Best audiobook apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad: My secret to non-stop reading

Are you always caught up in things but still love getting lost in a good book? So am I! For me, an audiobook app is a fantastic way to enjoy favorite stories while working, on the commute, or just relaxing. I can’t think of any downsides unless you need to focus on a meeting rather than a plot twist.

I researched dozens of listening apps and found some hidden gems that are a must-try. In this article, I’ll share my top picks that you should check out.

The best listening apps:

• Audible for a vast audiobook library.
• Apple Books for syncing across all your Apple devices.
• Headway for quick and concise non-fiction book summaries.
• Audiobooks.com for personalized recommendations based on your listening history.
• Permute for converting texts into audio tracks. 
• Scribd for audiobooks, eBooks, magazines, and many more.
• Voice Dream Reader for listening to PDFs, textbooks, docs, articles, and more.
• Kobo for a single purchase from an endless collection.

Top best audiobook apps for Mac and iOS

Here is a quick take on the best apps for listening to audiobooks:

Let’s compare!	Perfect match for	Superpower	Pricing/month
Audible	Extensive library	First access to popular releases	From $7.95
Apple Books	Syncing between Apple devices	User-friendly interface	Free and paid titles
Headway	15-minute summaries of non-fiction books	Self-growth daily listening challenges	Included in Setapp for $9.99
Audiobooks.com	Personalized recommendations	VIP program exclusive collection	From $14.95
Scribd	Audiobooks, eBooks, and more	Flexible listening settings	From $9.99
Kobo	Single audiobook purchase	Switch between reading and listening	From $7.99

Scroll down to find detailed information for each listening app, I recommend trying.

Audible: Library with something for everyone  

It’s a pretty popular audiobook app with a subscription-based service that offers over 200,000 audiobooks. From new releases and international bestsellers to podcasts and Audible originals, it has something for everyone.

Plus, there are features like changing the playback speed and selecting a specific chapter. Those who really care about their listening experience will be satisfied with these. 

Yet, there are some downsides you should know. Audible’s restriction policy won’t let you add books directly on your iPhone. You must download them with a laptop or computer.

After reading multiple reviews, I’ve noticed a common sentiment: while Audible offers a vast library of audiobooks, many users feel the subscription is quite pricey, especially if you listen to a lot of books each month. It’s easy to see why someone might hesitate if they’re trying to manage their budget.

Pros:

• Access to thousands of audiobooks across various genres

• Download your books and listen without needing an internet connection

• The app is easy to navigate, making it simple to find and play your favorite titles

• Many audiobooks feature excellent narrators that enhance the listening experience

Cons:

• The monthly fee can add up, especially for frequent listeners

• The standard plan only includes one credit, which may not be enough for avid readers

• Users may need to pay extra for bestselling titles

Pricing: Plans start at $7.95 per month after 30 days free trial. For $14.95 per month, you can get Audible Premium Plus, which gives you one extra title monthly from the Audible Plus Catalog.

Gems I found: Atomic Habits by James Clear (2018), The Woman by Christian Hannah (2024), and First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (2024).

Apple Books: Switch between your devices easily

As an Apple user, you probably heard about Apple Books. It’s super easy to use because it’s already in your Apple ecosystem, so one can call it the best audiobook player for Mac. Unlike Audible, there’s no subscription plan, and you can listen to your favorite books, among millions of others, with easy navigation. I would call it one of the best free audiobook apps if there were no "but." 

Yes, you can enjoy the app for free. However, please keep in mind that while some books are free, others are paid, and their prices may sometimes seem a bit high.

A Redditor expressed their frustration with Apple Books, saying, “There’s one specific app breaking feature. iCloud offloading. For some reason, I’ll download a bunch of epubs I loaded onto it, and the next day, they’re gone to the cloud. Epubs aren’t that big. It’s not unreasonable for me to want to keep 100 books downloaded on my iPad at a time. ”

It’s easy to understand the annoyance here. Who wants to deal with disappearing books? While turning off iCloud might solve the problem, it could mess up syncing across devices, which is a bummer if you want to read on both your iPad and phone. This kind of experience has a lot of users feeling fed up, and it’s no wonder some are seriously considering switching to a Kindle for a hassle-free reading experience.

Pros:

• No subscription fees; pay for books individually

• User-friendly interface for easy navigation

Cons:

• Paid books can be expensive

• iCloud offloading can cause books to disappear

• Limited selection of free content

Pricing: Contains free and paid books varying by title.

Gems I found: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) and The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (2024).

Headway: Non-fiction without fluff 

If you enjoy listening to some non-fictional audiobooks to gain valuable knowledge on topics like health, productivity, leadership, and others, Headway is your choice. It’s a summarising app that sticks to the key points and saves you a lot of time. Headway provides a 15-minute book summary and highlights the main ideas. I’ve never imagined that just in one day, I can actually learn five new self-growth pieces! 

You may not be familiar with the idea of learning a new book by listening to its summary, but trust me, it’s worth it. Because sometimes, non-fiction is overloaded with non-essentials, and that’s where a summarizing feature will come in handy.

I absolutely love books and can easily devour them, but then my time management suffers because I tend to get lost in them and forget about other tasks. That’s why I usually stick to reading just one full book per month. However, as a writer, I need to read a lot more to stay informed and inspired. Headway saves me so much time, allowing me to breeze through one book per day or every few days. With each summary, I learn something new or decide if a book is worth a full read. 

