Comparison

BookPlayer vs Bookloader

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

Bookloader

Features
Read full description

Whether you're importing your own DRM-free library, discovering new titles, or downloading directly from Usenet, Bookloader seamlessly organizes and renders your entire collection in one beautiful app. Stop switching between different apps for your books, PDFs, and comics. Bookloader's smart engine automatically detects what you're trying to read and provides a tailored, native reading experience for every format. A WORLD-CLASS READING EXPERIENCE • Universal Format Support: Natively read EPUBs, PDFs, and Comic archives (CBZ, CBR, ZIP, RAR). Bookloader even smartly extracts books hidden deep inside ZIP and RAR files automatically. • Highly Customizable: Choose from beautifully crafted Light, Sepia, and Dark themes that can automatically adapt to your system settings. • Typography Control: Adjust font sizes and choose from beautiful typefaces, including OpenDyslexic for accessible reading. • Read Your Way: Swap between classic paginated reading or modern vertical continuous scrolling. • Native Text-to-Speech: Give your eyes a rest. Bookloader can read your books aloud to you using high-quality system voices. Read it out loud to yourself using Apple’s on-device Personal Voice feature.* • Powerful Tools: Highlight text, add bookmarks, define words with the native iOS dictionary, and effortlessly navigate via the Table of Contents. • Immersive Comic Reader: Enjoy your graphic novels and manga with high-resolution image rendering and realistic page-curl animations. POWERFUL DOWNLOADING & DISCOVERY • Built-in Usenet Client: A true power-user feature. Add your Usenet indexer APIs and News Server credentials (with full SSL support) to search for, decode (yEnc), and download NZB files entirely in the background. • Smart Web Downloader: Can't find it on Usenet? Use the custom web fallback to search your favorite web directories and download files directly into your library using the integrated browser. • Discover What's Trending: Browse live top charts from Apple Books and Google Books to find your next great read, sorted by your favorite genres. • Fix Match Metadata: Downloaded a book with a missing cover or messy title? Use the "Fix Match" tool to automatically pull pristine metadata and high-quality covers from the web. YOUR LIBRARY, PERFECTLY ORGANIZED • Automatic Categorization: Your books are automatically sorted into Currently Reading, Unread, and Finished. • Archive the Clutter: Hide books you're done with in the Archive without permanently deleting them. • Build a Habit: Bookloader tracks your daily reading minutes and builds a streak to help motivate you to read more every day! Take complete control of your digital library with Bookloader—the only reading app you'll ever need. Bookloader does not contain any books or files. *Due to a bug in iOS 26, Personal Voices recorded in English may have inadvertently been categorized as Chinese. This is a known iOS bug and has nothing to do with Bookloader. If you encounter problems with playback in Bookloader using Personal Voices recorded, please rename the Personal Voice in iOS settings. This renews the categorization and Bookloader will be able to use it without problems.

Screenshots

BookPlayer4 screens
Bookloader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bookloader at none against BookPlayer's 15. BookPlayer's advantage is chart position (#57 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Bookloader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
BookPlayer versus Bookloader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookPlayerBookloader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (20K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings20K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#57 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGianni CarloCameron Howard

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

Bookloader

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
None

Bookloader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BookPlayer free?
BookPlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bookloader free?
Bookloader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BookPlayer or Bookloader have ads?
Neither BookPlayer nor Bookloader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BookPlayer or Bookloader?
BookPlayer ships an update every 10 days, and Bookloader every 10 days. Most recently, BookPlayer was updated on October 20, 2026 and Bookloader on October 13, 2026.

Other comparisons