The best apps for listening to audiobooks on Android

Such programs differ significantly from conventional music players. At least because they need to be able to work with tables of contents, launch individual chapters and properly organize files. Of course, a lot here depends on the format of the book itself.

However, a good application for audiobooks on Android should completely satisfy the user and make the listening process as comfortable as possible. Don't forget about the quality of playback.

In this collection, we have collected only the best programs for smartphones that will help you listen to your favorite books with the maximum level of comfort. Among them there are real combines. But first things first.

Storytel

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Storytel audiobooks 0

Developer: Storytel Sweden AB

Price: Free

The Storytel app has a large collection of audio books, audio series, lectures and podcasts. The library includes about 35,000 audiobooks in Russian and 80 books in English. There is children's and fiction literature, classics, poetry, science fiction, detective stories, psychology, horror, stand-up and many other genres.

Storytel works in online and offline modes, which is very convenient if you do not have constant access to the network. Also, the program easily synchronizes between devices, remembering the moment where the listener stopped.

When you sign up for a monthly subscription, you will have access to the entire library at once without restrictions, which means that you will not have to purchase each audiobook separately. There's also a kids mode, and it allows parents to share their subscription with their child, but only children's content will be available to the young reader. In addition, upon registration, Storytel will not immediately force you to purchase a subscription - the first two weeks the program works for free, allowing a new user to learn it.

In addition, this application has a number of useful functions, such as a sleep timer, speed control and quick search by title, genre, and author of the work.

Advantages:

Sync audiobooks between multiple devices.
The ability to share your impressions of the book you listened to, as well as read reviews from other users.
Some books support the e-book format: you can not only listen to them, but read them.
Large catalog of audiobooks.
Convenient player with high-quality voice acting.

Flaws:

Monthly paid subscription.

Sony Walkman NWZ-S544

To switch to the speakers in the Sony NWZ-S544, you need to move the special slider on the right side.

When the MP3 format was born, Sony

fundamentally did not want to work with him and very unsuccessfully promoted her own development - ATRAC - to the masses. She is still paying for this - only in the last year and a half have they begun to pay due attention to Sony players again.

The NWZ-S544 is an update to the Sony S-series (at one time we wrote that S-devices have reference sound). Compared to its predecessor, the player has greatly increased in size, acquired a 2.4-inch display and a pair of external speakers. The NWZ-S544 is made entirely of metal. Below and above the display there are speaker grilles - which is why the player looks a little like a phone. The control buttons are located on the front part under the screen. At one point, the player will begin to remind you of Disney's Mickey Mouse: the Back and Option keys are like big ears. The power buttons, launching the built-in speakers and volume control are located on the side. The headphone jack and computer cable are on the bottom.

Design

Apple - 5/5
COWON - 3/5
Sony— 4/5

Gramophone

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Audiobooks and Patephone books

Developer: Anyreads

Price: Free

With the Gramophone application, you will discover a large collection of books of different genres - thrillers, science fiction, novels, adventures, mysticism, children's literature, materials on self-development and self-improvement, and much more.

Here you can listen to audiobooks completely free of charge. However, unlimited access to the catalog and additional convenient functions will be available to you only with a paid subscription: you will get access to all books without restrictions and advertising, as well as the ability to download popular, new audiobooks in the program to listen to them offline.

The Gramophone app library contains about 7,000 audiobooks by authors such as Mikhail Bulgakov, Ernest Hemingway, Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Shakespeare, William Atkinson, Tatyana Ustinova and others. Overall, this is an excellent bookstore for literature lovers.

Advantages:

Convenient player with useful settings.
Extensive library.
The ability to listen to audiobooks without the Internet.
High-quality, interesting audio recordings.
There is a sleep timer.

Flaws:

Free version with ads and no useful features.

MyBook Library - books and audiobooks

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MyBook books and audiobooks

Developer: MyBook

Price: Free

MyBook contains a huge number of books and audiobooks of all genres. Here you can download materials and listen to them without the Internet, as well as synchronize your account between different devices and enjoy listening to detective stories, novels, fantasy and other audiobooks anywhere and anytime.

The free version contains only those books in audio format that are not protected by copyright. In other cases, the program offers two subscription options - standard and premium. Each of them provides access to a large catalog of audiobooks without restrictions, and premium includes some additional features.

Advantages:

Extensive library with convenient functions.
The ability to listen to audiobooks without access to the network.
Synchronization between multiple devices.
Convenient player and interface.

Flaws:

In the free version, the number of books is limited.

