free with a library card, and volunteer projects offer free recordings of public domain books.
Why can't I find new releases for free?
Most recent books are still under copyright, so they come through libraries, subscriptions or stores rather than free volunteer projects.
Do I need a library card for a library audiobook app?
Yes. The library apps here ask you to sign in with a card from your public library.
Can I listen to audiobooks offline?
Most audiobook apps let you download titles to listen without a connection, so download before you travel.
What's the difference between credits and hours?
Credit-based plans give you a set number of books, while hours-based plans give you listening time to spread across any titles.
Can I play audiobook files I already own?
Yes. Open source players and self-hosted servers are built for files you already have.
