Phone and Tablet Apps for Your Audible Library
Listen to your OpenAudible library in a real audiobook app, with offline downloads, sleep timers, CarPlay and progress that syncs back to the desktop. OpenAudible's built-in web server works with apps built for Audiobookshelf, so there is no second server to run and nothing to copy by hand. Pick an app from the table, give it an address, a user name and a password, and your books are there.
What you'll need
- A copy of OpenAudible (free download) with some converted books. Converting needs a license
- The OpenAudible web server on, with a Listener account for your phone
- Tailscale set up on the computer. It takes about five minutes: see Remote Access with Tailscale
- The computer running OpenAudible left on and awake while you browse and download
Connect an app
Every app below asks for the same things. In the app, add an Audiobookshelf server (OpenAudible is not Audiobookshelf, but it speaks enough of the same language for these apps) and enter:
- Server address: your Tailscale address, for example
https://my-pc.tail1234.ts.net, withhttps://and no port. If the app has separate boxes, choosehttps, putmy-pc.tail1234.ts.netin Host, and leave Port blank or use443. Ignore the 13378 some apps suggest. - User name and password: your Listener account.
Most apps also have a Custom HTTP Headers setting. Leave it empty.
Use the Tailscale address even at home. It works the same on your Wi-Fi and on cellular, so you never need a second server entry, and the connection is encrypted everywhere. For a picture-by-picture example, see BookPlayer on iPhone and iPad. The other apps look different but ask for the same three things.
Apps we have tested
We tested these on an iPhone: connect, browse, stream, download and synced progress. We have not tested Android yet, so the Android versions are expected to work but are unconfirmed.
| App | iPhone & iPad | Android | Project | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BookPlayer | App Store | Google Play | GitHub | Free and open source. Walkthrough |
| Prologue | App Store | Google Play | prologue.audio | Also works with Plex |
| AudioBooth | App Store | — | GitHub | Open source. Apple Watch app |
| Absorb | App Store | Google Play (beta) | GitHub | Free and open source |
| plappa | App Store | — | plappa.me | Also works with Jellyfin |
| ShelfPlayer | App Store | — | GitHub | Paid, with a 7-day trial |
| SoundLeaf | App Store | — | soundleafapp.com | Also runs on Mac |
| Still | App Store | — | GitHub | Also runs on Mac and Apple Watch |
| My Shelf Player | App Store | — | — | Can take a while to load a large library |
More apps that should work
These are built for Audiobookshelf and should work the same way, but we have not tested them yet. If you try one, let us know how it went.
| App | iPhone & iPad | Android | Project | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lissen | — | Google Play, F-Droid | lissenapp.org | Open source. Android Auto |
| Audiobookshelf | — | Google Play | GitHub | The Audiobookshelf project's own app |
| Voca Player | App Store | Google Play | voca.velosec.au | Also works with Plex |
| Morrow | App Store | Google Play | morrowplayer.com | |
| Audra Books | App Store | Google Play | audrabooks.app | |
| ABS+ | — | Google Play | — | |
| Volume | — | Google Play | — | |
| ShelfDroid | — | F-Droid | — | Open source |
| Fable Frog | App Store | — | fablefrog.app | |
| StoryLogic | App Store | — | aqualogic.tech | |
| Shelved | App Store | — | apps.shahadat.us | |
| Röst | App Store | — | — | |
| Tonspur | App Store | — | tonspur.app | |
| Auribook | App Store | — | auribook.jminke.com | Runs on Apple Watch on its own, no iPhone needed |
Support the developers
These apps are made by independent developers, often one person in their spare time. If one works well for you, please support it: buy the Pro version or lifetime unlock, leave a review in the store, or star or sponsor the project.
What works and what doesn't
OpenAudible is not affiliated with Audiobookshelf or with any of these apps. Its web server covers what the apps need to browse, stream, download and sync your listening position, not every Audiobookshelf feature. Collections and playlists stay empty, and Audiobookshelf server settings that some apps show, such as managing users or backups, do not apply to OpenAudible.
Common problems
- Can't connect. Open the Tailscale address in the phone's browser first. If it doesn't load there, the problem is on the computer: OpenAudible must be running with the web server on, and Tailscale must be set up. See Troubleshooting in Remote Access with Tailscale.
-
Loads in the browser, but not in the app. Check for
https, no port (or443), and, if the app has a separate Host box, nohttps://in front and no/at the end. - Wrong password. Passwords can't be shown again. Set a new one with Edit... on the account in the Web Server tab.
- Errors in OpenAudible. If something fails, open in OpenAudible. If you see errors there while the app is connected, tell us what app you were using and what the log says. Please report problems to us rather than to the app's developer: their apps were made for Audiobookshelf, and OpenAudible's side is ours to fix.
Know an app that should be on this list, or tried one of the untested ones? We'd like to hear about it. For accounts and roles, see the Web Server documentation.
Something unclear, out of date, or a tutorial you'd like to see? Send feedback or request a tutorial →