What are some of your favorite audiobook apps? Any that are lesser known? I know of Audible, which is annoying with VO last time I checked, BARD, and Everand, which is good, but can be tricky to find the titles that don't require unlocking.
BookFunnel is a very accessible audiobook player, quite similar to the Audible app. I would say this one is definitely one of the lesser known applications out there.
There are a lot of indy authors out there who have their own website/store for selling their books, outside of mega corporations like Amazon. They use the BookFunnel app to access these books. The app itself is free, and requires no paid subscription or anything. You do have to create a free account on the app, this is primarily so that you can access the books you purchase, and then open them in the BookFunnel player. It's pretty automated and easy to use, simply use the same email for the book player app as well as when you purchase a book from an author, and you will get an email telling you when your book is ready. Link below.
The book player in Audible is finicky whereas in other apps, it seems to be fine. Also, the price is not for me. Have used Everand for a while now. And just looking to see other options that I don't know about.
I totally agree with Lee. Audible is very accessible. Love it! The plan I have is one credit per month which equals to a free book. And there's always sales so you can get books pretty cheap. And you can follow your favorite authors and Audible will let you know when a new book comes out. Highly recommend!
sbt direct, it's publisher specific but i love the speed control on it, much better than audible's when it comes to music and sounds, only gos to 3.0 instead of audibles 3.5 but ehh, it's worth it i think... Still over all i use audible much more
From my understanding, yeah, you get to keep the books you get with your credits and purchase, but it'd be more, since if you want to read more than one a month, you have to buy them. For me, I don't need to keep them. I just want to be able to read it and then be done with it. If there's ever a book I really love, then I'll purchase it separately from Apple or some place similar.
Would be Audible's monthly sales. These sales sometimes go for as much as 80% off, which means you can get new titles for as little as like three bucks a pop. 😃
This has a lot of different services available. Because I'm in the UK I've only ever looked at RNIB and can't remember what the others are, but I get all the audio books I need from there for free. App works pretty well - easy to find what I need and add it to my library.
To me, the Audible app is quite accessible and a very good audiobook player. Unfortunately, it only plays Audible books which generally are not free.
So, for books in mp3 format, I use the BookPlayer app. It's also a very good audiobook player -- simple and very accessible.
However, these days, most of the audiobooks I listen to I get from Overdrive through my public library. I use the Libby app which is also an excellent audiobook player and quite accessible. Since you don't want to keep the books, this might be a good option for you if you have access to a public library.
I've been an NLS patron since the mid-80s and use BARD. I find their app very easy to navigate, and it's nice that you can listen to material right in the app itself. The web portal is also very easy to navigate, including BARD 2.0. Not sure if the new website has been rolled out to the public yet though. BARD has some Audible stuff too. I have yet to read something on my eReader, but have thus far been totally impressed with the service. I've used BookShare and Dolphin Easy Reader as well a little bit and like them.
I do like BARD a lot, and I will use it whenever I can. Sometimes, books that I want aren't on there, so just looking for some more resources. I may have found one, looking into stuff today, but will have to see if it's accessible. If it is, will submit it.
As I buy and download audiobooks instead of using streaming, I‘m very happy with Every Word. This app is able to sync my Library with iCloud unlike Apple.
Hi Ekej,
Yes. The new BARD web site is up and running. I like it! And I just noticed the other day that when a new book comes out in a series, BARD lets you know where in the series the book is. For example, it will say something like Book 02. I like that. So I like BARD and Audible.
I am in Sweden and there is an app called Legimus here that I get from the library.
This app is easy to use and you can download books on it to read offline. The app is also free of charge.
I think, unfortunately, that this app is only available in Sweden. This means you can’t use it anywhere else.
Comments
Audible
What is wrong with the audible app? For me it is very accessible with very few issues.
BookFunnel
BookFunnel is a very accessible audiobook player, quite similar to the Audible app. I would say this one is definitely one of the lesser known applications out there.