Buyer's Guide

Features to Consider Before Buying the Best Audiobook Reader

Before you go shopping for a new audiobook device, there are a few features you need to consider. Below are some of them.

Display size. A larger screen means the device becomes larger and heavier. Other readers prefer this method because it gives them easy control over the audiobook. They can easily play, skip ahead, pause and go back. Conversely, a smaller screen doesn't mean they're less expensive, and you can't only use them for low-quality devices. When choosing a screen size, it all comes down to personal preference.
Portability. People listen to audiobooks while walking, commuting, or exercising. This means that it is best to purchase a device that is light and compact enough to be easily carried and used on the go. For use in the classroom or at home, heavier versions are great ideas.
Capacity. Audiobooks vary in storage capacity. Typically, audiobooks take up a fair amount of storage space. Thus, choose a device with a large storage capacity, ideally 8GB and above.
Sound quality. Anyone who has a sensitivity to sound should know that purchasing a device that doesn't get boring while listening is a must. Unfortunately, many audiobook devices do not offer the best listening experience as others.
Battery life. Audiobooks are expected to be very long. When a book is missing for a long time, it can be very frustrating. Therefore, a good audiobook should have a long battery life.
Easy to upload files. Ideally, choose a device that allows you to easily download audiobooks; one that has WIFI enabled. These days, you can easily download audiobooks online. It is also better to have a device with Bluetooth connectivity for easy file transfer.
It's easy to pause and continue. It's very annoying when you have to watch an audiobook from the beginning because you couldn't bookmark where you left off. With the bookmark feature, you can easily return to where you left off or jump to a desired location quickly and easily.

Read books for free

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Read books for free

Developer: Anyreads

Price: Free

With this program, the latest, most popular and useful audiobooks will become available to you. There are novels, detective stories, science fiction, short stories, school curriculum, fairy tales, foreign literature, Russian classics and many other genres.

The application allows you to listen to audiobooks for free, but with advertising. Or you need to subscribe and enjoy your favorite material without restrictions. The paid version includes additional features - the ability to download audio recordings of books and then listen to them without access to the network, as well as leave notes and set a shutdown timer.

In addition, if you use one Google account in the application and other devices, then you can start listening to all the audiobooks you like in the library, continue or finish where you feel comfortable at the moment. Anyone who appreciates audiobooks will certainly appreciate the extensive library, which includes Erich Maria Remarque, Jane Austen, Sergei Dovlatov, Tatyana Ustinova, Anton Chekhov and other talented writers.

Advantages:

Possibility of background playback.
Synchronization between multiple devices.
Convenient player.
Nice interface.
Extensive library.

Flaws:

Free version with lots of advertising.

FAQ

How to convert audiobooks to MP3 format?

There are players only with MP3.
Therefore, you may need some handy tools to convert your audiobook to MP3 format. Here are the options: iTunes - Provides quality conversion, but it can be a chore. Offline Software - You can download a suitable application on your computer or laptop and convert audiobooks easily. Online converters. The easiest way is to upload the audiobook file to an online conversion portal and get an mp3.

To avoid conversion every time, you can directly download the audiobook in MP3 format or choose a device that supports all major audio formats.

Can I browse the web with all audiobook devices?

There are devices on which you can directly access the Internet and download any audiobook. But there are also devices where you need to download files from your PC and then transfer them to the device via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Free Books & Audiobooks

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FreeBooks Books amp Audiobooks

Developer: Books & Audiobooks Studio

Price: Free

The simple and convenient Free Books & Audiobooks application for reading and listening to audiobooks on Android will surely appeal to many book lovers, because it is completely free and contains thousands of new, world-class works.

You can easily find your favorite audiobook and download it offline. To do this, you do not need a network connection, which is very convenient if you are on vacation or traveling.

Advantages:

Many useful settings to improve viewing of materials.
Free audio recordings of books.
There are English lessons.
High-quality, professional voice acting.
Simple, beautiful interface.

Flaws:

There is no localization into Russian.
There are advertisements.

FullReader

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FullReader reader for all book formats

Developer: ITENSE

Price: Free

A useful multifunctional application for listening to audiobooks, reading e-books, as well as working with documents and viewing magazines, comics and PDF files.

The program has a nice interface with all the tools and functions conveniently located. You can customize the application based on your preferences.

There is also convenient sorting by genres, authors and other data. In addition, an excellent opportunity is included to download your favorite works and create your own collections with them right here and now.

FullReader supports many formats - MP3, fb2, PDF, mobi, zip, rar, docx, doc, txt, ePub, DjVu, 7z, html and others. Everything you need for work, development and relaxation in one place, without the need to install many programs on your smartphone.

