Best 5 Audiobook App for 2023

Audible

Audiobooks.com

Hoopla Digital

Pros

• Huge selection: One of the biggest advantages of the Audible app is its vast selection of audiobooks. With over 500,000 titles to choose from, you’re sure to find something you’re interested in.
• Membership benefits: Audible offers a range of membership options that come with various benefits, such as discounts on audiobooks, free audiobooks each month, and access to exclusive content.
• Cross-device syncing: Another great feature of the Audible app is that it allows you to sync your audiobooks across multiple devices. This means that you can start listening on your phone, then pick up right where you left off on your tablet or computer.
• Whispersync for Voice: Audible’s Whispersync for Voice feature allows you to seamlessly switch between reading and listening to a book. This is especially helpful if you want to switch between the ebook and audiobook versions of a book.
• Customer support: Audible has a reputation for excellent customer support. If you have any issues with the app, you can contact Audible’s customer support team for help.

Cons

• Subscription required: Unlike Google Play Books, you need to sign up for a monthly subscription to access Audible’s content. This may not be ideal for people who only want to listen to audiobooks occasionally.
• Expensive: While Audible’s membership options offer some benefits, they can be pricey. Depending on your membership level, you may end up paying more than you would for other audiobook services.
• Limited family sharing: While Audible does offer some family sharing options, they are limited. With an Audible subscription, you can share one audiobook with one other person for free each month.
• Limited platform support: The Audible app is available on many devices, but it’s not available on all of them. If you have a device that’s not supported, you won’t be able to use the app.
• DRM restrictions: Audible’s audiobooks come with DRM (digital rights management) restrictions that can make it difficult to transfer audiobooks to other devices or share them with others.

Pros

• Large selection: One of the biggest advantages of the Google Play Books audiobook app is the wide variety of audiobooks available. You’ll find everything from bestsellers to classics to new releases, so you’re sure to find something that piques your interest.
• Cross-device syncing: Another great feature of the Google Play Books app is that it allows you to start listening to an audiobook on one device and pick up right where you left off on another device. This is especially convenient if you’re on the go and want to switch between your phone and tablet.
• Customizable listening experience: With Google Play Books, you can customize the listening experience to suit your preferences. You can adjust the playback speed, set sleep timers, and even control the equalizer to fine-tune the sound quality.
• No subscription required: Unlike some other audiobook services, Google Play Books allows you to purchase individual titles without needing to sign up for a monthly subscription. This is a great option if you only want to listen to audiobooks occasionally.
• Family sharing: If you have family members who are also interested in audiobooks, you’ll love the family sharing feature of Google Play Books. With this feature, you can share your audiobooks with up to five family members for free.

Cons

• Limited availability: While Google Play Books is available in many countries, it may not be available in your region. This can be frustrating if you were hoping to use the app to listen to audiobooks.
• Limited platform support: While the Google Play Books app is available on many devices, it’s not available on all of them. This can be a dealbreaker if you have a device that’s not supported.
• No membership benefits: Unlike some other audiobook services, Google Play Books does not offer any discounts or free audiobooks for subscribers or members. This means that you’ll pay full price for each audiobook you purchase.
• Limited customer support: Some users have reported difficulty contacting Google Play Books customer support for technical issues or refunds. This can be frustrating if you encounter a problem with the app.
• No whispersync feature: Unlike some other audiobook services, Google Play Books does not offer a whispersync feature that allows you to seamlessly switch between reading and listening to a book. This can be inconvenient if you like to switch back and forth between reading and listening.

Pros

• Vast selection: Scribd boasts a library of over one million titles, including audiobooks, ebooks, and even magazines. This means that you’re sure to find something you’re interested in.
• Unlimited access: With a Scribd subscription, you can access an unlimited number of audiobooks and other reading materials. This can be a great value for avid readers and listeners.
• Personalized recommendations: Scribd uses an algorithm to provide personalized book recommendations based on your reading history. This can help you discover new books and authors that you may not have otherwise found.
• Offline listening: Like many other audiobook apps, Scribd allows you to download audiobooks for offline listening. This means that you can enjoy your favorite books even when you don’t have an internet connection.
• Affordable: Compared to other audiobook services, Scribd’s subscription service is relatively affordable. For a flat monthly fee, you can access an unlimited number of books and audiobooks.

Cons

• Limited availability: Scribd is only available in certain countries, so not everyone can use the app. Additionally, some titles may not be available in all regions.
• Limited family sharing: While Scribd allows for family sharing, it’s limited. With a Scribd subscription, you can share one account with one other person.
• DRM restrictions: Like Audible, Scribd’s audiobooks come with DRM (digital rights management) restrictions that can make it difficult to transfer audiobooks to other devices or share them with others.
• Limited selection of new releases: While Scribd’s library is vast, it may not have the latest and greatest releases. If you’re looking for a specific new release, you may need to look elsewhere.
• Subscription required: Like Audible, Scribd requires a monthly subscription to access its content. This may not be ideal for people who only want to listen to audiobooks occasionally.

Pros

• Free: Hoopla is completely free to use, as long as you have a library card from a participating library.
• Large selection: Hoopla offers a vast selection of audiobooks, eBooks, comics, music, and movies. This means that you’re sure to find something you’re interested in.
• No waiting lists: Unlike other library services, Hoopla doesn’t have waiting lists for popular titles. As long as a title is available, you can access it right away.
• Easy to use: The Hoopla app is easy to navigate and use. You can browse titles, search for specific books, and download content for offline listening.
• Multi-device support: You can access Hoopla on a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Cons

• Limited availability: Hoopla is only available in certain countries and is restricted to libraries that have partnered with the service. This means that not everyone can access it.
• Limited selection: While Hoopla offers a large selection of titles, it may not have the latest and greatest releases. If you’re looking for a specific new release, you may need to look elsewhere.
• Limited borrowing: Hoopla restricts the number of titles you can borrow per month, depending on your library’s agreement with the service.
• No offline listening for music: While you can download audiobooks and eBooks for offline listening, you can’t do the same with music.
• Limited personalization: Hoopla doesn’t offer personalized book recommendations based on your reading history, unlike some other audiobook apps.

Pros

• Large selection: Audiobooks.com offers a vast selection of titles, including bestsellers and new releases. This means that you’re sure to find something you’re interested in.
• Multi-device support: You can access Audiobooks.com on a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This makes it easy to listen to your audiobooks on the go.
• Personalized recommendations: Audiobooks.com offers personalized recommendations based on your reading history. This means that you’re more likely to find books that you’ll enjoy.
• Easy to use: The Audiobooks.com app is easy to navigate and use. You can browse titles, search for specific books, and download content for offline listening.
• Family plan: Audiobooks.com offers a family plan that allows multiple users to share a single account. This can be a cost-effective option for families or groups of friends.

Cons

• Subscription-based: Audiobooks.com is a subscription-based service, which means that you need to pay a monthly fee to access its content. This may not be ideal for people who only listen to audiobooks occasionally.
• Limited borrowing: Audiobooks.com limits the number of titles you can borrow per month, depending on your subscription plan.
• No free trial: Unlike some other audiobook apps, Audiobooks.com doesn’t offer a free trial. This means that you can’t test out the service before committing to a subscription.
• Limited availability: Audiobooks.com is only available in certain countries, which means that not everyone can access it.
• No return policy: If you’re not satisfied with a book you’ve downloaded from Audiobooks.com, there’s no option to return it for a refund or credit.