Comparison

Storyteller Reader vs SoundLeaf

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

Head to head
About

Storyteller Reader

This app allows you to read EPUB ebooks with guided narration on your device. It supports immersive reading features and can sync with a self-hosted backend for automatic audiobook and ebook alignment.

Highlights
  • Read EPUB books
  • Guided narration support
  • Immersive reading
  • Self-hosted backend pairing
  • Automatic audiobook/ebook alignment
Features
Read full description

Storyteller is a self-hosted platform for creating and reading ebooks with guided narration. You can use the app to read any EPUB books, including those with Media Overlays (also called “immersive reading” or “guided narration”) on your device, or you can pair it with the Storyteller self-hosted backend server, which can automatically align audiobooks and ebooks for immersive reading!

About

SoundLeaf

This app provides a premium iOS client for the open-source Audiobookshelf server. It offers a beautiful, intuitive interface for listening to your personal audiobook collection with features like CarPlay support and offline downloads.

Highlights
  • CarPlay support
  • Connect to Audiobookshelf server
  • Intuitive library browsing
  • Variable playback speed
  • Offline listening
  • Smart sleep timer
  • Cross-device progress tracking
Features
Read full description

SoundLeaf is a premium iOS client for Audiobookshelf, the open-source, self-hosted audiobook and podcast server. Connect to your own server and get your whole collection — audiobooks, podcasts and ebooks — in a beautiful, fast app built for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and CarPlay. Learn more, read setup guides and see the app in action at https://soundleafapp.com OFFLINE FIRST • Your library syncs to the app, so you can browse everything even with the server off • Download books and episodes and play them anywhere, no connection needed • Downloads are free for everyone, podcast auto-download included • Local and remote server addresses: the app uses your local address on home Wi-Fi and your remote address everywhere else, on its own BUILT FOR LONG LISTENS • A powerful player with chapters, variable playback speed and position memory • A smarter sleep timer: tell it your night hours and it starts itself, fades out instead of stopping cold, and restarts when you press play • Progress syncs with your server, so every device stays on the same page • Background playback, lock screen controls and full landscape support PODCASTS, DONE RIGHT • Podcast transcripts: when a show publishes one, it runs along with the audio, and a tap opens a full reader • Smart Downloads keep the next episodes ready before you ask • A queue that shows what is playing, what is next and what is on the phone • Episode management per show: keep counts, auto-download, mark played THE EBOOK READER • Read the ebook that lives next to your audiobook • One tap jumps the page to where the narrator is, and back • Fonts, text size, line spacing, margins, and Light, Sepia and Dark pages EVERYWHERE YOU LISTEN • A real Apple Watch app, with offline playback on your wrist if you want it • CarPlay with library switching and a downloaded-only filter • Home screen widgets: now playing, recent books, your listening time MAKE IT YOURS • 32 themes and 55 app icons • Listening stats with streaks, totals, a year heatmap and daily patterns • Multiple libraries, series, authors, collections and search SoundLeaf is made for self-hosters and their families: people who keep their audiobook library on their own server with Audiobookshelf and want the best way to listen to it on Apple devices. Note: SoundLeaf requires an Audiobookshelf server to connect to. Audiobookshelf is free and open source; learn how to set one up at https://audiobookshelf.org and find help at https://soundleafapp.com/server/ Website: https://soundleafapp.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Storyteller Reader4 screens
SoundLeaf4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Storyteller Reader at 5.0 against SoundLeaf's 4.3. Storyteller Reader also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 65%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, 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. SoundLeaf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. Storyteller Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Storyteller Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Storyteller Reader's written reviews are positive against 65% of SoundLeaf's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Storyteller Reader ships an update weekly, SoundLeaf fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Storyteller Reader versus SoundLeaf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStoryteller ReaderSoundLeaf
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (37 ratings) — better4.3 (20 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better65.0% of reviews
Number of ratings37 — better20
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShane FriedmanHemant Kumar

Customer experience

Storyteller Reader

All ratings37 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SoundLeaf

All ratings20 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative10.0%

In-app purchases

None

Storyteller Reader

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

SoundLeaf

Subscriptions1
  • SoundLeaf Supporter$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Storyteller Reader free?
Storyteller Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SoundLeaf free?
SoundLeaf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Storyteller Reader or SoundLeaf?
Storyteller Reader is rated higher. Storyteller Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while SoundLeaf averages 4.3 from 20 ratings.
Do Storyteller Reader or SoundLeaf have ads?
Neither Storyteller Reader nor SoundLeaf shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Storyteller Reader or SoundLeaf?
Storyteller Reader ships an update weekly, and SoundLeaf fortnightly. Most recently, Storyteller Reader was updated on September 20, 2026 and SoundLeaf on September 22, 2026.

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