11 Best Audiobook Apps (2023) – Which One Should You Choose?

Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Jordan Alexo

With audiobooks becoming more and more popular, it’s no wonder that there are so many different audiobook apps to choose from. How do you know which one is the best for you?

This blog post will rank and review the 11 best audiobook apps available. We’ll also give you a few tips on how to choose the right app for your needs.

So whether you’re looking for an app to listen to books on your commute or one that can sync across all of your devices, we’ve got you covered!

How Do Audiobook Apps Work?

These apps allow audiobook listeners to hear content on their phones, laptop, or tablet. They can be downloaded for free or purchased outright. Most offer a free trial, so you can test the app before buying any book.

Most audiobook apps allow you to listen to books offline, and many have features that let you control the speed of the narration or set a sleep timer so that the book will stop playing after a certain amount of time. Some apps also let you sync your reading progress across devices, so you can start reading a book on your phone and finish it on your laptop.

You also have free audiobook apps, often requiring a library card to access them. Now let’s take a look at the best audiobook apps.

11 Best Audiobook Apps For 2023

Let’s take a look at the best places to purchase audiobooks.

1) Audible

Audible is one of the best audiobook apps on the market and belongs to Amazon. You will find a vast library of audiobooks, including bestsellers, classics, and new releases. You can also find exclusive content that you won’t find anywhere else.

However, Audible membership is a bit more expensive than its competitors.

Audible also offers features that set it apart from other audiobook apps. For example, you can control the speed of the narration, and you can also set a sleep timer so that the book will stop playing after a certain amount of time.

You can also sync your reading progress across devices, so you can start reading a book on your phone and finish it on your laptop.

Pricing

If you are planning on only purchasing a single audiobook, purchasing it individually is the best option. However, if you plan monthly to buy audiobooks, I recommend getting their Audible Plus. With their plans, you get some fantastic benefits.

Bottom Line

You can never go wrong if you decide to choose Audible. Their platform has a huge library and an easy-to-use interface with many options that run smoothly. If you plan on purchasing one audiobook, buy it individually. Otherwise, I suggest choosing one of their plans depending on your needs.

So don’t waste time, and try Audible today!

2) Google Play Books

Google Play Books is an ebook and audiobooks app that lets you read and listen to books on your Android phone or tablet. It has a built-in dictionary, so you can look up words while reading, and it supports comics and manga.

You can also sync data with other services, such as cloud storage can help preserve your favorite books and make them available on different devices.

Pricing

Google Play Books is a cheaper option for audiobooks when compared to Audible. You can buy audiobooks individually or rent them using an Android device or desktop. It doesn’t have a wide selection of audiobooks as Audible, but it does have a lot of comics and manga.

Bottom Line

Google Play Books is a cheaper option for audiobooks when compared to Audible. You can buy audiobooks individually or rent them using an Android device or desktop. It doesn’t have a wide selection of audiobooks as Audible, but it does have a lot of comics and manga.

3) Libro. FM

Libro.FM is an audiobook app that lets you listen to audiobooks from your local library bookstore and indie stores. On their platform, you can select which bookstore you wish to support. Sometimes, they may be your local bookstores or from somewhere you can’t visit because it’s further away from you.

Any time you purchase a book from one of these stores, 10% to 15% of the money goes to them.

Pricing

Libro. FM price is similar to Audible and Audiobooks.com. You have a membership option at $14.99 monthly, with one free audiobook each month. Also, you receive a 30% discount on your purchases and several other bonuses.

Bottom Line

If you’d like to support your local libraries and bookstores, Libro.FM is an awesome platform! You also have a good selection of books and a subscription plan with several benefits.

4) Audiobooks.com

Audiobook.com is becoming one of the biggest competitors in the audiobook apps market. Their platform is like Audible. It has many similar options, interactions, and promotions inside its platform, such as “get a free audiobook or two” to get you hooked up to Audiobook.com. You can always take advantage of their promos to see if you like using their platform.

One of the main disadvantages of Audible is you don’t have such a wide selection of audiobooks.

Top Features

• It has a 30-second rewind button, a section to write notes, speed options, and a sleep option. You can easily make bookmarks on your favorite things.
• You have a unique option to see your audiobook by chapter or the whole book. Allowing you to switch through those easily.

Pricing

Audiobook.com membership price is $14.50, and you can cancel whenever you want. One advantage is you can pay your subscription using Paypal, contrary to Audible.

Bottom Line

Audiobook.com still has some issues with its interface. Their platform isn’t as perfect as Audible.com, but it is still new in the market, so with time, it will improve.

5) Chirp

Chirp is an audiobook retailer that operates on a pay-per-book basis. It’s very similar to Audible in many ways, but there are also some key differences.

The biggest difference is that with Chirp, you own the books you buy. There’s no monthly subscription fee, so once you buy a book, it’s yours to keep forever.

Another big difference is that Amazon doesn’t own Chirp, so this could be a good option if you prefer to spend your money outside the Amazon universe. Furthermore, it seems they support more independent books. If you enjoy listening to this type of content, then this may be your best option!

