Does Android have an audiobook app?
Audiobooks are audio recordings of books read aloud, either real or synthetic. They enable consumers to experience books on audio devices like smartphones, MP3 players, tablets, and more. Audiobook popularity has been steadily rising as technology enables more convenient listening. According to the Audio Publishers Association, audiobook sales in the U.S. were over $1.6 billion in 2022, up 15.5% from 2021 (source). The global audiobook market is projected to grow by 14.8% annually through 2027 as more people embrace audiobooks for education, entertainment, convenience, and accessibility.
Default Android Audiobook Apps
Android devices come with some default audiobook apps pre-installed, the most common being Google Play Books. Google Play Books lets you buy, rent, and listen to audiobooks directly on your Android device (1). You can listen to audio narration synced to the book’s text, adjust playback speed, set sleep timers, and more. Google Play Books also allows you to upload your own audiobook files in supported formats to listen to them on your device.
Other Android manufacturers like Samsung include their own audiobook apps on devices. For example, Samsung Galaxy devices come preloaded with the Samsung Audiobooks app (2). This provides access to a catalog of audiobooks to buy directly from Samsung and listen across your devices. The app includes playback features like adjustable narration speed, bookmarks, and smart resume. Overall, the default audiobook apps on Android provide a convenient way to buy and listen to audiobooks integrated with the rest of the Android experience.
(1) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.books
(2) https://www.samsung.com/us/apps/audiobooks/
Third-Party Audiobook Apps
While Android comes with Google Play Books for reading ebooks and audiobooks, there are many popular third-party apps on the Play Store specifically designed for listening to audiobooks:
Audible – Owned by Amazon, Audible is one of the most popular audiobook apps on Android and iOS. It gives access to a huge library of audiobooks, original content, and podcasts. Audible’s subscription offers a credit each month to get any audiobook for free [1].
Libby – Developed by OverDrive, Libby allows you to borrow audiobooks for free from your local library. It has an intuitive interface and supports Bluetooth devices for listening on-the-go [2].
Smart AudioBook Player – A popular free audiobook app on Android, Smart AudioBook Player has features like bookmarking, playback speed control, and cross-device syncing. You have to load your own audiobook files, but it supports a wide range of formats [3].
These apps provide polished interfaces optimized for audiobook playback and discovery compared to basic audio apps included with Android.
App Capabilities and Features
When choosing an audiobook app for Android, some key features to look for include:
- Downloading vs. streaming – Many apps allow you to download audiobooks for offline listening. This is useful when you have limited data or will be in areas without internet access. Apps like Google Play Books and Audible support downloading.
- Library management and playlists – A well-designed library lets you organize your audiobooks into categories and build custom playlists. BookMobile makes it easy to organize your library.
- Speed control, bookmarks, etc. – Most apps allow you to speed up or slow down narration to suit your preference. Adding bookmarks makes it easy to pause and resume at certain spots. Apps like Smart Audiobook Player have advanced bookmarking features.
Consider your listening habits and needs when evaluating the capabilities of different Android audiobook apps.
Content Sources and Availability
The major audiobook stores that are integrated with Android audiobook apps include Audible, Google Play Books, Kobo, and OverDrive. These allow you to access millions of audiobook titles to purchase or borrow directly in the apps (1). In addition to these stores, most Android audiobook apps support uploading your own audiobook files in MP3 or M4B format. This allows you to listen to audiobooks obtained from other sources or even audiobooks you record yourself (2).
Popular apps like Smart Audiobook Player and Listen Audiobook Player have advanced features for organizing and managing self-uploaded audiobook files (3). They automatically split long files into chapters and sync your listening progress across devices. Overall, Android offers flexibility to obtain audiobook content from major stores or personal sources.
Listening Across Devices
One of the most useful features of audiobook apps is the ability to sync your listening progress across devices. This allows you to start listening to an audiobook on your phone, for example, then pick up right where you left off on your tablet or computer.
