# Audiobook Player SmartBook vs Helmarr

The clearest difference is rating: Helmarr at 4.8 against Audiobook Player SmartBook's 4.1. Helmarr also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 38%) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Audiobook Player SmartBook's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Audiobook Player SmartBook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Helmarr sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Helmarr holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 255 and 193 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Audiobook Player SmartBook's written reviews are positive against 76% of Helmarr's.

Audiobook Player SmartBook ships an update monthly, Helmarr weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Audiobook Player SmartBook | Helmarr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (255 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiobook-player-smartbook/id1228166161/reviews) | **[4.8 (193 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helmarr/id1638624921/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **255** | 193 |
| Positive reviews | 37.6% of reviews | **75.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 62 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Teleprompter LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/823066256) | [Florian Ernst](https://appshunter.io/developer/979192685) |

## What reviewers say

### Audiobook Player SmartBook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiobook-player-smartbook/id1228166161)

Easily play your downloaded MP3 audiobooks on your phone. This app remembers your listening progress, allows for adjustable playback speed, and can shorten silences for more efficient listening. Import your library via cloud services or a local Wi-Fi server.

**Highlights:** MP3, M4B, M4A file support, Adjustable playback speed, Shorten silences, Save listening progress, Sleep timer, Cloud and Wi-Fi import

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro mode | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy WiFi import feature for transferring audiobooks from computer
- 📚 Supports multiple audio formats and large file sizes
- ⚡ Fast playback speed options up to 3x without quality loss
- 🎵 Remembers playback position across sessions
- 📁 Organizes books into separate folders automatically

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes, especially when deleting audiobooks
- 🐛 Playback position inconsistency between pause methods
- 🐛 Playback skips back 15-30 minutes randomly
- 🐛 Unstable playback speed fluctuations
- ❌ Single audio file upload limitation (doesn't handle multi-file folders well)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when deleting audiobooks
- Playback position not saved correctly when pausing from lock screen vs. in-app
- Playback skips back 15-30 minutes randomly
- Playback speed fluctuates unstably
- Upload feature closes when selecting another file

**Requested features**

- Bookmark/save specific locations in audiobooks
- M4B chapter support and chapter recognition
- Dark mode theme
- Sleep timer functionality
- Ability to add files to already-created books


### Helmarr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helmarr/id1638624921)

Manage all your self-hosted services from a single, native iOS interface. Seamlessly integrate and control applications like Sonarr, Radarr, and Unraid with advanced features and customization.

**Highlights:** Unified experience for multiple services, Smart multi-network connectivity, Deep customization options, Home screen widgets, Unraid control, Push notifications, SSH & SFTP access, Download management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (19)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Helmarr Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Ultra Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Helmarr Pro Yearly Subscription | $17.99 | per year |
| Bazarr | $3.99 | one-time |
| Deluge | $4.99 | one-time |
| Plex | $4.99 | one-time |
| Transmission | $4.99 | one-time |
| NZBGet | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lidarr | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unraid | $4.99 | one-time |
| SABnzbd | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tautulli | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sonarr | $4.99 | one-time |
| Radarr | $4.99 | one-time |
| Seerr | $4.99 | one-time |
| qBt | $4.99 | one-time |
| Prowlarr | $4.99 | one-time |
| Helmarr Pro - Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $34.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Audiobook Player SmartBook free?

Audiobook Player SmartBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Helmarr free?

Helmarr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Audiobook Player SmartBook or Helmarr?

Helmarr is rated higher. Audiobook Player SmartBook averages 4.1 out of 5 from 255 ratings, while Helmarr averages 4.8 from 193 ratings.

### Do Audiobook Player SmartBook or Helmarr have ads?

Neither Audiobook Player SmartBook nor Helmarr shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Audiobook Player SmartBook or Helmarr?

Audiobook Player SmartBook ships an update monthly, and Helmarr weekly. Most recently, Audiobook Player SmartBook was updated on October 20, 2026 and Helmarr on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*