Chirp’s interface and options look similar to Audible. Instead, you have a 15-second rewind button rather than 30 seconds. Also, the option to adjust your audiobook speed is a bit different. You have a plus and minus sign, which you click to change the pace of your audiobook. Honestly, I find this option annoying because you need to click several times until you have the right speed.

Pricing

Chirp is a free audiobook app with no subscription option.

Bottom Line

Chirp is a good platform similar to many other ones on the market. It has some slight differences in its options. Also, you own your purchased books, which is awesome!

6) Scribd

Scribd is a subscription-based ebook and audiobook service that features a library of millions of titles. It also offers unlimited access to magazines, including back issues and documents for download. The Scribd app is available on Android and iOS devices.

Scribd is like the Netflix of reading because of its variety of content. You also have an awesome selection of indie books and traditionally published audiobooks.

Scribd might be worth considering, particularly if you primarily do your digital reading on a phone or tablet.

Pricing

After your 30-day free trial period, you can pay $9.99 monthly to use Scribd.

Bottom Line

If you’d like access to audiobooks and many other content types like podcasts and more, plus a cheaper subscription, Scribd is an ideal option!

7) Hoopla

Hoopla is a little different from the other audiobook apps on this list in that it’s a digital media platform offered by public libraries. That means if you have a library card, you can likely get free access to Hoopla’s entire audiobook catalog.

Hoopla offers ebooks and audiobooks, but the audiobook selection is significantly smaller than other apps. Nevertheless, Hoopla could be a great option if you want to try audiobooks without spending any money.

Plus, since libraries offer Hoopla, it’s likely to have a more limited selection of newer titles. However, Hoopla could be a great option if you’re looking for classics or other older books.

Pricing

Free audiobooks as long as you have a library card

Bottom Line

Hoopla could be a great option if you want to try audiobooks without spending any money. Plus, since libraries offer Hoopla, it’s likely to have a more limited selection of newer titles.

However, Hoopla could be a great option if you’re looking for classics or other older books. Hoopla is available on iOS and Android devices.

8) LibriVox

Librivox is a great free audiobook app and website run by volunteers. These volunteers record audiobooks and upload them there. You can find over 50,000 audiobooks available in several foreign languages.

The downside to LibriVox is that the quality of the recordings can be hit or miss. Because they’re all done by volunteers, some recordings are better than others. But if you don’t mind sifting through a few duds, you can find some gems on LibriVox.

Pricing

LibriVox is free; you can access audiobooks on their website or use their iPhone or Android app. You can also pay $2.50 to have no ads and support their volunteers’ work.

Bottom Line

If you’d like to listen to older and classic nonfiction and fiction titles without spending a dime, you should try Librivox.

9) OverDrive

Overdrive is another awesome platform where you can listen to audiobooks for free as long as you have a library card. You have no subscription or fees and can find over 3 million titles.

The downside to Overdrive is that it can be a bit tricky to use. Their interface isn’t the most user-friendly, and it can be difficult to find what you want. But once you get the hang of it, it’s a great app with tons of content.

Pricing

You can get free audiobooks with a valid library card if you don’t mind sifting through some duds for gems.

Bottom Line

Overdrive is a great app with a ton of content. The audiobooks are free, and it has one of the hugest selections, but the interface can be difficult to use. If you can get past that, it’s worth checking out.

10) Libby

Libby is an app that allows you to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library.

Libby is very similar to Overdrive but has a few key differences. First, the interface is much more user-friendly. Second, it’s easier to find what you’re looking for. And third, it integrates with Goodreads, so you can keep track of what you’ve read and want to read.

Pricing

You can use their platform to get free audiobooks with a valid library card.

Bottom Line

Libby is a great app that allows you to borrow audiobooks from your local library for free. If your local library is available, definitely check it out!

11) AudiobooksNow

AudiobooksNow is another alternative platform to Audible. You have about 80,000 titles at your disposal. But the great news is their subscription is cheaper! You can also purchase each title individually more inexpensively if you prefer.

Pricing

You can start with a 30-day free trial. Afterward, you pay a $4.99 monthly subscription. But you also get several awesome benefits, such as 50% off on your first audiobook purchases each month and exclusive access to sales and content.

Bottom Line

AudiobooksNow is similar to Audible but on a budget. You have a cheaper subscription but fewer titles choice. You can always try their 30-day free trial and see if their service is good enough!

Last Thoughts

Audible may be the best solution if you aren’t worried about spending a bit more monthly. Even nowadays, their platform provides a superb user experience and one of the biggest selections of audiobooks available in the market. You can always get their plus subscription and receive all the awesome bonuses.

Otherwise, if you are on a tight budget and don’t mind having a more limited selection of titles, check AudiobooksNow

Suppose you’d like to support your local bookstores and libraries, Libro.FM is a unique platform that allows you to do this.

Conversely, if you prefer to listen to audiobooks for free and aren’t concerned about waiting for them, you can do that with Overdrive and Libby.

Lastly, if you don’t mind listening to older audiobooks and supporting a team of volunteers, Librivox is your answer.

So, which audiobook platform are you going to sign-up for? I’d love to hear your choice or questions in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!