Constant productivity is no longer an unimaginable concept — you can maintain a high learning capacity while on the go. If you’re looking to kickstart those self-development goals with a newfound reading habit, your first step should be starting an audiobook library. Fortunately, some apps allow you to play and organize audiobooks alongside a variety of useful features.
Audiobooks can be valuable tools in your academic or professional life. Whether on a long commute or busy running errands, audiobooks provide an easy and convenient method of gaining knowledge from books while staying productive. Still, not all audiobook apps have the same functionality and pricing, so you’ll need to dig to find out which is best for you.
So, what is the perfect platform to carry out all your book-listening needs and crush your learning goals? To help you decide, let’s get into this list of the best audiobook apps for iPhone and other devices.
Key points:
Listening to books on your phone is a great way to maintain a love of learning while on the go. For example, using an audiobook app is a great way to keep your audiobook collection organized and all in one place.
A variety of audiobook apps on the market boast interesting features like progress trackers, challenges, and large selections of books. Some of the best audiobook apps for iPhone include Apple Books, Audible, and Chirp audiobooks.
Making time for reading can be difficult, depending on your lifestyle. The Headway app is a great resource for busy individuals who want to make audiobooks a regular part of their routine while maintaining high performance in their career and family life.
Top 10 best audiobook apps
Audiobook apps offer ways for readers to take in information from their favorite books without sacrificing other physical activities. Here are some of the best audiobook apps for iPhone that will get you access to all your reading list picks in no time.
1. Headway
Headway is a renowned book summary app that features over 1500 audiobook summaries in various non-fiction genres. This app offers three separate subscription plans that all aim to provide you with a wide array of the world’s leading bestsellers. Whether you choose monthly, three-month, or yearly, there’s no limit on the amount of growth you can accomplish with this app — you can also get access to a free daily read conveniently chosen for you by Headway.
This app allows you to watch, listen to, or read audio summaries of your favorite self-help books or memoirs by affluent celebrities and intellectuals. Headway’s well-crafted summaries are packed with insightful information on the key parts of any book, which means you’ll be gaining all the knowledge in less than a quarter of the time it takes to read a full-length novel.
For only $69.99 per year or a mere $1.45 each week, you can track your progress and participate in self-growth challenges that cater to your long-term learning and development. Download the Headway app from the Google Play Store or the Apple Store to begin your motivational journey toward better health and wellness.
2. Apple Books
Fortunately for iPhone users, Apple offers its own ebook application with an audiobook feature. With millions of books and audiobooks to choose from, readers certainly won’t miss out on trending picks in the literary world. However, Apple Books is loyal to its namesake and only compatible with Apple devices, meaning that Android users will need to find another app for their audiobook needs.
One of the features that sets Apple Books apart from other book apps is the ability to shop directly from the app. This makes purchasing books and adding them to your library much easier. You’ll also find that Apple’s book app is designed especially for easy access and better library management. In particular, users can put audiobooks on their wishlist and view app recommendations for audiobooks they might like based on their browsing and purchase history.
3. Libby
The Libby app is a service that allows you to access the books and audiobooks offered by your local public library. Since this is a library-run service, the books you listen to on the app are borrowed and not owned by you. Although you’ll have to return the book after a certain time frame, this app is worth checking out for anyone who needs quick access to an audiobook.
If owning lifetime access to audiobooks isn’t a concern for you, then Libby will allow you to find some of your favorite book-listening picks free of charge. The best part about this app is that there’s no limit to what different libraries offer. You can access trendy bestsellers, new releases, and classic literature without taking a dime out of your pocket. Of course, you’ll need to register an account with a legitimate library card to access any digital content. Still, there’s no beating this convenient method of enjoying free audiobooks from your phone.
4. Google Play Books
Everything under the sun can be done using Google’s services, from navigating the world with Google Maps to organizing your diary with Google Calendar. Now, they even have an app that allows book lovers to browse from a selection of top-rated books in any genre. If you own an Android-powered device, consider this an all-in-one tool to get your favorite books in their digital counterparts.
There are a few advantages that make this app worth getting over others. For one, the application is free until you purchase a book. You also get access to more types of digital content like textbooks and comic books. Lastly, you can use this app on your smartphone, tablet, or browser. Whichever one you aim to use, your progress and audiobook collection sync between all devices, which means you can continue listening from anywhere you are.
5. Audible
Nearly everyone has heard of Audible, and for a good reason. It’s a great app that lets you listen to thousands of popular audiobooks in your favorite genre and beyond. This app focuses exclusively on audiobooks, which means you’ll get audiobooks of the highest quality possible. Not to mention, there’s also a variety of features that makes the app worthwhile, like the ability to adjust narration speed, bookmark audio content, and set a sleep timer for when you listen to books before bed.
On Audible, you can browse from the biggest audiobook library out there. Users can also purchase audiobooks individually or invest in an Audible subscription to receive credits each month that they can use to redeem any audiobook of their choice. Starting at just $7.95 per month, you can gain access to exclusive audio content, such as books and stories narrated by celebrities and notable authors.
6. Chirp
To the delight of many audiobook lovers, Chirp does not require any subscription fee to access its content. This app is known for its cheap audiobook deals, which means you can find some of the top bestsellers in various genres at low prices. Chirp offers several limited-time deals that can help you save up to 95% on select titles.
