# SoundLeaf — Your Stories, Your Way!

> Premium iOS client for personal Audiobookshelf audiobook server. (iPhone/iPad app by Hemant Kumar.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundleaf/id6738635634 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Hemant Kumar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781589937)
- Category: Books, Entertainment
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 19 App Store ratings · 19 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 30 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-04-23
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundleaf/id6738635634/reviews.md

## What is SoundLeaf?

SoundLeaf is a premium iOS client for Audiobookshelf, the open-source, self-hosted audiobook and podcast server. Connect to your own server and get your whole collection — audiobooks, podcasts and ebooks — in a beautiful, fast app built for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and CarPlay.

Learn more, read setup guides and see the app in action at https://soundleafapp.com

OFFLINE FIRST
• Your library syncs to the app, so you can browse everything even with the server off
• Download books and episodes and play them anywhere, no connection needed
• Downloads are free for everyone, podcast auto-download included
• Local and remote server addresses: the app uses your local address on home Wi-Fi and your remote address everywhere else, on its own

BUILT FOR LONG LISTENS
• A powerful player with chapters, variable playback speed and position memory
• A smarter sleep timer: tell it your night hours and it starts itself, fades out instead of stopping cold, and restarts when you press play
• Progress syncs with your server, so every device stays on the same page
• Background playback, lock screen controls and full landscape support

PODCASTS, DONE RIGHT
• Podcast transcripts: when a show publishes one, it runs along with the audio, and a tap opens a full reader
• Smart Downloads keep the next episodes ready before you ask
• A queue that shows what is playing, what is next and what is on the phone
• Episode management per show: keep counts, auto-download, mark played

THE EBOOK READER
• Read the ebook that lives next to your audiobook
• One tap jumps the page to where the narrator is, and back
• Fonts, text size, line spacing, margins, and Light, Sepia and Dark pages

EVERYWHERE YOU LISTEN
• A real Apple Watch app, with offline playback on your wrist if you want it
• CarPlay with library switching and a downloaded-only filter
• Home screen widgets: now playing, recent books, your listening time

MAKE IT YOURS
• 32 themes and 55 app icons
• Listening stats with streaks, totals, a year heatmap and daily patterns
• Multiple libraries, series, authors, collections and search

SoundLeaf is made for self-hosters and their families: people who keep their audiobook library on their own server with Audiobookshelf and want the best way to listen to it on Apple devices.

Note: SoundLeaf requires an Audiobookshelf server to connect to. Audiobookshelf is free and open source; learn how to set one up at https://audiobookshelf.org and find help at https://soundleafapp.com/server/

Website: https://soundleafapp.com
Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- CarPlay support
- Connect to Audiobookshelf server
- Intuitive library browsing
- Variable playback speed
- Offline listening
- Smart sleep timer
- Cross-device progress tracking

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SoundLeaf Supporter | $19.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 19)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundleaf/id6738635634/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Works great with audiobookshelf

*2026-08-14*

Has great ergonomics, keep working on it!

Try and get new audiobooks that have been added to sync quicker- it’s the remaining flaw imho.

**Developer response:** It should be much better in v2.2 (upcoming release, and a fresh new look). Added a pull to refresh as well. Thank you for your kind words!

### 5/5 — Wonderful update

*2026-08-14*

Have been using the app for probably a year. Loved the ease of connection. The most recent update is phenomenal. Getting the widget feature, seeing what’s in progress and finished, all features i was waiting would arrive. Can’t wait to see what else has been added!

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback. Glad you loved the widgets.

### 5/5 — Useful audiobook app

*2026-02-26*

I like what the developer is making. There are some UI issues and it doesn't have a widget yet. I hope those fixes are planned. 

The colour scheme and usability is well thought out. Privacy focused and able to easily connect to my audiobook collection. 

Great work!

### 5/5 — Best AudioBook Experience

*2026-02-19*

Don’t hesitate. Works very well. Nice design. Well thought out. Support this dev and purchase.

### 3/5 — Error while using Domain with https

*2026-01-18*

If connecting via http://ip:port everything works as stated. 

If trying to connect via http://domain or https://domain it says

„Error
Authentication failed. Please check your credentials or try logging in again.
OK“

After this, it shows the „Switch Library“ tab with „no libraries found“. Clicking „Done“ does nothing. Restarting the App does not help. I need to reinstall the app.

### 3/5 — Support oidc login

*2026-01-18*

Please.

### 1/5 — No OIDC support

*2025-12-22*

Can't connect, since this app only supports outdated security methods

**Developer response:** OIDC support has been added! If you want give it another try?

### 3/5 — Issues with Series

*2025-12-21*

I was excited when CarPlay got added to this app in the last update.  I was all ready to switch to this from my other app until I realized it can’t order series correctly.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how it orders series and you can’t even drill down into the series to see the order yourself. Apparently this has been an issue forever according to the bugs/request.  

Hopefully it gets fixed as I love the look of this app compared to plappa, but it still can’t match that app for features.

### 4/5 — Sort by number in series needed

*2025-12-16*

Best audiobookshelf client

### 4/5 — Good reader, could be great

*2025-11-29*

As someone who uses the beta AudiobookShelf app, SoundLeaf is similar in its design with only offline downloads and reading stats locked behind payment, very clean UI and more stable than the official (unreleased) app.

Only issue I’ve found is inability to click on a books series to drill down to just show those within, and the books shown in the series view down show in book order, making picking the correct next book in a series tricky unless you know which to select.

## Frequently asked questions about SoundLeaf

### Does SoundLeaf have ads?

No, SoundLeaf does not contain advertisements. It is a free application with optional in-app purchases.