The Apple Books app syncs your library, bookmarks, notes, highlights and current reading position across all your iOS and macOS devices automatically using your Apple ID. Any new purchases or downloads on one device will appear everywhere else as well (Apple Support).
Many Android audiobook apps like Audible also provide cross-device syncing and allow you to access your library from their website for seamless listening. Apps may sync progress through your account login or cloud storage services.
Casting and Bluetooth support enables wireless listening on speakers, TVs and cars for added convenience. Top apps generally include both casting features and direct connections via Bluetooth to pair with wireless headphones, earbuds or car audio systems.
Accessibility Features
Android audiobook apps like Audible and Libby offer several valuable accessibility features to improve the experience for listeners with visual impairments or reading disabilities. For example, Audible allows customers to contact an Accessibility Specialist for personalized recommendations and app support.
Key accessibility features include:
- Text highlighting capabilities so users can follow along with ebooks
- Adjustable fonts, themes, and color formats
- Voice command features to control playback and navigation hands-free
- Variable playback speeds to aid comprehension
- Sleep timers and bookmarks for easier start/stop
Libby also provides dark mode, dyslexic font options, and screen reader support for an inclusive listening experience suited to different needs. With Android’s built-in accessibility settings like TalkBack, Switch Access, and Voice Access, there are many ways to customize audiobook apps for greater usability.
Cost Considerations
When deciding on an audiobook app, one of the key considerations is cost. There are both free and paid audiobook apps available.
The most popular paid audiobook service is Audible, which offers an all-you-can-listen subscription plan starting at $14.95 per month. This gives you one credit to redeem for any audiobook title each month. Individual audiobooks can also be purchased without a subscription for prices typically ranging from $10 to $50 depending on length and newness.
On the free side, apps like Free Audiobooks provide a limited selection of classic books at no cost. However, the selection is not as robust as paid services. Free apps often have advertising as well.
Some paid apps like Scribd offer a mix of free and paid content. Scribd’s subscription is $8.99 per month for access to its full catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, and more.
When weighing cost, consider how many audiobooks you plan to listen to each month. Unlimited plans like Audible can be more cost effective for frequent listeners. But occasional listeners may prefer paying per title. Comparing the selection across free and paid apps can ensure you get access to the content you want at the best price.
User Reviews
The top third-party audiobook apps like Audible and Scribd tend to garner mostly positive reviews and feedback from users, according to summaries from https://www.pickfu.com/blog/name-test-app/. Users mention the convenience of having a vast catalog of audiobooks in one app and praise the ability to sync between devices seamlessly. Many reviewers say the subscription fees are worthwhile to access premium content.
However, some users cite frustrating cons with third-party apps as well. Common downsides brought up in reviews include restrictive DRM that hinders listening across multiple apps, expensive subscription costs compared to individual audiobook purchases, and difficulty navigating bloated apps with recommendations users aren’t interested in. Some users also complain about bugs and reliability issues.
Overall, users seem willing to pay for premium third-party apps and largely find the benefits outweigh the costs. But poor app design and restrictive content seem to be continuing pain points.
Conclusion
The Android platform offers a few different options for audiobook listening, both through Google’s pre-installed apps as well as third-party alternatives. The Google Play Books app provides basic audiobook playback and management, while apps like Audible and Libby offer more features for audiophiles. Key differences include the content sources and catalogs, smart speed controls, listening across devices, and accessibility options.
For most Android users, the best app choice will be Google Play Books for its simplicity and integration with the broader Android ecosystem. But avid audiobook listeners may prefer the additional capabilities from Audible or Libby. All the major options provide a solid listening experience and make it easy to enjoy audiobooks on an Android device. With free trials available, it’s worthwhile exploring a few apps to see which provides the right balance of features, content selection and usability.
In the end, the breadth of the Google Play Store audiobook catalog, offline access for anytime listening, and intuitive interface make Google Play Books a great default choice. But external apps like Audible and Libby connect users with additional content sources and customizable features to enhance the listening experience.