Comparison

ListenBook vs Tale Forge

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

Head to head
About

ListenBook

This app is a powerful audiobook player that supports a wide range of audio formats and offers convenient download options. It features advanced playback controls, audio filters, and statistics to enhance your listening experience. Integrates with LibriVox.org for free public domain books.

Highlights
  • Plays MP3, MP4, FLAC, M4B, and more formats
  • Download audiobooks via WiFi, WebDAV, iTunes, or direct link
  • CarPlay and Apple Watch support
  • Audio filters for playback speed and volume
  • Chapter support and bookmarks
  • Automatic artwork and metadata extraction
  • Statistics on listening time
Features
Read full description

Play your own audiobooks on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Any format - no conversion needed. Listen on Watch without your iPhone. Free books via LibriVox, built in. * The app plays your own audio files. Audiobooks are not included. * ===== APPLE WATCH PLAYER A full standalone player on your wrist. Download books to your Watch via Wi-Fi and listen without your iPhone nearby. Switch between standalone and remote control modes with one tap. Browse chapters and your Watch library right from your wrist. ===== PLAY ANY FORMAT No conversion, no DRM. OverDrive chapter support included. ===== FREE AUDIOBOOKS — LIBRIVOX BUILT IN Tens of thousands of public domain titles. Search, download and play directly in the app — no account needed. ===== GET YOUR BOOKS IN WiFi (drag and drop from any browser), AirDrop, Finder, WebDAV, Files app, direct URL, YouTube audio, ZIP archives. ===== PLAYER - Sleep timer with gradual fade and shake-to-reset - Speed control (0.5x–5x) and auto-rewind after pause - Chapters, bookmarks, playback history - Loop track or book, shuffle, music mode - Listening statistics: daily, weekly, monthly - 5 widget types for Home Screen, Lock Screen, Control Center - Artwork and metadata extracted from files automatically ===== AUDIO QUALITY - Equalizer and volume boost - Noise cancelation for dictaphone recordings - Binaural processing to reduce listening fatigue - Voice pitch and gender modification ===== GET MORE WITH LISTENBOOK PRO - Unlimited audiobook length (free tier: 6 hours per book) - Audio effects without time limits - Chapter editing: delete, move, copy between books - Book sharing via AirDrop ===== Note: DRM-protected files (iTunes, Audible) are not supported. https://ListenBookApp.com/terms-conditions https://ListenBookApp.com/privacy-policy

About

Tale Forge

Features
Read full description

Tale Forge makes illustrated stories where your child is the hero. You choose what the story is about, your child picks the way at two forks, and every page gets a painted picture and narration. • Your child as the hero: drawn once (from a description or a photo) and recognisable in every story • Choose the way: two choices per story, and every path has a real ending. Or pick calm mode: one straight story for bedtime • Read aloud or listen: a warm voice reads, and the sentence being read is highlighted so your child can follow along • The bookshelf: every book is kept to read again, or to continue in a new book • Share a story: send a link so grandma can read the same book • English and Swedish The family story app. You create the story, your child is the hero, and you read it together. The account and purchases belong to the adult and sit behind a check for grown-ups. Each child gets a profile, and the stories suit ages 4–9 best. Our own story engine makes the stories with the help of AI, checks them automatically and labels them clearly. Your first story is included at no cost. Family gives 10 new stories every month and is bought in the app with your Apple ID, monthly or yearly. The subscription renews automatically until you cancel it in the iPhone's Settings at least 24 hours before the period ends. Stories you have made stay yours. Terms of use: https://tale-forge.app/terms Privacy policy: https://tale-forge.app/privacy Help: https://tale-forge.app/help

Screenshots

ListenBook4 screens
Tale Forge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Tale Forge at daily against ListenBook's every 3 weeks. Tale Forge also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. ListenBook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Tale Forge sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ListenBook ships an update every 3 weeks, Tale Forge daily. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ListenBook versus Tale Forge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterListenBookTale Forge
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (39 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews36.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings39 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size128 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOleg BraileanTale Forge AB

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ListenBook

Subscriptions2
  • ListenBook Pro - Monthly3 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • ListenBook Pro - Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • ListenBook Pro - Lifetime$24.99
2 purchases

Tale Forge

Subscriptions2
  • Family – 10 new stories every month$4.991 Month
  • Family – 10 new stories every month$49.991 Year

Questions

Is ListenBook free?
ListenBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tale Forge free?
Tale Forge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ListenBook or Tale Forge have ads?
Neither ListenBook nor Tale Forge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ListenBook or Tale Forge?
ListenBook ships an update every 3 weeks, and Tale Forge daily. Most recently, ListenBook was updated on October 24, 2026 and Tale Forge on October 26, 2026.

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