There are a lot of indy authors out there who have their own website/store for selling their books, outside of mega corporations like Amazon. They use the BookFunnel app to access these books. The app itself is free, and requires no paid subscription or anything. You do have to create a free account on the app, this is primarily so that you can access the books you purchase, and then open them in the BookFunnel player. It's pretty automated and easy to use, simply use the same email for the book player app as well as when you purchase a book from an author, and you will get an email telling you when your book is ready. Link below.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bookfunnel/id1479475087
Audible issues
The book player in Audible is finicky whereas in other apps, it seems to be fine. Also, the price is not for me. Have used Everand for a while now. And just looking to see other options that I don't know about.
Audible!
I totally agree with Lee. Audible is very accessible. Love it! The plan I have is one credit per month which equals to a free book. And there's always sales so you can get books pretty cheap. And you can follow your favorite authors and Audible will let you know when a new book comes out. Highly recommend!
sbt direct, it's publisher…
sbt direct, it's publisher specific but i love the speed control on it, much better than audible's when it comes to music and sounds, only gos to 3.0 instead of audibles 3.5 but ehh, it's worth it i think... Still over all i use audible much more
Audible prices
From my understanding, yeah, you get to keep the books you get with your credits and purchase, but it'd be more, since if you want to read more than one a month, you have to buy them. For me, I don't need to keep them. I just want to be able to read it and then be done with it. If there's ever a book I really love, then I'll purchase it separately from Apple or some place similar.
The least spoken thing about Audible
Would be Audible's monthly sales. These sales sometimes go for as much as 80% off, which means you can get new titles for as little as like three bucks a pop. 😃
Audible sales and free stuff too.
Like Brian said, you can get books at really low prices. And some of the Audible originals are even free.
Dolphin Easy Reader
This has a lot of different services available. Because I'm in the UK I've only ever looked at RNIB and can't remember what the others are, but I get all the audio books I need from there for free. App works pretty well - easy to find what I need and add it to my library.
BookPlayer, Libby and Audible
To me, the Audible app is quite accessible and a very good audiobook player. Unfortunately, it only plays Audible books which generally are not free.
So, for books in mp3 format, I use the BookPlayer app. It's also a very good audiobook player -- simple and very accessible.
However, these days, most of the audiobooks I listen to I get from Overdrive through my public library. I use the Libby app which is also an excellent audiobook player and quite accessible. Since you don't want to keep the books, this might be a good option for you if you have access to a public library.
BARD All the Way!
I've been an NLS patron since the mid-80s and use BARD. I find their app very easy to navigate, and it's nice that you can listen to material right in the app itself. The web portal is also very easy to navigate, including BARD 2.0. Not sure if the new website has been rolled out to the public yet though. BARD has some Audible stuff too. I have yet to read something on my eReader, but have thus far been totally impressed with the service. I've used BookShare and Dolphin Easy Reader as well a little bit and like them.
BARD and Dolphin Easy Reader
I do like BARD a lot, and I will use it whenever I can. Sometimes, books that I want aren't on there, so just looking for some more resources. I may have found one, looking into stuff today, but will have to see if it's accessible. If it is, will submit it.
Every Word
As I buy and download audiobooks instead of using streaming, I‘m very happy with Every Word. This app is able to sync my Library with iCloud unlike Apple.
Every Word
Could you tell me more about this! What is it exactly? A place to keep all the purchased audiobooks?
BARD web site.
Hi Ekej,
Yes. The new BARD web site is up and running. I like it! And I just noticed the other day that when a new book comes out in a series, BARD lets you know where in the series the book is. For example, it will say something like Book 02. I like that. So I like BARD and Audible.
I always use this app
I am in Sweden and there is an app called Legimus here that I get from the library.
This app is easy to use and you can download books on it to read offline. The app is also free of charge.
I think, unfortunately, that this app is only available in Sweden. This means you can’t use it anywhere else.