Best Audiobook Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: Libby is ranked #1 of 31 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Hoopla and Libro.fm. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Hoopla. The lowest first paid tier on this page is AudiobooksNow at $3/mo.
Audiobook apps can provide different routes to titles, from borrowing to purchase or catalog access. Libby, Hoopla, and Kobo Books are the first entries, with Libro.fm and AudiobooksNow among those that follow. Compare each app’s access model and included catalog, then check for DRM-free downloads, offline listening, and family sharing. Mobile platform support can matter if you listen across devices, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer useful cost details. Use these listed features to weigh how an app’s way of providing books fits your listening preferences.
31 audiobook apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Libby iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.6Free Offline listening: YesAccess model: library borrowingMobile platforms: ios and android
- 2 Hoopla iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.5Free Offline listening: YesAccess model: library borrowingMobile platforms: ios and android
- 3 Libro.fm iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.0 Offline listening: YesAccess model: mixedMobile platforms: ios and android
- 4 Audible iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.7$8.99/mo Offline listening: YesAccess model: mixedMobile platforms: ios and android
- 5 Kobo Books iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.6$7.99/mo Offline listening: YesAccess model: mixedMobile platforms: ios and android
- 6 Bookmate iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.6Free Offline listening: YesAccess model: subscriptionMobile platforms: ios and android
- 7 AudiobooksNow iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.5$3/mo Offline listening: YesAccess model: mixedMobile platforms: ios and android
- 8 BorrowBox iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.4 Offline listening: YesAccess model: library borrowingMobile platforms: ios and android
- 9 BookBeat iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2 Offline listening: YesAccess model: mixedMobile platforms: ios and android
- 10 Storytel iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1 Offline listening: YesAccess model: subscriptionMobile platforms: ios and android
- 11 Audiobookshelf iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1Free Offline listening: YesMobile platforms: ios and android
- 12 Everand iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0 Offline listening: YesAccess model: subscriptionMobile platforms: ios and android
- 13 Playary iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0Free Offline listening: YesMobile platforms: ios and android
- 14 The Palace Project iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9 Offline listening: YesAccess model: library borrowingMobile platforms: ios and android
- 15 Sora iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9 Offline listening: YesAccess model: library borrowingMobile platforms: ios and android
- 16 SimplyE iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6 Access model: library borrowingMobile platforms: ios and android
- 17 Downpour iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5 Offline listening: YesAccess model: mixedMobile platforms: ios and android
- 18 Chirp iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Offline listening: YesAccess model: pay per bookMobile platforms: ios and android
- 19 Audiobooks.com iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Offline listening: YesAccess model: mixedMobile platforms: ios and android
- 20 Skoobe iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Offline listening: YesAccess model: subscriptionMobile platforms: ios and android
- 21 Nextory iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1 Offline listening: YesAccess model: subscriptionMobile platforms: ios and android
- 22 Loyal Books iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1 Offline listening: YesAccess model: mixedMobile platforms: ios and android
- 23 BookPlayer iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Offline listening: YesMobile platforms: ios and android
- 24 Prologue iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Offline listening: YesMobile platforms: ios only
- 25 plappa iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7 Offline listening: YesMobile platforms: ios only
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Offline listening | Access model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Libby | 9.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | library borrowing |
| 2 | Hoopla | 9.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | library borrowing |
| 3 | Libro.fm | 9.0 | No | — | — | — | Yes | mixed |
| 4 | Audible | 8.7 | No | $8.99/mo | No | — | Yes | mixed |
| 5 | Kobo Books | 8.6 | No | $7.99/mo | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 6 | Bookmate | 8.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | subscription |
| 7 | AudiobooksNow | 8.5 | No | $3/mo | No | 4.99 /mo | Yes | mixed |
| 8 | BorrowBox | 8.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | library borrowing |
| 9 | BookBeat | 8.2 | No | — | No | — | Yes | mixed |
| 10 | Storytel | 8.1 | No | — | No | — | Yes | subscription |
| 11 | Audiobookshelf | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Yes | — |
| 12 | Everand | 8.0 | No | — | No | — | Yes | subscription |
| 13 | Playary | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 14 | The Palace Project | 7.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | library borrowing |
| 15 | Sora | 7.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | library borrowing |
| 16 | SimplyE | 7.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | library borrowing |
| 17 | Downpour | 7.5 | No | — | No | 12.99 /mo | Yes | mixed |
| 18 | Chirp | 7.3 | No | — | No | — | Yes | pay per book |
| 19 | Audiobooks.com | 7.3 | No | — | No | 14.95 /mo | Yes | mixed |
| 20 | Skoobe | 7.2 | No | — | No | — | Yes | subscription |
| 21 | Nextory | 7.1 | No | — | No | — | Yes | subscription |
| 22 | Loyal Books | 7.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 23 | BookPlayer | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 24 | Prologue | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 25 | plappa | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which audiobook app is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Libby is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 9.6. Hoopla is second and Libro.fm third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, AudiobooksNow has the lowest first paid tier we found: $3/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.