Pros:

• Time-saving 15-minute summaries focus on key points

• Covers a wide range of topics like health, productivity, and leadership

• Helps users quickly absorb valuable insights

Cons:

• Limited depth compared to full audiobooks

• The app may not cater to those who prefer comprehensive reading experiences

Pricing: It offers one free summary per day, or you can subscribe and get unlimited access for  $12.99 per month, $29.99 per three months, or $89.99 per year. Alternatively, you can access Headway with a single $9.99 subscription via Setapp, which includes 240+ other useful apps.

Gems I found: The Art of Saying No by Damon Zahariades (2017), Getting Things Done by David Allen (2001), and Deep Work by Cal Newport (2016).

Audiobooks.com: Unlimited library

Audiobooks.com claims to have more than 400,000 titles with curated recommendations, and now that you know this, you might want to clear your calendar from upcoming meetings. All jokes aside. You can try a free trial and get three books at no cost. This is a good start for those who want to enjoy a story while saving money. Plus, there’s a VIP selection of books offering popular titles that you may be interested in, but it’s for monthly subscription members only.

Pros:

• Access to over 400,000 titles with curated recommendations

• Offers a 30-day free trial with three audiobooks at no cost

• VIP selection of popular titles available for subscribers

Cons:

• VIP Rewards collection is only accessible to monthly subscribers

Pricing: During the 30-day free trial, you get one free audiobook and two titles from the VIP Rewards collection. After the trial, a monthly subscription fee is $14.95 (plus applicable taxes), and you get access to VIP Rewards and Member Deals.

Gems I found: Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis (2019).

Everand from Scribd: Not just audiobooks

For those who want it all, try Scribd (Everand). In addition to audiobooks, the app offers listeners eBooks, magazines, and more. However, note  that just six months ago or so, Everand was my go-to audiobook platform thanks to its significant advantage: no pesky credit system. I loved having full access to their entire catalog without the frustration of Audible’s “one credit per month” nonsense. It was good to know you could dive into any book you wanted without limitations.

However, I’ve recently noticed that they changed their pricing model, which raised some eyebrows. One Redditor summed it up perfectly when he said, “Are you kidding me? The reason I went for Everand was exactly the fact there was full access to the catalog without Audible’s bullshit.” Another Redditor concluded, “I think Everand has lost its charm and unique selling point.”

It’s disappointing to see them move away from what made them stand out. Anyway, if you’re ok with the credit system, give it a try.

Pros:

• Variety of content including audiobooks, eBooks, and magazines

• User-friendly interface for easy navigation

Cons:

• New credit system limits access to content

Pricing: The Standard plan ($11.99/month) unlocks access to 1 premium title, while the Plus plan ($16.99/month) unlocks access to 3 premium titles.

Gems I found: You Like It Darker by Stephen King (2024), SmartLess podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.

Kobo: Get a book to your library

Kobo boasts a collection of over 150,000 audiobooks, continuously adding new titles to keep listeners engaged. The app offers a free 30-day trial, which is perfect for those who want to explore its features before committing. What I appreciate about Kobo is the flexibility it provides; if you’re a light reader, you can purchase audiobooks without needing a subscription.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. One significant issue is that Kobo doesn’t sync between your iPhone and Mac, as it lacks functionality on laptops or desktop computers. This limitation can be frustrating if you like to switch between devices or if you prefer listening on a larger screen.

For me, the idea of accessing a vast audiobook library is appealing, but the syncing issue is a real drawback that impacts convenience.

Pros:

• Extensive library with over 150,000 audiobooks

• Free 30-day trial to explore the app

• Option to purchase audiobooks without a subscription for light readers

Cons:

• Does not sync between iPhone and Mac; lacks desktop functionality

Pricing: After 30 days of a free trial period, you will be automatically charged $7.99 a month for the Kobo Plus Listen plan. You can also upgrade to $9.99 a month for Kobo Plus Read & Listen, which gives you access to audiobooks and eBooks.

Gems I found: When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff (2022), and Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum (2024).

Benefits of audiobooks for bookworms

As someone who extensively tested different reading formats, I can confidently say that book listening apps win the battle. When you open an app, you dive into a large library containing thousands of books and genres, so you can pick a story within minutes if not seconds. And given the fact that you can literally listen to your favorite story while grocery shopping, it’s clear that you can enjoy an audiobook no matter how busy your day is. Moreover, it’s a great break from screen time after long hours working on a laptop. 

However, each app has unique features, and your choice will be based on your preferences. 

The best app for listening to audiobooks: Final words

Undoubtedly, Audible is the most popular app among others, with its vast library and new releases, while Headway gives excellent, concise summaries of your favorite nonfiction books with a simple, stick-to-the-point approach. Audiobooks.com is known for its extensive library and personalized recommendations. Less viral options will be Apple Books, Scribd, or Kobo.

Another top find among apps is Voice Dream Reader. I often use it to listen to books. Also, try the Permute convertor. If you only have a reading version of a story — simply convert it into a listening one. For a better solution, try Setapp. The platform offers dozens of useful tools with a single subscription plan, including Headway, and Permute. And with a seven-day free trial, you can test not just the listening apps but many more.