7 Best Audiobook Apps 2024 (Cheap & Good Audio Books)

by Chris Von Wilpert, BBusMan • Last updated November 23, 2023

Expert Verified by Leandro Langeani, BBA

First-Person Perspective: We buy, test and review software products based on a 3-step rating methodology and first-hand experienceIf you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our rating methodology and how we make money.

Today there are 142 different audiobook apps. We spent 79 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to enjoy your audiobooks.

What is the Best Audiobook App?

  1. Audible — best of the best
  2. Libro.fm — best for supporting local bookstores
  3. Audiobooks.com — best for beginners
  4. Scribd — best hard-to-find audiobook selection
  5. Google Play Books — best non-subscription-based platform
  6. Kobo.com — best for personalized recommendations
  7. Downpour — best for DRM-free content

Our Verdict — Best Of The Best

Price: Starts at $7.95/month

Audible is a one-stop destination for audiobook enthusiasts. We think it’s the best because of its massive selection of titles, user-friendly apps, and exclusive content.

The Best Part:

  • User-friendly navigation. Audible’s intuitive interface and support for smartphones, tablets, and Amazon Echo devices make it easily accessible from anywhere.

The Worst Part:

  • Credit rollover restrictions. Audible's membership plans limit the number of credits you can carry over, so you might lose some credits that have been unused for several months.

Get it if you want access to a vast library of audiobooks, with the convenience of listening anywhere, anytime, even without an internet connection.

I recommend you start with the 30-day free trial with one free credit.

(30-day free trial)

Best For

Audible is best for busy individuals and book lovers who want to keep up with their "reading" while commuting, exercising, or doing chores.

Top Features

  • Easily find your next book. Get personalized recommendations that will hook you up with titles that match your interests.

  • Never miss a word. Use the sleep timer feature to prevent Audible from reading your entire audiobooks after you’ve drifted off to dreamland.

  • It respects your pace. Listen to your audiobooks at your own pace, whether you like it slow and steady, or quick and snappy.

  • Same reading on different devices. Always pick up where you left off, whether you're on your phone, tablet, or desktop.

  • Take it offline. No Wi-Fi? No worries. You can download your favorite titles and enjoy them offline, even when you're off the grid.

Pricing

Audible offers two pricing plans:

  • Audible Plus: $7.95/month for book lovers who want unlimited access to audiobooks and more.
  • Audible Premium Plus: $14.95/month for book lovers who want everything in the Plus plan, in addition to one credit per month to redeem any title from the Premium catalog and keep it forever.

Try Audible today with a free 30-day trial.

Our Verdict — Best For Supporting Local Bookstores

Price: $14.99/month

Libro.fm is an audiobook app that allows you to support your local bookstore while enjoying audiobooks. We think it’s the best for supporting local bookstores because of its bookstore partnership program, extensive audiobook library, and smooth listening experience.

The Best Part:

  • Supports local bookstores. Libro.fm gives a portion of their profits to independent bookstores, so you can feel good knowing you're making a difference while indulging in your favorite audiobooks.

The Worst Part:

  • Limited exclusive content. While Libro.fm offers a vast number of titles, it doesn’t have as many exclusives as other major audiobook platforms such as Audible.

Get it if you want an easy-to-use app filled with great listens while also supporting your favorite local bookstore.

I recommend you start with their one audiobook credit offer, then subscribe to their monthly subscription for $14.99/month.

(one audiobook credit)

Best For

Libro.fm is best for avid readers who want to enjoy audiobooks while they help out their local bookstores at the same time.

Top Features

  • Save it for a rainy day. Keep track of all the titles you plan to listen to in a handy wishlist.

  • Immerse yourself. Amp up your listening experience by following along with text, while the story unfolds in your ears.

  • Get credit for referrals. Get your friends on board with Libro.fm and score some free audiobook credits when they join.

  • Gifts that give back. Send audiobook gifts to friends and family and feel good knowing that you're also supporting local bookstores.

  • No strings attached. Cancel your membership whenever you want, and your audiobook stash will stay safe and sound for future listening.