### What devices does SoundLeaf support?

SoundLeaf is optimized for both iPhone and iPad devices, offering a seamless experience across Apple's mobile platforms.

### How often is SoundLeaf updated?

The latest version, 1.5.2, was released on December 9, 2025. Updates are provided regularly to enhance features and ensure compatibility.

### What is the age rating for SoundLeaf?

SoundLeaf has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in audiobooks.

### Can I listen to audiobooks offline with SoundLeaf?

Yes, SoundLeaf allows you to download books for offline listening, ensuring you can enjoy your collection even when away from WiFi.

### How does SoundLeaf track listening progress?

SoundLeaf tracks your listening progress across all your connected devices, allowing you to pick up where you left off seamlessly.

### What are the benefits of the in-app purchases for SoundLeaf?

While the app is free to download and use, in-app purchases may offer additional customization options or premium features to enhance your listening experience.

### Does SoundLeaf require an Audiobookshelf server?

Yes, SoundLeaf requires an existing Audiobookshelf server to connect to. It acts as a client for your personal audiobook library hosted on that server.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.2 — 2026-08-28

A fresh new look, read along for ebooks synced to narrator position, podcast updates, and downloads free for everyone.

• Read along: your ebook follows the narrator word by word and turns its own pages, ready a few minutes ahead of where you are. Processed on device, works offline
• A fresh new look: the player, Settings, your stats and every podcast screen redrawn, and the whole app now supports landscape
• Podcast transcripts: when a show publishes one, it runs along with the audio, and a tap opens a full reader. Free
• Podcasts are offline first: every show's episodes stored on the phone, and downloads finish with the app closed
• Downloads are now free for everyone, podcast auto-download included
• Smarter sleep timer: tell it your night hours and it starts itself, fades out instead of stopping cold, and restarts when you press play
• Manage the watch from your phone: remove several things at once, set how many episodes shows keep, put back an episode
• CarPlay: switch libraries from the car screen, filter to what is downloaded, and skips show the moment you tap them
• New app icons: five new with Pro, and a thirty-three icon Supporter tier
• Press and hold the tab bar to switch library, a Files tab on the book page, and your choice of site for book links
• A few dozen bug fixes, including a playback speed set for one book carrying over to the next

### 2.1 — 2026-08-13

NEW
• Apple Watch app. Send a book or an episode to your watch, then listen with the phone left at home. Progress finds its way back to your server on its own. 
• Ebook reader, free for everyone. Read a book’s epub in the app, offline. Search the text, set the font and spacing, and tap Go to Position to open the page your narrator is on. 
• Smoother playback. Books split across many files now play straight through the joins at any speed. Voice Boost lifts quiet or muddy narration. 
• Auto rewind. Playback starts a little before where you stopped, and further back after a long break. Every number is yours to set. 
• Downloads rebuilt. A downloaded book now plays with the server off, and closing the app mid-download no longer strands it. 
• Home screen widgets. Now Playing, Recently Played, and a Listening card with your streak and library totals. The sleep timer counts down on the lock screen. 
• Signing in. Use OpenID if your server has it, and set one address for home Wi-Fi and another for everywhere else.
 • Also: pick your app icon, drawn covers for books with no artwork, a bookmark button in CarPlay, and a lot less stutter.

FIXED
• Listening sessions not syncing to the server, which could break streaks 
• A crash on launch after an interrupted library update • Playback skipping ahead at file boundaries in multi-file books 
• Multi-file books ending one file early 
• End-of-chapter sleep timer not pausing at the chapter end

### 2.0 — 2026-04-23

• Podcasts - browse, play, and download episodes from your podcast libraries
• Playback Queue - add to queue, drag to reorder, auto-advance to next
• Episode Filters - Unplayed / In Progress / Played / Downloaded
• Per-Podcast Settings - auto-download, keep-last-N, Wi-Fi only, auto-delete after played, sort order, per-podcast playback speed
• CarPlay - podcast libraries now work in CarPlay
• Library Switcher - each library shows a unique icon so you can tell them apart

### 1.6 — 2026-04-03

Bug Fixes:

- Continue section now shows your last 3 recently played books at the start, so you can quickly pick up where you left off
- Fixed series books displaying out of order — now sorted by sequence number (#43 — thanks @PandaUnit-TWL, @Atlas3686, @JoeSmartChicken, @Timo-1979, @marshallpt)
- Fixed listening progress not syncing to server after offline playback (#59 — thanks @JoeSmartChicken)
- Fixed session expiry from transient network errors incorrectly showing login screen
- App now syncs progress immediately when network connection is restored
- Play button now shows "Resume" or "Play Again" based on your progress

### 1.5.2 — 2025-12-09

Minor Bugfix related to auth refresh token

## Apps similar to SoundLeaf

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Little Ape Audio Books (LAAB)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/little-ape-audio-books-laab/id6450146951) | 4.0 (5) | Free | Books |
| [Tonspur](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonspur/id6739758347) | 4.7 (6) | Free | Books |
| [plappa](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plappa/id6475201956) | 4.7 (325) | Free | Books |
| [Still: for Audiobookshelf](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/still-for-audiobookshelf/id6754208326) | 4.9 (36) | Free | Books |
| [AudioBooth: Audiobooks Player](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiobooth-audiobooks-player/id6753017503) | 4.9 (483) | Free | Books |
| [ShelfPlayer - Audio Book Shelf](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfplayer-audio-book-shelf/id6475221163) | 3.8 (134) | Free | Books |

## More apps by Hemant Kumar

- [DealerPrep - Canada (OMVIC)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dealerprep-canada-omvic/id6763830133)

All apps by Hemant Kumar: https://appshunter.io/developer/1781589937

## Related topics

[leaf one](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/leaf-one)

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*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 2026-08-29.*