Advantages:

Supports a huge number of formats.
Availability of useful settings.
The ability to create notes in the text, highlighting important points.
There is a built-in translator that supports work with 95 languages.
Synchronization between multiple devices.
Pleasant, high-quality voice acting for audiobooks.

Flaws:

There is advertising.

Bookmate

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Bookmate read books and listen to audiobooks easily

Developer: Bookmate

Price: Free

The Bookmate app is available for everyone who loves listening to audiobooks. Here you will find novels, thrillers, comics, classic literature, fairy tales for children and other genres. With a subscription to this program, thousands of works await you, as well as personalized recommendations on what to read. With one payment you buy the entire electronic library with a wide variety of audiobooks at once. The program allows you to download material directly to your smartphone’s memory, and then listen to it offline at any time convenient for you, for example, while driving a car.

Bookmate is a simple application with a nice design, an excellent opportunity to share your favorite books with friends and be aware of what they prefer to listen to.

Advantages:

Extensive library of audiobooks.
Synchronization between devices.
Your digital library is available offline.
The ability to use applications as a reader for Fb2 and Epub files.

Flaws:

Most books are only available after a paid subscription.
Few settings.

Multi Path Audio

Multi Path Audio is a utility more for entertainment than for education. The software is suitable for children and adults. It features stories written by unknown authors and narrators. This is mainly interactive fiction - fantasy, vampires, pirates, Sci-Fi, etc. The stories you like can be downloaded offline.

mAbook

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mAbook Audiobook Player

Developer: Stanislav Bokach

Price: Free

This application does not have built-in books, but it does have a simple, convenient player with different settings. You need to download the book in audio format yourself and upload it to mAbook to appreciate the practicality of this program.

You will be able to use the full version of the application for thirty days, after which only the basic functions of the player will become available to you.

The application includes features such as a sleep timer, widgets, dark and light themes, a library of audiobooks, sorting by folder, equalizer, downloading covers from the Internet, auto-rewind, bookmarks, reading time statistics and, most importantly, no advertising.

Advantages:

Multifunctional player.
Supports different formats.
Nice interface.

Flaws:

The free version does not support some player functions.

Plaidy

Plaidy is another audiobook player without a built-in library, but with a sleep timer (set by minutes on the dial). Unlike Sirin, it is completely free and without advertising. Donations are on a voluntary basis only - from $1 to $5.

The application's interface is as simple as possible and more pleasant than Sirin's.

The main feature of the program is the inclusion of a background track over the voice in the book. You can set the sound of the forest thicket (birds singing), rain or fire. And adjust the background volume to suit you.

Program features:

Automatic search for audiobooks in the phone memory.
Adding books one by one manually.
Adding bookmarks.
A folder with the last books you opened.
Panel for controlling the player on the locked screen.
Rewind recording using special buttons.

The application also remembers the place where you stopped listening. No need to rewind the recording the next time you turn it on.

You can listen not only to audio books, but also to voice recorders, podcasts, lectures and other audio files.

Smart AudioBook Player

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Smart AudioBook Player

Developer: Alex Software

Price: Free

An application that is created specifically for playing audiobooks. It has everything you could need: correct work with chapters, quick content navigation, bookmark synchronization and much more.

The player also produces very high-quality sound, which in some cases is simply necessary. The navigation system deserves a special mention: it allows you to quickly move to any place in the book. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to have bookmarks there.

There is a built-in amplifier that evens out the sound in too quiet recordings. There is an equalizer that can pull out any frequencies. The player is able to start playing as soon as headphones are connected to the smartphone.

Users have access to a 30-day trial period without restrictions on functionality and advertising. Once it is completed, you will have to buy the full version. Because many key features (such as bookmarks) will be blocked.

Advantages:

Quick navigation through the book.
High quality sound.
Working with the table of contents.
Smart bookmarks.
Built-in equalizer.
There is an integrated amplifier.
Play when headphones are connected.
Integration into the system.
Possibility of full customization.
Tool for saving characters.
Good optimization.

Flaws:

30-day trial period.

Pivot table

Name	Platform	Built-in online catalog	Additional materials
liters	Android, iOS	Yes	Podcasts
Patephone	Android, iOS	Yes	Radio plays
MDS	Android	Yes	Radio plays, podcasts
Storytel	Android, iOS	Yes	Podcasts, lectures, series
MyBook	Android, iOS	Yes	Podcasts, e-magazines
mAbook	Android	No	Own media
Smart AudioBook Player	Android	No	Own media

MortPlayer Music

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MortPlayer Music

Developer: Mirko Schenk

Price: Free

Initially, this player was created exclusively for music. But then they added the functionality necessary to play audiobooks. Its key feature is thoughtful folder navigation.