Pricing

Libro.fm offers a single pricing plan:

  • Monthly membership: $14.99/month for avid audiobook enthusiasts who want a user-friendly app to enjoy one audiobook per month while supporting local bookstores.

Try Libro.fm today with a free audiobook credit for new subscribers.

Our Verdict — Best For Beginners

Price: $14.95/month

Audiobooks.com is your go-to app for all things audio. We think it’s the best for beginners because of its vast library of titles, user-friendly interface, and incredible offer for new members.

The Best Part:

  • Generous free trial. Audiobooks.com's 30-day free trial goes above and beyond by gifting you with three free audiobooks, allowing you to sample their extensive selection before taking the plunge.

The Worst Part:

  • It falls short in some categories. Audiobooks.com might leave you longing for more when it comes to categories, especially when compared to other platforms.

Get it if you want a top-rated audiobook and podcast listening app that’s packed with content, easy to navigate, and perfect for offline listening when you're on the go.

I recommend you sign up for the 30-day free trial to enjoy three free audiobooks, then get the Monthly membership for $14.95/month.

(30-day free trial)

Best For

Audiobooks.com is best for book enthusiasts and podcast fans who want a seamless listening experience with a vast selection of content to choose from.

Top Features

  • Always be first in line. Stay ahead of the game with notifications about new releases, keeping you informed on the latest from your favorite authors and podcasters.

  • Listen on-the-go. Enjoy your road trips or work commutes accompanied by your favorite audiobooks, thanks to Audiobooks.com's compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

  • Unearth hidden gems. Get access to exclusive podcast channels and premium audiobook titles available only on Audiobooks.com.

  • Bookmark your favorite moments. Mark specific points with Audiobooks.com’s bookmark feature, to easily revisit your favorite listens.

  • Switch devices without missing a beat. Audiobooks.com's cross-device syncing makes it a breeze for you to switch devices without losing your place in the story.

Pricing

Audiobooks.com offers a single pricing plan:

  • Monthly membership: $14.95/month for avid audiobook listeners and podcast fans who want a user-friendly app with a vast library of audiobooks and podcasts.

Try Audiobooks.com today with a free 30-day trial.

Our Top Three Picks

Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:

  1. Audible — best of the best
  2. Libro.fm — best for supporting local bookstores
  3. Audiobooks.com — best for beginners

Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:

Tool

Entry Offer

Pricing

Audible

30-day free trial

Starts at $7.95/mo

Libro.fm

One audiobook credit

$14.99/mo

Audiobooks.com

30-day free trial

$14.95/mo

Scribd

30-day free trial

$11.99/mo

Google Play Books

None

Free forever

Kobo.com

30-day free trial

Starts at $9.99/mo

Downpour

30-day free trial

$12.99/mo

Here are the top 50 audiobook apps we considered in this review:

  1. Audible
  2. Libro.fm
  3. Audiobooks.com
  4. Scribd
  5. Google Play Books
  6. Kobo.com
  7. Downpour
  8. Apple Books
  9. OverDrive
  10. Hoopla
  11. Chirp Books
  12. Nook Audiobooks
  13. Blinkist
  14. BookBeat
  15. LibriVox
  16. Playster
  17. eStories
  18. Realm FM
  19. TuneIn Radio
  20. Hibooks
  21. Spotify
  22. Walmart eBooks
  23. AudiobooksNow
  24. Storytel
  25. Instaread
  26. Bookmobile
  27. Loyal Books
  28. Open Culture
  29. Digitalbook.io
  30. LitRes Listen!
  31. Bound - Cloud Audiobooks
  32. 3M Cloud Library
  33. New York Public Library – SimplyE
  34. Epic!
  35. Barnes and Noble's Nook
  36. Voice Audiobook Player
  37. Sirin Audiobook
  38. Anyplay
  39. Mofibo
  40. Bookmobile Audiobook and Podcast Player
  41. Audiobook Pop!
  42. Akimbo Audiobook Player
  43. ListenUp Audiobooks
  44. Caffeine and Legends
  45. BookFusion
  46. Castbox
  47. Children’s Fairy Tales and Bedtime Stories
  48. Podiobooks
  49. Smart Audiobook Player
  50. Audiolibrix

What is the best app for free audiobooks?

