The world if thriving in a truly digital age, where consuming everything is much easier, including books. For people who are unable to read, audiobooks have been a blessing, and for regular readers, it is a novel way to enjoy their favorite stories on headphones.
However, the best audiobook experience has several components to it, of which a great app is a big one. Accessibility, organization, simplicity, and consistent development are some factors that go into choosing the right app to listen to audiobooks on. Redditors have pooled their collective knowledge on the best apps to use, and these are their top picks to plug into.
Smart Audiobook Player
Redditors recommend this app for the best audiobook listening, but this is only available on Android. MadScientist67 says about it: "Have used for years and it's as solid as they come." With a sleep timer and skips of varying time periods (10 seconds and a minute), listening is a breeze.
Every option, including the equalizer, can be customized on the face of the app. It also gets regular developer support and plays almost anything with no issues. It also has nifty features like shaking for sleep timers and gentle alarms.
Audible
Audible is a universally loved app for a reason. No other app can beat the sheer number of audiobooks and variety that is available on it, and books can be bought at reasonable prices. C0xC0mb shares "I love the versatility of the app," as it offers as many features as it does books.
Samples of books before purchase give readers a better chance of gauging whether the narrator suits them, there are annotation options, playback speeds, and sleep timers for a seamless experience. Audible also has some of the best movie audiobooks to enjoy.
Voice Audiobook Player
Fans of simplicity will love this super minimalist audiobook app. The uncluttered interface is inviting and clean, and the ad-free model is much-loved. Available only on Android, Voice Audiobook Player is regularly updated for best performance, and nails all the basics like skips and playback settings.
EverEarnest sums it up by saying "Nice, simple, works. I am using this. All the main functions are there." Easy to navigate, few others come close to this free audiobook app to enjoy one's favorite true crime audiobooks.
Prologue
Users of iOS will love Prologue, the app for those who have Plex servers. Prologue is free to use, with small in-app purchases which unlock premium features like listening while offline and organizing books into collections.
Prologue is packed with fantastic features like variable playback times, automatic rewind after pauses and interruptions, sync across all devices and iCloud (no more losing your spot across devices) and voice boosts for noisy environments. PearG thinks "Prologue is the best! Life changing for sure."
Listen Audiobook Player
No ads and no in-app purchases makes the Listen Audiobook Player an easy choice for many listeners. It can play just about any file format, but it must be DRM-free files. Favita_ swears by the app, saying "Best player for offline files is Listen Audiobook Player."
Listen Audiobook Player boasts variable playback speed (0.5 to 4x), pitch control, volume boost, equalizer and balance, along with customizations for colors in-app. It can be synced to Plex servers, and across devices too, with adjustable skip times.
Libby
Hailed as one of iPhone's best little known apps, Libby is a true maverick. Entirely free to use, Libby accesses titles in one's local library through their library card. These titles can be borrowed for free, read, renewed and returned as one would in an actual library.
Favita_ says "Best player for streaming is Libby." Using a local system to digital advantage is quite a feat, and Libby's other benefit is that its available across all platforms: Android, iOS, PC, Mac, and direct downloads too. Libby is a must have for avid audiobook listeners!
BookPlayer
"For iPhone, use BookPlayer," recommends Redditor Baltimes, whose preferences echo countless satisfied users of the app. Simple, lightweight and fuss-free, this iOS app has no fee (and intends to stay like that) with absolutely no advertisements.
It runs well on both old and new iPhones, with useful functions like drag and drop to update the library. The bookmarking function and sleep timers stand out in BookPlayer, and it maintains the last stop in a book across devices seamlessly, so you can pick up where you left off, everytime.
Scribd
While some have complained about the selection of titles on Scribd, many Redditors call it their go-to app, and the upvotes prove it. The monthly fee (notably less than Audible) gives listeners access to countless titles, which they can borrow and listen to.
Besides books, Scribd also offers magazines, sheet music and documents, which just expands the horizon for book reading and listening. Ann0v1 adds "They update it once a month and I just think it’s extremely worth it."
Bookmobile
"Bookmobile (iOS), if you do not have an audiobook server," suggests ahbi_santini2, and the app is truly a beast. A clutter-free interface makes for easy access, and precise controls make listening enjoyable. Driving mode is provided for those who listen on the go, and the app plays through Audible, iTunes, DRM and non-DRM files with ease.
It also provides thousands of free audiobooks to choose from, and is also a great player for podcasts and music too. There are few features that Bookmobile does not provide.
MAbook Audiobook Player
This app provides only a player for listeners who want to listen to their own files. It has several themes to pick from to suit the eye, and the usual set of controls like auto-rewind, equalizer, widgets, bookmarks, and sleep timer. It also can control playback by rotating the phone.
Jaffacakereddit likes mAbook because "it uses very little memory but works well." The app provides a 30-day trial of the full version, after which it switches to basic mode.