The player provides high-quality sound (with sufficient quality of the material), has an equalizer and allows you to set individual rewinding properties (which is useful in the case of audiobooks).

There is an alarm clock, an advanced sleep mode, and a rich library of design themes. The interface has very large buttons. Therefore, the player is convenient to operate even while driving a car. Control using headset buttons is also supported.

You can download the application for free. All functions will be available. A subsequent purchase of the full version is also not required. However, the player contains some advertising content. But it doesn't interfere with listening in any way.

Advantages:

Produces high-quality sound.
Advanced catalog navigation.
Individual rewind settings.
Great optimization.
Integration with the system.
Large controls.
Ability to control headset buttons.
There is a built-in equalizer.
The application is completely free.
Works on older smartphones.
It has the simplest design.

Flaws:

There is no Russian language.

Speech synthesizers

A speech synthesizer is a worthy replacement for a regular player. What if the book you are interested in has not yet been published, and there is no way to read it in printed format? In such a case, an alternative to the player is provided - a speech synthesizer. Of course, in terms of sound and reading quality, it is lower than players, but with the help of settings you can still achieve good results.

Some electronic devices that run on the Android operating system have Google TTS. This plugin contains several voices. You can also download third-party applications. Although a speech synthesizer does not have the necessary intonation that a live reader has, when there is no other choice, this program becomes an indispensable assistant for turning written text into sound.

FBReader

This is one of the reader apps that includes an optional TTS+ (Read Aloud) model. Setting it up is very easy, all the parameters are nearby, some right on the main screen. The interface design is intuitive.

The reader itself can be downloaded from the Play Market, and there is also an additional plugin for it.

Listen Audiobook Player

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Listen Audiobook Player

Developer: acme-android.com

Price: 179.00 RUR

A paid program designed exclusively for playing audiobooks. This player is in no way suitable for playing music, since it does not have some functions important for music tracks.

But there is synchronization with several devices, a convenient bookmark manager, an advanced navigation mechanism for chapters and sections, a smart sleep timer, a built-in volume amplifier and a very advanced equalizer.

The application has integration with social networks and also has a beautiful and intuitive interface. It is comfortable to work with the program. The player starts playing a book from a bookmark immediately after connecting the headphones.

Unfortunately, the application is not free. You will have to pay $1.99 for it. There is no trial version either. But the developer promises to return the money within 7 days if the user does not like the player in any way.

Advantages:

Convenient bookmark manager.
Synchronization with other devices.
Integration with social networks.
Smart sleep timer.
Built-in equalizer and amplifier.
Productive engine.
Excellent chapter navigation.
Play when headphones are connected.
Good optimization.
Works on weak smartphones.
Beautiful interface.

Flaws:

There is no free version.

Apple iPod nano 5G

Due to the larger screen, Apple had to reduce the ClickWheel, which affected the usability.

The iPod revolutionized the idea of portable music in its time. It was one of the first players to abandon removable media and use only built-in flash memory or a hard drive. In 2001, when the first generation of players came out, few believed in Apple's

in a new market.
But the original Click Wheel, logical menu and the highest sound quality did their job - the iPod became a legend. Over the years, he has acquired brothers - Shuffle
,
touch
and
nano
. The first two are not very popular, but nano is a hero of its time. Small, functional, beautiful and high quality - this is enough to pay $200 for a 2 GB player. Over the course of five years, nano has undergone a bunch of changes, but remains just as recognizable.

Apple stopped playing with shapes in the third generation, and today's nano is a rectangle with pointed edges, distinguishing it from nano 4G

Only a true connoisseur of the series can. The display has grown to 2.2 inches, and a camera eye has appeared on the back side. The rest is like tracing paper. There is a control wheel under the screen, a lock slider on the top end, headphone and USB jacks on the bottom. The main material of the case is aluminum, this time it was coated with something bright and shiny. This has improved the appearance, but the body is once again collecting scratches.

Simple Audiobook Player Free

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Simple Audiobook Player Free

Developer: mdmt

Price: Free

A book player with a simple interface, designed in the most minimalist style. Large buttons, inverse colors and other features. It supports working with chapters and bookmarks, and also works with MP3 and M4B files.

The playback history is saved in a special recent books tab. There is a very convenient gain control, as well as an automatic timer that can stop the playback of material at a strictly specified time.

The ability to manually sort chapters and files is supported. This is useful if the book is incorrectly divided into chapters or is missing chapters altogether. There is a dark theme that can save battery power.