While there are several audiobook apps offering free content, if you are looking for a wide selection and millions of audiobooks, you might want to consider Audible and its Audible Plus plan.

Although not entirely free, Audible Plus, priced at $7.95/month, gives you unlimited streaming and listening to content from the Audible Plus Catalog. This catalog includes thousands of titles, including popular audiobooks, Audible Originals, and sleep tracks. They also offer a 30-day free trial, which allows you to try out their service and enjoy one free credit.

If you are looking for completely free audiobooks, then digital libraries like OverDrive that allow you to borrow digital content with a valid library card are a good option. 

Is Audiobooks.com as good as Audible?

Both Audiobooks.com and Audible are strong choices for audiobooks apps, each with their own strengths. 

Audible, the largest audiobook producer, boasts an extensive library of premium titles, offers a premium plan, and provides personalized recommendations, making it an excellent choice for a subscription service. It also offers cross-device syncing, allowing you to switch seamlessly between your mobile devices without losing your current position.

Audiobooks.com is best for access to both podcasts and audiobooks. It offers a generous 30-day free trial, which gives you three free audiobooks. However, it might fall short in some niche categories compared to Audible. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on your personal preferences and needs.

Are Spotify audiobooks free?

No, Spotify's audiobooks aren't free. 

Unlike music and podcasts on the platform, you need to pay for audiobooks before you can start listening to them. Interestingly, you can't purchase audiobooks directly through the Spotify app; you will need to use a computer to buy and activate them for your account.

Each time you want to access a new book, you will need to complete the purchase process. The cost of each book is not provided upfront in the Spotify app. Instead, you can find the cost either through a browser version of Spotify or in the email that the app sends when you are looking to make a purchase.

The pricing of audiobooks varies, but most books tend to cost around or over $20.

How do you listen to audiobooks effectively?

Listening to audiobooks effectively involves a combination of the right tools and techniques. 

Using a good audiobook player app like Audible or Audiobooks.com can significantly enhance your audiobook experience. These apps provide features like playback speed control allowing you to adjust the narration speed to your comfort, sleep timers, which automatically pause the playback when you drift off, and bookmarking features to mark specific points in the book to revisit later.

Moreover, actively engaging with the material can improve comprehension and retention. Try visualizing the events or concepts described, or consider taking brief notes during or after each listening session. Choose the right environment — find a quiet, comfortable space where you won't be interrupted.

How can I listen to books on my iPhone for free?

To listen to books for free on your iPhone, you can make use of the free trials offered by the top picks for audiobook apps.

Audible offers a 30-day free trial with one free credit, allowing you to choose from their extensive library of audiobooks. The Audible app is available on the Apple App Store, and it offers extra features like sleep timer, narration speeds control, and cross-device syncing. After the trial period, you can decide whether to continue with their subscription options.

Similarly, Audiobooks.com offers a 30-day free trial with three free audiobooks. Their app, also available on the Apple App Store, features cross-device syncing, allowing you to seamlessly continue your listening experience across devices, and bookmarking features to mark and revisit specific points in the book.

Libro.fm, another great app available on the Apple App Store, offers a free audiobook credit for new subscribers. This platform supports local bookstores, as a portion of their profits go to independent bookstores.

By making use of these trials, you can listen to books for free on your iPhone, and decide which service suits your needs the best.

The Bottom Line

To recap, here are the best audiobook apps to try this year:

  1. Audible — best of the best
  2. Libro.fm — best for supporting local bookstores
  3. Audiobooks.com — best for beginners
  4. Scribd — best hard-to-find audiobook selection
  5. Google Play Books — best non-subscription-based platform
  6. Kobo.com — best for personalized recommendations
  7. Downpour — best for DRM-free content

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