# Absorb - for Audiobookshelf > Open source audiobook and podcast player for self-hosted Audiobookshelf servers. (iPhone/iPad app by Nathan Poulson.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absorb-for-audiobookshelf/id6760673498 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Nathan Poulson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885644242) - Category: Books, Entertainment - Price: Free - Rating: 4.90/5 from 54 App Store ratings · 24 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 61 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-05-05 - Data updated: 2026-09-07 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absorb-for-audiobookshelf/id6760673498/reviews.md ## What is Absorb? Absorb is a free, open source audiobook and podcast player built for Audiobookshelf, a self-hosted media server for your personal book library. Connect to your own Audiobookshelf server and enjoy your audiobook collection with a clean, polished mobile experience built specifically for iOS. Features: Stream or download books for offline listening Full playback controls with chapter navigation, sleep timer, and playback speed Home screen widgets for quick playback controls Listening stats and streaks to track your progress Bookmarks with notes Series tracking and discovery Light and dark mode CarPlay support And much more!!! Absorb is built by a solo developer and is completely free with no ads, no subscriptions, and no data collection. Your library stays between you and your server. Requires a self-hosted Audiobookshelf server. Visit audiobookshelf.org to learn more. ## Key features - Offline listening - Chapter navigation - Sleep timer - Playback speed control - Home screen widgets - Listening statistics - CarPlay support ## Recent user reviews (10 of 24) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absorb-for-audiobookshelf/id6760673498/reviews.md ### 5/5 — For the love of the game *2026-07-30* I’ve tried every single Audiobookshelf client on the App Store and this is by far the best with no paywall, just an opportunity to donate. This man came out of the woordworks and created a masterpiece just for the love of the game. ### 5/5 — Exceptional *2026-07-29* As a long-time developer, I have to give credit where it’s due. Absorb is one of those apps that reminds me what great software feels like. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do, but it does it with style, polish, and grace. To me, it’s the little things that separate a good application from an excellent one. The thoughtful design, attention to detail, and smooth user experience show that the developer truly cares about the craft. Well done, and thank you for creating such a high-quality application. ### 5/5 — Great App! *2026-07-25* It’s clear that a ton of work has been put into this app, and it gives a really nice experience. Totally free, has features not on other apps, and offers a super customizable listening experience. ### 5/5 — Skip All Others *2026-07-23* This... This is the only Audiobookshelf app that actually meets my standards. Don't bother with anything else. ### 5/5 — Delivers everything it promises and more *2026-07-21* I've tried nearly every iOS app for Audiobookshelf. This one is the clear winner. ### 5/5 — Amazing app, works flawlessly *2026-07-20* I’ve tried a handful of different application applications for Audiobookshelf prior to this one and this one is hands-down by far the best of them. It’s easy to use, it’s stable, it can load my entire library, which many of the other apps couldn’t, and I have zero complaints or concerned about using it. ### 5/5 — Great app for Audiobookshelf *2026-07-03* Works well. Can download books easily. Only thing I need is to stop my mistakenly moving my book reading spot by accident with my fat fingering. Will be nice to have an undo button for this. ### 5/5 — Great little app *2026-06-29, version v1.9.0* Does exactly what you want it to do. Fantastic little app ### 5/5 — Designed well and practical! *2026-06-21* As one who appreciates aesthetics, this is by far the most beautiful ABS app. It feels like a professional dev just had a pet project he finally put to market. Beautiful, functional. Fantastic app! ### 5/5 — Love it but.. *2026-06-20* On an iPhone 12 mini there’s no way to scroll down to the episodes section in podcasts. Besides that this is a great app. ## Frequently asked questions about Absorb ### What is Absorb for Audiobookshelf? Absorb is a free, open-source mobile application designed to play audiobooks and podcasts from your personal Audiobookshelf media server. It offers a clean interface and features for managing and enjoying your audio library. ### Does Absorb have ads? No, Absorb is completely free with no ads, subscriptions, or data collection. Your personal library remains private between you and your server. ### What devices does Absorb support? Absorb is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It also features CarPlay support for in-car listening. ### How often is Absorb updated? The latest version, v1.9.0, was released on June 12, 2026. The app is actively developed, with recent updates indicating ongoing improvements and feature additions. ### What is the rating for Absorb? Absorb has a high user rating of 4.9 stars based on 21 reviews, indicating strong user satisfaction with its performance and features. ### Can I download books for offline listening with Absorb? Yes, Absorb allows you to stream or download your audiobooks for offline listening. This feature ensures you can enjoy your content even without an internet connection. ### What are the playback features in Absorb? Absorb offers full playback controls including chapter navigation, a sleep timer, and adjustable playback speed. It also supports home screen widgets for quick access to playback controls. ### Is Absorb suitable for children? Absorb has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for younger users. The app focuses on media playback and does not contain inappropriate content. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### v1.9.2 — 2026-07-17 Read ebooks in the app, download offline, turn pages with volume buttons Dedicated Podcasts tab New iOS widget with live progress Custom app colors and flat themes Custom Stats page with Year in Review More admin controls, including uploads Export bookmarks as audio clips AirPlay support Fixed battery drain while paused Fixed equalizer going silent Fixed downloads getting stuck in the queue https://github.com/pounat/absorb/releases/tag/v1.9.2 ### v1.9.0 — 2026-06-12 New book Edit page: metadata, cover, chapters, match, embed. Long-press any cover for quick actions. More car controls: chapter skip, speed, bookmarks; browse big libraries by letter. Blurred or gradient card background or off Sleep timer can stop at the end of an episode Lock the seek bar on media controls Roomier bookmark editor. Plus fixes and polish. https://github.com/pounat/absorb/releases/tag/v1.9.0 ### 1.8.90 — 2026-05-26 What's New Improved landscape mode Narrators tab in library Filter library by tag, genre, and series progress Playlist queue mode Send to E-Reader from book detail ReadMeABook integration Sleep timer chapter picker Editable speed chips Manual language selector Classic wording toggle Admin role and metadata improvements Bug fixes and stability improvements ### 1.8.79 — 2026-05-05 No release notes. ## Related topics [absorb](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/absorb) · [audiobookshelf](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/audiobookshelf) · [make a book audio](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/make-a-book-audio) · [azalea audio](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/azalea-audio) · [mockupstock](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/mockupstock) · [4hours audio recap your reads](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/4hours-audio-recap-your-reads) · [zopha partner](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zopha-partner) · [brytewave](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/brytewave) · [ausapp](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ausapp) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-07.*