Comparison

BookPlayer vs Narrable

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

Narrable

Experience audiobooks with a full cast of distinct voices for each character. Import your own EPUB or PDF files and have them read aloud with synchronized text highlighting. Enjoy offline listening and adjustable playback speeds.

Highlights
  • Full-cast narration with distinct character voices
  • Import and read EPUB and PDF files
  • Synchronized text highlighting with audio
  • Adjustable playback speed (0.5x to 2x)
  • Offline listening with downloaded books
  • Tap any word to start listening
Features
Read full description

Read Aloud Books, PDFs & Text Books where every character has their own voice. Narrable is an audiobook app with a catalogue of full-cast recordings, and it will read your own books too. Open Discover and start listening, or bring an EPUB or PDF and have it voiced. A full cast, not one voice Most audiobooks are one narrator doing everybody. Narrable gives each character their own voice, so dialogue sounds like people talking to each other rather than one person reading both halves. And you choose. Every book is made both ways, so you can switch between the full cast and a single narrator while you listen, mid-sentence, and it picks up exactly where you were. Your own books Import an EPUB or a PDF and Narrable reads who speaks in it, gives each character a voice, and plays you a scene before it makes the rest. Your files stay private to you. While you listen Text highlights in time with the audio, so you can follow along or put the phone down. Speed from 0.5x to 2x with the pitch held, so voices keep their character. Tap any word to start there, skip, rewind, and pick up where you left off. Books download to the phone, so listening doesn't need a connection. Over a thousand voices. Nothing is recorded in a studio, and nothing is read by a person.

Screenshots

BookPlayer4 screens
Narrable4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BookPlayer at 83% against Narrable's 0%. BookPlayer also leads on chart position (#52 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). Narrable's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Narrable sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BookPlayer ships an update every 9 days, Narrable every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
BookPlayer versus Narrable: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookPlayerNarrable
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (20K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings20K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#52 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGianni CarloAzam Suleiman

Customer experience

BookPlayer

All ratings19,792 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews1,311 reviews
Positive82.6%
Neutral4.9%
Negative12.5%

Narrable

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

Narrable

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
4 purchases

Narrable

Subscriptions4
  • Basic$7.991 Month
  • Narrable Reader Pro Plan$12.991 Month
  • Basic$69.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Plan - Yearly$109.991 Year

Questions

Is BookPlayer free?
BookPlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Narrable free?
Narrable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BookPlayer or Narrable have ads?
Neither BookPlayer nor Narrable shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BookPlayer or Narrable?
BookPlayer ships an update every 9 days, and Narrable every 5 days. Most recently, BookPlayer was updated on October 29, 2026 and Narrable on October 23, 2026.

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