Comparison

BookPlayer vs OL Reader

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

OL Reader

Transform your EPUB library into an audio experience with on-device AI narration. Enjoy natural voices, smart library management, and seamless reading and listening, all while ensuring complete privacy as no data leaves your device.

Highlights
  • On-device AI narration
  • Multiple voice options
  • Smart library management
  • Seamless read & listen
  • Privacy-focused processing
  • Robust text handling
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

OL Reader transforms your EPUB library into a personal listening experience powered by on-device AI. Import your favorite books and let the built-in Kokoro neural text-to-speech engine read them aloud with stunningly natural voices — no internet connection required, no subscriptions, and complete privacy. Whether you're commuting, cooking, or resting your eyes, OL Reader makes your entire ebook collection accessible as spoken audio. The AI runs entirely on your device using Apple's MLX framework, delivering high-quality narration without sending a single word to the cloud. Key Features: • On-Device AI Narration — Kokoro neural TTS produces natural, expressive speech that sounds remarkably human. No network needed. • Multiple Voice Options — Choose from a variety of voices to find the perfect narrator for every book. • Smart Library Management — Import and organize your EPUB collection with ease. Browse covers, search titles, and pick up right where you left off. • Memory-Efficient Reading Engine — An advanced chunking system with intelligent prefetching keeps scrolling buttery smooth, even for thousand-page novels. • Seamless Read & Listen — Follow along visually with real-time text highlighting as the AI reads, or simply close your eyes and listen. • Privacy First — All processing happens on your iPhone or iPad. Your books and reading habits never leave your device. • Robust Text Handling — Gracefully handles complex Unicode, special characters, and even poorly formatted EPUBs without skipping a beat. OL Reader is perfect for avid readers who want hands-free access to their personal library, anyone with visual accessibility needs, language learners who benefit from hearing text read aloud, or multitaskers who want to enjoy books while on the go. Turn every moment into reading time — your books have never sounded this good.

Screenshots

BookPlayer4 screens
OL Reader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BookPlayer at 83% against OL Reader's 0%. BookPlayer also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and device support (3 vs 1). OL Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On ads and chart position 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

BookPlayer is free to download; OL Reader costs $4.99 up front. BookPlayer sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. OL Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
BookPlayer versus OL Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookPlayerOL Reader
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.8 (20K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings20K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#60 — better#114
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB1.2 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGianni CarloDarren Oakey

Customer experience

BookPlayer

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

OL Reader

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

OL Reader

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

OL Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BookPlayer free?
BookPlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OL Reader free?
OL Reader costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do BookPlayer or OL Reader have ads?
Neither BookPlayer nor OL Reader shows ads.
Which is more popular, BookPlayer or OL Reader?
BookPlayer currently peaks at #60 in the App Store charts, and OL Reader at #114. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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