Best Audiobookshelf mobile apps compared

Audiobookshelf becomes much more useful once it works on your phone.

If you are new to Audiobookshelf, What Is Audiobookshelf, and Why Should I Care? explains what it does, who it fits, and what self-hosting requires.

The Audiobookshelf server stores your files, user accounts, and listening progress. The mobile app is the thing you actually open when you listen.

Short answer: Android users should try the official Audiobookshelf app first. iPhone users usually need another app because the official iOS app is still in TestFlight and the beta is full. ShelfPlayer, Plappa, Absorb, and AudioBooth are the main iPhone options worth checking.

If you use Android

Start with the official Audiobookshelf app.

If it does what you need, stop there. It is official, free, and simple.

Try Absorb if you want Android Auto, a more refined interface, custom headers, Chromecast, or server/admin features from your phone.

If you use iPhone

Do not wait for the official TestFlight beta unless you already have access.

Start here instead:

• ShelfPlayer if you want the most Apple-native option and your device supports iOS 18 or newer
• Plappa if you want free-to-start, Jellyfin/Emby support, and optional paid unlocks
• Absorb if you want a free Audiobookshelf-focused app with a bigger feature set
• AudioBooth if you want a simpler newer Audiobookshelf-only iOS option

If you listen in the car

Check car support before choosing. ShelfPlayer and AudioBooth list CarPlay support. Absorb lists Android Auto and CarPlay. Plappa's CarPlay support is still in progress.

If car listening matters, choose around that instead of treating it as a bonus feature.

If offline listening matters

Offline downloads matter for flights, bad signal, commuting, data limits, and long books.

ShelfPlayer, Absorb, and AudioBooth support offline downloads. Plappa supports downloads through optional paid unlocks. The official app includes download and local file management, but test it with your own library before relying on it for travel.

Before choosing an app, check one thing: can your phone reach your Audiobookshelf server?

Here, "server" means the Audiobookshelf install your apps connect to. It might run on your own machine, or it might be a managed instance hosted for you.

For self-hosting, that usually means setting up a public URL, HTTPS, remote access, login details, updates, and backups.

If Audiobookshelf only runs inside your home network, the app may work at home and fail when you leave.

Audiobook Library handles that server side for you. You bring your audiobook files, get a private Audiobookshelf instance, and use the library URL in supported mobile apps. No VPS, Docker, SSL, ports, or home-network routing.

The official Audiobookshelf mobile app is the obvious first choice on Android.

The Android app is available on Google Play. It is open source, built from the advplyr/audiobookshelf-app repository, and uses the same Audiobookshelf server login as the web app.

Use it if:

• you are on Android
• you want the official client first
• you want a free app
• you do not need the most polished interface
• you want setup to stay simple

The iOS version exists, but it is still distributed through Apple TestFlight. The beta is full, and TestFlight caps public betas at 10,000 testers.

So most iPhone users should not plan around the official iOS app right now. Pick another iOS app instead.

Best fit: Android users who want the official free starting point.

Plappa is an iPhone and iPad audiobook client for Audiobookshelf, Jellyfin, and Emby.

That makes it useful if Audiobookshelf is part of a broader media setup, or if you want one app that can connect to more than one server type.

Plappa can:

• connect to Audiobookshelf
• play common audio formats
• sync playback state through iCloud or Audiobookshelf
• read metadata such as author and narrator
• download audiobooks and podcast episodes for offline listening through optional paid unlocks
• support podcasts, collections, and series with Audiobookshelf

The tradeoff is that Plappa is not only an Audiobookshelf app. That is fine if you also use Jellyfin or Emby. If you want the most Audiobookshelf-specific iPhone experience, ShelfPlayer or Absorb may feel more direct.

Best fit: iPhone users who want a free-to-start app, especially if they also use Jellyfin or Emby.

ShelfPlayer is an iOS and iPadOS app built specifically for Audiobookshelf libraries.