After signing up for a free account, users can browse and customize a vast catalog of genres to fit their personal preferences. As such, you’ll be greeted by a quiz that lets you choose the categories of audiobooks you like most to make your browsing experience more pleasurable. Chirp audiobooks also offer ways for users to become involved in book clubs and communities that can grant them access to exclusive podcasts, live events, and author interviews. Consider this app a frugal book lover’s dream!
7. Scribd
Scribd is certainly not just an audiobook player — it’s a dynamo of an app that can host all your digital content needs. This app may not exclusively offer audiobooks, but it does get the job done. For a flat monthly fee starting at $8.99, Scribd gets you unlimited access to a wide variety of unique digital content. This includes ebooks, newspapers, magazines, and even music. From an article by a top newspaper to the latest bestselling ebook, Scribd can get it for you.
Scribd claims to let you listen to as many audiobooks as you want each month, but there may occasionally be limits on the types of content you can access. However, this small flaw is overridden by several remarkable features, such as adjusting narration speed and downloading audiobooks for offline listening. The reasonable audiobook prices make this app a must-download for book lovers.
8. LibriVox
LibriVox is an entirely volunteer-run service that offers a selection of free audiobooks that have been registered in the US public domain. As such, most of the books featured on this app are in the classic genre. From Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ to Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina,’ fans of classic literature can find their favorite books completely free for their listening pleasure.
With unlimited access to over 50,000 titles, LibriVox is a great option for anyone who wants to listen to audiobooks without breaking the bank. Moreover, LibriVox might be the app for you if you’re the type of audiobook listener that needs to have a written copy of the book alongside them as they listen. In addition, this app also allows users to read the ebook version while listening to the audiobook.
The app does require a small fee to download — but you can still use the application in your browser for free.
9. Kobo Books
A great alternative to the Audible app, Kobo Books has a vast selection of ebooks and audiobooks to browse through. For a monthly subscription fee of $9.99, you can obtain one free audiobook of your choice. However, the app itself is free, so you can get a feel of the services before purchasing anything.
Kobo Books boasts a simple-to-use platform with expert features designed to make your listening experience easier and more pleasurable. For example, the app has an extensive search system that lets you use various sorting options to get the audiobook you’re looking for. You can also sync your progress among multiple devices, so your page is never lost.
With Kobo, you can also read and listen to books in various languages, including French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese. That being said, there’s surely something that everyone can enjoy on this app!
10. Nook
Powered by Barnes & Noble, the Nook reading app is well-known in the community as an ebook store. However, there’s a second app dedicated exclusively to audiobooks — Nook audiobooks. With this app, you’ll get access to over 100,000 audiobooks that you can listen to right from one place. Some books are even offered at reduced prices, which certainly helps if you’re looking to buy audiobooks on a budget.
Nook audiobooks can be highly personalized to show you some of the best audiobook recommendations that best fit your individual interests. Before you buy, you can listen to a free sample to ensure the audiobook is up to your standards — and after that, the digital content is all yours. If you’re a regular Barnes & Noble shopper, you’ll certainly be interested in the plethora of apps they offer for book lovers.
Download the best audiobook app with Headway
Sometimes, regular audiobooks can have long reading times, and it can be difficult for people with busy lifestyles to commit to listening to the entire track. Luckily, Headway makes it easy to get all the same knowledge from a book by condensing them into easy 15-minute audio summaries. With a book summary app, you can make it easier for yourself to kickstart your reading and personal development goals.
Headway is a bite-sized learning app that provides only the most essential bits of information from some of the world’s best non-fiction books. If you’re looking for a way to master new skills and improve your mental approach in a fun and easy way, then look no further. Continue your learning experiences while staying productive on the go by listening to audiobook summaries while commuting, standing in line, or carrying out your usual routine.
Download the Headway app to access a library of over 1500+ audiobook summaries.
FAQ
What is the best audiobook app?
The best audiobook app would likely be one that is easy to navigate and boasts reasonable pricing with various unique features. However, many audiobook apps compete to provide optimal experiences, and it’s ultimately up to the user to decide which one is best for them. Some of the best audiobook apps that offer interesting features include Scribd and Google Play Books. In terms of the best free audiobook app, however, you may want to consider a library-run service like Libby that features audiobooks you can borrow for a limited time.
What are the benefits of listening to audiobooks?
Audiobooks may be considered a fun pastime, but they also have several advantages for mental and physical health. For example, some benefits of listening to audiobooks include better cognition, memory enhancement, and less eye strain. Moreover, they can also help you to increase productivity levels and motivate you to engage in personality-building or career-strengthening practices. Listening to audiobooks and summaries can be a healthy addition to your daily routine.
What types of audiobooks should I listen to?
Audiobooks come in all kinds of formats and genres. From fantasy fiction to historical documents, there’s an audiobook to fit everyone’s needs. For example, self-help books may be for you if you’re looking for an audiobook that will motivate you to focus on your health. Otherwise, someone vying for a promotion might look to career-enhancing books with appropriate tips and strategies.
What is the best app for listening to books on non-fiction?
Many book apps cater more towards fiction books as they tend to have a broader audience. However, some apps now focus on non-fiction to showcase more self-help books, biographies, and memoirs. The best apps for non-fiction books include Headway, which has a selection of over 1500 non-fiction books, and apps with a vast library collection, such as Audible or Apple Books.
