Reading is a great habit, but it's difficult to cultivate. We get busy every day working or carrying out chores. So, you must find a way to keep reading while doing other things to grow the habit. Technology has made this possible via audiobook apps. You can now listen to your favorite books on your phone while driving without flipping pages or taking your eyes off the road. Also, the best audiobook apps are designed with cool features that make it more convenient to listen to audiobooks. Let's get you acquainted with the best available options.
Best AudioBook Apps To Grow Your Reading Habit
There is no turning back once you start falling in love with books. If you need motivation to read more, we've put together a list of some of the best audiobook apps. Some options can only be used for streaming audiobooks, while some offer extra audio-based services. Let's get to know them together.
1. Audible
Audible is also owned by Amazon and is considered one of the best audiobook apps available. With over 200,000 titles available, it is a popular choice for those looking for a wide range of options. The app offers two different packages: Audible Plus, which costs $7.95 per month, and Audible Premium Plus, which costs $14.95 per month. To sign up for either plan, you need to have an Amazon account.
Both packages provide users with full access to Audible Originals, which are audiobooks exclusive to Audible, as well as podcasts and other exclusive content. Additionally, both plans allow you to purchase audiobooks via in-app purchase. However, if you subscribe to the premium plan, you will receive credits that can be used to subsidize the cost of your purchases. Finally, Audible is compatible with a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, Alexa, Sonos, and Amazon Kindle.
2. Apple Books
The Apple Books application is an excellent platform for reading eBooks. It also provides an extensive store packed with audiobooks and available for download. The audiobooks are sorted into categories based on their genre, bestsellers, deals, and more. While some of the audiobooks are free to download, others require an in-app purchase.
Just like on Audible, you can listen to a preview before you make your payment. Also, you can choose to pay using any payment method that is available for your Apple ID. In addition, you get to synchronize and play your preferred audiobooks on both your Apple smartwatch and Mac.
3. Spotify
Spotify is among the best audiobook apps. It allows you to stream a wide variety of content, including music, audiobooks, podcasts, and talk shows. With an incredible collection of best-selling books to choose from, you can explore your preferred genres and authors, as well as share your favorites with your friends.
In addition to other features, the app's audiobook section is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Hence, you can easily find a book in the library by simply entering its title in the search box. One of the most noteworthy features is the mood station, which selects music based on your current mood, providing you with tracks that match your preferences.
4. Amazon Kindle
The Amazon Kindle is an essential gadget for students. It provides access to one of the most advanced audiobook libraries available. When faced with a choice between a hard copy or a Kindle, many book enthusiasts always consider the convenience of the latter. The Amazon Kindle allows you to easily locate and read almost any book you want, with a library of over seven million ebooks. It is packed with the best reads spanning various genres, including comic books, history texts, self-help, religious texts, and more.Â
Amazon also provides the option to preview book samples before making a purchase, regardless of location and in your preferred language. Additionally, the device has various other features, such as playing games, reading Instapaper articles, sending documents to your Kindle, accessing free library books, and taking screenshots.
5. Audiobooks.com
Audiobooks.com has a collection of over 300,000 books, of which 10,000 are free. The monthly subscription for the premium package costs $14.95 and allows users to access two audiobooks: One from its regular catalog and the other from a new monthly list of VIP titles. Users can also purchase additional books separately after that.
Furthermore, the app allows users to listen to ten-minute samples of books to help them decide on their purchase. It also has a feature where users can store audio notes from audiobooks. The Audiobooks.com app is compatible with both iOS and Android. Additionally, users can stream podcasts and listen to small sections of meditations using this app.
6. Chirp Audiobooks
Chirp Audiobooks is an excellent platform for book lovers who can't afford a monthly subscription fee. The platform offers a wide range of audiobooks at affordable prices, with limited-time offers all under $5. You can also find discounts of a few dollars on popular titles.
Chirp Audiobooks provides a seamless listening experience and is compatible with iOS, Android, and Alexa devices. Lastly, you can access the platform using a web browser on any device, making it convenient to enjoy your favorite audiobooks always.
7. Nook
Barnes and Nook's Nook audiobook app was a standalone app. It has now been merged with the Nook app, which also features ebooks. The app boasts over 300,000 audiobooks, out of which around 10,000 are free to choose from.
You can sign up for B&N Audiobooks for free or subscribe to a monthly subscription of $14.99. This grants you access to one book per month and discounts on other purchases. The app is available on both iOS and Android devices and comes equipped with all the standard features. Additionally, you can play your audiobooks through a browser.
8. 24symbols
24symbols is undoubtedly one of the best audiobook apps available, featuring languages from around the globe. This app provides many digital books in English, Spanish, German, and many other languages. It lets you listen to books on your preferred smart device, making it more convenient.
Furthermore, the app offers an offline reading mode, where you can download books to listen to when you're not connected to the internet. You also get to enjoy unlimited access to a vast library, with a link option to visit an author's or publisher's page. All of these features are available on a user-friendly interface that is designed to impress.
9. Hoopla
Hoopla is among the best audiobook apps designed to help readers easily access their favorite books. If you have a library card, you can listen to audiobooks on Hoopla for free. Hoopla collaborates with almost all libraries in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Moreover, if your library is not featured on their list, you can contact them via email ([email protected]) to assist you.
The audiobook section on Hoopla has all the regular features, including bookmarks and a sleep timer. Besides audiobooks, Hoopla also provides e-books and even TV shows. Although most users rely on the intuitive mobile app, it is still possible to browse and listen to your favorite books on a web browser.
10. Libby
Libby is a top audiobook app that allows readers to access thousands of books. It is one of the best audiobook apps. The audiobook player on Libby is user-friendly and offers useful features like a sleep timer, bookmarks, and the option to adjust the playback speed. Libby is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, enabling readers to listen to audiobooks on the go.
Libby also provides the opportunity to borrow books from local libraries, similar to Hoopla. It has partnerships with approximately 90% of libraries across North America. Signing up for Libby is easy, and you can register for a library card by conducting a search using your zip code and phone number.
11. LibriVox
LibriVox offers a vast collection of more than 50,000 audiobooks that have been recorded and shared by volunteers. These audiobooks are available for free and reflect the volunteers' love for literature.
Moreover, LibriVox provides a sleep timer and bookmarking feature, making it one of the best audiobook apps accessible on both iOS and Android devices. It can be accessed via a web browser but with limited functions. The web version only allows users to search, play, and pause audiobooks.
12. Kobo Books
Kobo Books is one of the best audiobook apps available for both iOS and Android devices. Although the app primarily focuses on ebooks, you can benefit from its vast selection of audiobooks with an easily accessible layout.
What's more, users can find their favorite audiobooks by subscribing to the app's monthly plan, which costs $9.99. If you want more audiobooks, you can purchase them from the app's extensive library, which features books across various genres, ranging from fiction to non-fiction.
End Note
Reading is how we gain knowledge about everything going on around us. However, duties and responsibilities take up our time, so we can't read. This is where audiobook apps come in. We reviewed the best audiobook apps so you can find one that is most convenient for you. These apps are packed with great books from every genre and extra tools to make reading more fun. You can also listen to podcasts and talk shows on some apps. We hope you've found your go-to audiobook and are ready to download it.
