Comparison

BookPlayer vs plappa

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BookPlayer

This app provides a dedicated listening experience for audiobooks in M4B, M4A, MP3, and FLAC formats. It offers robust import, management, and playback features, including chapter navigation, variable playback speed, and cloud sync for seamless listening across devices.

Highlights
  • Import audiobooks via AirDrop, Files, iTunes, servers, and zip files
  • Manage library with progress tracking, sorting, and playlists
  • Advanced playback controls including speed, rewind, and volume boost
  • Chapter navigation and lock screen controls
  • Cloud sync for cross-device listening
  • CarPlay and Apple Watch companion app support
Features
Read full description

A wonderful player for your M4B/M4A/MP3/FLAC based audiobooks. Import – Using AirDrop from your Mac or iOS device – From Files and other apps on your device – Via File Sharing in iTunes on your Mac or PC – From your own AudibookShelf or Jellyfin server – Zip files with your folders and books Manage – Maintain and see progress of your books – Mark books as finished – Drag & Drop to sort your library – Create playlists – Automatically play items in turn – Play the first unfinished file by tapping on the playlist artwork – Move files to playlists from the library or import them directly – Edit your book details (title, author, artwork) – Connect to your Hardcover.app account, and track your library progress Listen – Control audio playback from the lock screen, control center or from the companion app on the Apple Watch – Play and navigate books with Chapters – Jump to start of the current book – Change playback speed – Smart rewind – Volume Boost – Support for remote events from headset buttons and the lock screen – Sleep timer with adjustable duration – CarPlay support – VoiceOver support – Dolby Atmos support – Dark mode for night owls – Continue listening across your devices with Cloud Sync, including stand alone playback on your Apple Watch Supported M4B/M4A/MP3 BookPlayer is licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0. The source code and a list of all its contributors can be found on the GitHub page of this project at www.github.com/TortugaPower/BookPlayer You can see our Privacy policy and terms of use in the following links: – https://github.com/TortugaPower/BookPlayer/blob/main/PRIVACY_POLICY.md – https://github.com/TortugaPower/BookPlayer/blob/main/TERMS_CONDITIONS.md For help and ways to contribute to the project see the support section in the Settings screen of BookPlayer or visit www.bookplayer.app If you enjoy BookPlayer, we would be glad if you consider writing a review.

About

plappa

This app is a client for self-hosted media servers like Jellyfin and AudioBookShelf, designed specifically for playing audiobooks. It supports common audio formats, reads metadata, and allows for offline listening with optional in-app purchases for advanced features.

Highlights
  • Jellyfin, Emby, AudioBookShelf client
  • Supports common audio formats
  • Saves and syncs playback states
  • Reads audiobook metadata
  • Offline listening (via IAP)
  • Podcast and collection support (AudioBookShelf)
Features
Read full description

Disclaimer: plappa only works in connection with a Jellyfin or AudioBookShelf media server! plappa is an audiobook player/client for Jellyfin, Emby and AudioBookShelf, the popular self-hosted media server. Features: - Support for most common audio formats - Purpose built for audiobooks - Save and sync playback states via iCloud or your AudioBookShelf server - Reads metadata like author, narrator and others - Download audiobooks and podcast episodes for offline listening* - Support for podcasts, collections and series with AudioBookShelf * plappa allows you to unlock additional features like downloads and customization options through optional in-app purchases: You can choose between a one-time purchase or an auto-renewing subscription (1 month free trial included). The one-time purchase unlocks all current and future updates. With the subscription, all features are available for the duration of your subscription. Both the subscription and one-time purchase can be shared with your family. plappa is licensed under the Apple standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

BookPlayer4 screens
plappa4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: BookPlayer at 19K against plappa's 331. BookPlayer also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#56 vs unranked). plappa's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BookPlayer sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and plappa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BookPlayer against 4.7 for plappa. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BookPlayer has 19K ratings behind it against 331, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of BookPlayer's written reviews are positive against 86% of plappa's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BookPlayer ships an update every 10 days, plappa every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
BookPlayer versus plappa: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookPlayerplappa
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (19K ratings) — better4.7 (331 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews86.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings19K — better331
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#56 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size95 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGianni CarloLeo Wehrfritz

Customer experience

BookPlayer

All ratings18,845 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews1,242 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral4.8%
Negative11.8%

plappa

All ratings331 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral4.2%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews286 reviews
Positive86.4%
Neutral6.3%
Negative7.3%

User reviews

BookPlayer

From 19K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Flawless playback
  • 👍 Intuitive and clean interface
  • 💡 Ability to import from various sources
  • 🚀 Fast and responsive
  • 👍 Remembers playback position

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
  • 🐛 Issues with importing or playing certain files
  • 🐛 Syncing issues between devices
  • 🐛 Unreliable performance after updates

plappa

From 331 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app with all the same features
  • 🚀 Excellent, love download to watch
  • 🚀 Works great! Just what I needed!
  • 👍 Brilliant app
  • 👍 Amazing!

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Great player. Audiobookshelf support needs work
  • 🐛 Small bugs, good app

Bugs and requests

BookPlayer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Playback issues with certain audio formats
  • Importing problems with large audiobook libraries
  • Crashes when deleting books

Requested features

6 requests
  • Bookmark management
  • Percentage completion tracking
  • Improved multi-file book handling
  • Customizable sleep timer
  • iCloud/cloud sync between devices
Show 1 more
  • Siri/Shortcuts integration

plappa

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Can't login Audiobookshelf
  • Podcasts library not listing all podcasts

Requested features

9 requests
  • Auto download when start playing book
  • Auto delete when finished book
  • Option to add multiple servers
  • More sorting and filtering options in the library section
  • Refresh button for libraries
Show 4 more
  • Easy way to change server address without logging out
  • Sync the unplayed/unlistened flags with AudiobookShelf
  • Shortcut to bookmarks from within the player
  • Slider for fine-tuned control of playback speed

In-app purchases

11 purchases

BookPlayer

Subscriptions7
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$1.991 Month
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$2.991 Month
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$3.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Pro Monthly (1 Month)$4.991 Month
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$6.991 Month
  • Support Monthly (1 Month)$9.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly (1 Year)$49.991 Year
One-time4
  • Kind tip$2.99
  • Kind Tip$2.99
  • Excellent Tip2 variants$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Incredible Tip2 variants$9.99
2 purchases

plappa

Subscriptions1
  • Subscription (1 Year)1 Month trial$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full Version (Lifetime)$4.99

Questions

Is BookPlayer free?
BookPlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is plappa free?
plappa is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BookPlayer or plappa?
BookPlayer is rated higher. BookPlayer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while plappa averages 4.7 from 331 ratings.
Do BookPlayer or plappa have ads?
Neither BookPlayer nor plappa shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BookPlayer or plappa?
BookPlayer ships an update every 10 days, and plappa every 5 weeks. Most recently, BookPlayer was updated on September 24, 2026 and plappa on September 22, 2026.

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