It is the most Apple-native option here. ShelfPlayer includes:

• audiobook and podcast support
• multiple Audiobookshelf servers and libraries
• username/password and OpenID sign-in
• chapter navigation
• playback speed controls
• sleep timer
• bookmarks with notes
• progress sync with Audiobookshelf
• offline downloads
• collections and playlists
• widgets, Live Activities, Dynamic Island, Siri, Shortcuts, and App Intents
• CarPlay support

The catch is compatibility and price. ShelfPlayer is a paid app and requires iOS 18 or newer.

That makes it a strong choice if you are deep in the Apple ecosystem and want a native-feeling app. It is not the cheapest option, and it will not work for every iPhone user.

Best fit: iPhone users who want the most Apple-integrated Audiobookshelf client and do not mind paying for it.

Absorb is a newer Audiobookshelf client for Android and iOS.

It uses a modern card-based player and supports both major mobile platforms. It includes:

• Audiobookshelf integration
• offline playback
• multi-account support
• sleep timer
• playback speed control
• auto rewind
• equalizer
• bookmarks
• chapter navigation
• search and filtering
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Chromecast on Android
• custom headers for reverse proxy setups
• OpenID Connect support
• server admin features
• listening stats
• playlists and collections
• real-time sync
• home screen widgets

Absorb is free, open source, has no ads, has no subscriptions, and does not collect data. It is available through Google Play open testing, the App Store, GitHub releases, Obtainium, and TestFlight tracks.

Absorb is the most interesting option if you want a more advanced Audiobookshelf app that is not tied to only one phone platform.

It is still newer and moving quickly. If you want the safest Android option, try the official app first. If you want the most Apple-native iPhone option, ShelfPlayer may still be a better fit. But Absorb is worth checking if you want one strong outside client across Android and iPhone.

Best fit: people who want a feature-rich Audiobookshelf app on Android or iOS.

AudioBooth is a newer iOS client focused on Audiobookshelf.

AudioBooth covers the usual audiobook app basics:

• Audiobookshelf integration
• playback speed
• sleep timer
• chapter navigation
• progress sync
• offline downloads
• library browsing
• CarPlay
• EPUB/PDF reading
• multiple connections
• playback history

I would treat AudioBooth as a promising simple option, not the default recommendation. It looks useful if you want a focused iPhone audiobook app and do not need the broader feature set of ShelfPlayer or Absorb.

Best fit: iPhone users who want a simple Audiobookshelf-specific app and are comfortable trying a newer client.

Do not ignore the web app.

Audiobookshelf has a browser interface and a progressive web app. That can be enough for quick checks, library management, or listening from a device where installing another app is annoying.

For everyday phone listening, a native app is usually better. Native apps tend to handle lock-screen controls, downloads, car integration, background playback, sleep timers, and offline use more naturally.

Use the web app as a fallback. Use a mobile app for daily listening.

For most people, the choice is simple: try the official app on Android, try ShelfPlayer or Plappa on iPhone, and try Absorb if you want more controls on either platform.

The best app is the one you can connect once, trust to save your place, and use without thinking about the server.

If you already have audiobook files and want Audiobookshelf without running the server, start your Audiobook Library.

If you still need audiobook files, Where to Buy Audiobooks You Can Download and Keep covers which stores give you real downloadable files.

• Audiobookshelf GitHub README: official project description, Android and iOS app notes, iOS TestFlight status, progress sync, PWA, and Chromecast note.
• Audiobookshelf mobile app GitHub repository: official mobile app source and Android/iOS distribution notes.
• Official Audiobookshelf app on Google Play: Android app listing.
• Plappa website and Plappa GitHub repository: app description, platform support, roadmap, and Audiobookshelf/Jellyfin support.
• Plappa on the App Store: current App Store description, pricing model, and iOS requirements.
• ShelfPlayer GitHub repository: feature list, Audiobookshelf requirement, iOS/iPadOS focus, downloads, progress sync, and CarPlay support.
• ShelfPlayer on the App Store: current price, iOS requirement, and App Store description.
• Absorb GitHub repository: Android/iOS availability, feature list, Google Play/App Store links, release tracks, and requirements.
• Absorb on the App Store: current iOS listing, pricing, feature claims, and privacy/no-ads wording.
• AudioBooth on the App Store: current iOS listing and feature claims.