Disclosure: VoxRead is our own service. We have tried to be fair to every app below, and we list what each one does better than we do.
Last checked: 27 October 2026. Prices are US list prices unless marked. They change often and vary by country.
There has never been more choice in audiobooks, and searches for "best audiobook apps" have grown faster than almost any other audiobook query this year. Most people want three things: to know what it really costs, whether there is a free option, and whether the app is good for listening in bed. We compared 15 apps on exactly that.
Quick answer
- Biggest catalog of new releases: Audible, Spotify, Everand, Kobo Plus, Storytel.
- Free with a library card: Libby.
- Free public-domain classics in the original text: LibriVox and Loyal Books.
- Pay per book, no subscription: Chirp, Apple Books, Google Play Books.
- Sleep content first: Calm and BetterSleep.
- Free classics in clear, modern language, with a sleep timer and a free e-book: VoxRead.
The comparison table
Swipe sideways to see all 15 apps.
| Feature | VoxRead | Audible | Libby | LibriVox | Spotify | Everand | Kobo Plus | Chirp | Apple Books | Google Play Books | Loyal Books | Calm | BetterSleep | Storytel | BookBeat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | From $8.99/mo | Free | Free | From $9.99/mo | From $11.99/mo | From $7.99/mo | Pay per book | Pay per book | Pay per book | Free | $69.99/yr | $59.99/yr | Varies by country | From £7.99/mo |
| Free | ✓No account | ✗30-day trial | ✓Library card | ✓ | ✗ | ✗Free trial | ✗14-day trial | ✗ | ✓Some titles | ✓Some titles | ✓ | ✗7-day trial | ✗7-day trial | ✗Free trial | ✗Free trial |
| Sleep timer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | –Third-party apps only | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓Music and playlists | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Classics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓Some Sleep Stories | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Classics in clear, modern language | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| E-book included | ✓Free epub | ✗ | ✓Library loan | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓Read & Listen | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| All devices | ✓Any browser | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗Phone, tablet and some eReaders | ✓ | ✗Apple only | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗Phone and tablet only | ✗Phone and tablet only | ✗Phone and tablet only |
"Clear, modern language" means modern-language editions as a collection or setting. Individual third-party editions may still be on sale in big stores. A dash means the official app does not offer it.
What each app is best for
VoxRead. Best if you want the great classics without the struggle: the original story in clear, modern language, free while we are in early access, with no account and no trial to cancel. Every title has a free epub, a sleep timer that fades out, and chapter-by-chapter listening. Where others win: we have 12 classics, not millions of titles, and no new releases. Start with Frankenstein or The Great Gatsby, or browse the library.
Audible. The largest store of new releases and originals, with apps on almost every device. You pay monthly after the 30-day trial.
Libby. The best free option if your public library uses it. Popular titles can have waitlists, and the catalog depends on your library.
LibriVox and Loyal Books. Huge free libraries of public-domain books in their original text. Volunteer recordings vary in quality and pace.
Spotify. Good value if you already pay for Premium: 15 hours of audiobooks a month are included. Heavy listeners will need add-on hours.
Everand and Kobo Plus. Subscriptions that bundle e-books and audiobooks. Kobo is the cheaper bundle in the US.
Chirp, Apple Books and Google Play Books. Pay only for what you buy, keep it forever.
Calm and BetterSleep. Made for sleep first, with stories, sounds and meditations, but they are not full audiobook libraries.
Storytel and BookBeat. Strong in Europe and other local markets, with e-books included.
How to choose
- Want it free? Libby (with a library card), LibriVox, Loyal Books or VoxRead.
- Searching for a free trial? Audible, Everand, Kobo, Calm and BetterSleep offer trials that turn into a paid plan. VoxRead needs no trial: it is free during early access with no account.
- Listening in bed? Almost every app has a sleep timer. For stories that are easy to follow with your eyes closed, try Calm, BetterSleep or the VoxRead bedtime collection.
- Want to read too? Pick an app with e-books included: Everand, Kobo Read & Listen, Storytel, BookBeat, Loyal Books, or VoxRead's free epub.
Other places worth knowing
Open Audiobooks and Listen Unbound offer free downloadable public-domain audiobooks. Slumber Studios and Sleepbound read classics slowly for sleep. The Library of Alexandria sells modern-English editions of classics as a membership.
FAQ
What is the best free audiobook app?
If your library supports it, Libby gives you current bestsellers for free. For classics, LibriVox and Loyal Books are free in the original text, and VoxRead is free during early access with the original story in clear, modern language.
Is there a free alternative to Audible?
Yes. Libby (with a library card), LibriVox, Loyal Books and VoxRead cost nothing. None matches Audible's catalog of new releases.
Do I need a free trial to listen to audiobooks?
No. Libby, LibriVox, Loyal Books and VoxRead need no trial. VoxRead also needs no account.
Which audiobook apps have a sleep timer?
All the major apps in our table except where noted. VoxRead's timer can stop after 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes or at the end of a chapter.
Which audiobook apps include e-books?
Everand, Kobo Plus Read & Listen, Storytel, BookBeat and Loyal Books include e-books. VoxRead offers a free epub of every title.
What does "clear, modern language" mean on VoxRead?
It is the original story, scene by scene, in clear, modern language, so you follow the plot without stopping at old-fashioned words. Read more about VoxRead.
Are VoxRead's books really free?
Yes, during early access. The classics we use are in the public domain, and you do not need an account.