All of the above applies to the free version. And in the paid version, the user has the opportunity to adjust the playback speed and use an equalizer. However, for many, the free functionality is enough.

Advantages:

Extremely simple interface.
The simplest design.
Play MP3 and M4B.
Working with headings and bookmarks.
Built-in amplifier.
Rewind adjustment.
Manual sorting of chapters and files.
Dark theme.
Battery saving.
Compatible with older smartphones.
Not a bad timer.

Flaws:

The functionality of the free version is reduced.

Voice Audiobook Player

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Voice Audiobook Player

Developer: Paul Woitaschek

Price: Free

An application for playing audiobooks with a Russified interface and an extremely laconic design. To load a book into the player, just specify the directory in which it is located on the device.

The player can navigate through chapters and also has tools for working with bookmarks. You can adjust the playback speed, sound (using an equalizer), set a sleep timer, and so on.

There is fast rewind and its automatic option. The player is capable of downloading book covers from the network or using files located on the internal storage of the smartphone. Capable of working with tags.

There is a free version on Google Play. It's good for everything except intrusive advertising. However, you can get rid of it by simply turning off the Internet on your smartphone. Installing and configuring the application is extremely simple.

Advantages:

Russified interface.
Simple design.
Chapter navigation.
Using an equalizer.
Working with book covers.
Change playback speed.
Setting a sleep timer.
Good optimization.
Energy saving modes.
There is no need to pay for the application.

Flaws:

A lot of advertising.

Don't miss

The most difficult and ingenious thing about the iPod is its controls. Apple has successfully crossed mechanics with touch technologies. The famous Click Wheel is responsible for moving through the menu - a touch wheel with a button in the middle. Slide your finger clockwise - the tracks will rewind in one direction, slide counterclockwise - they will rewind in the other. We found the desired track and stomped on the center button. To control music there are clickable play and rewind buttons. If you are familiar with iPod, then you will quickly get used to the new player; If the Click Wheel is new to you, it will definitely take a couple of hours to get used to it.

The evolution of the iPod nano. On the left is a first-generation player, on the right is a fourth-generation player.

The next bastion will be the menu. In some ways it resembles Explorer: in the root folder there are all sorts of category folders, from which you can get to the submenu - Music

,
Artists
,
Albums
,
Songs
,
Play
. There are many such chains in the iPod, and it will take a lot of time to learn them, but once you get the hang of it, you will most likely recognize Apple's controls as the best. True, the new nano is unlucky: the wheel has lost its size, making it difficult to get used to.

COWON follows in Apple's footsteps and also crosses touch controls with mechanics. The S9 has a touchscreen designed to work with fingers. The menu didn't disappoint. Dealing with the clutter of icons is difficult at first, but after a while you get used to it, especially since the same chains are used here as in the iPod nano and many other players. We especially note the zoom function: any menu or list can be increased in size, which is especially important when operating with your fingers - otherwise you will often miss.

COWON S9 is the only player in our test that understands the APE music format, an exact copy of the original CDs.

COWON hasn't forgotten about blind controls either. At the top end there is a protruding Play/Pause button, and on the sides there are rewind and volume rockers. In your pocket, the player is controlled by five points. True, there is a small mistake here: if, while hiding it in your pocket, you accidentally went to the main menu, then the button music control will be disabled, only the touch control will remain. Apparently, this was noticed at an early stage of development and they tried to solve the problem using widgets: from them you can assemble your own main menu and display playback controls on it.

Unfortunately, neither Apple nor COWON can compare with Sony in terms of convenience: they didn’t reinvent the wheel and limited themselves to good old buttons. No position sensors, no sensor technologies. And, you know, it's still very, very convenient. The buttons are easy to distinguish by touch, you don’t even need to understand the menu, everything is clear and understandable.

Control

Apple - 4/5
COWON - 4/5
Sony - 5/5

Sirin

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Sirin Player for Audiobooks

Developer:rif

Price: Free

Universal player with support for a large number of formats (including Lossless). The program automatically analyzes tags and adds the correct chapter names to the playlist, and also knows how to navigate them well.

A very convenient rewind with gestures is provided. There are also a large number of tools to improve the quality of playback and more convenient navigation through the chapters. There is a sleep timer and reading speed adjustment.

The distinctive feature of this program from the others is that it has a built-in torrent client that allows you to download the books you need directly from trackers. This is very convenient if your smartphone does not have the work you need.

The program is completely free. You don't need to purchase the full version either. It works well on almost all smartphones, as it has good optimization. It is also very easy to set up.

Advantages: