Storyteller Reader vs AudioBookSync
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Read EPUB books
- Guided narration support
- Immersive reading
- Self-hosted backend pairing
- Automatic audiobook/ebook alignment
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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!
AudioBookSync
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AudioBookSync is the intelligent audiobook player that bridges listening and reading. LISTEN YOUR WAY • Plays M4B, MP3 and MP3 folders • Background playback with lock-screen controls • Adjustable speed (0.5× to 3×) • Adaptive skip-back when resuming — AudioBookSync remembers where you stopped • Sleep timer (including "end of chapter") • Bookmarks with notes FIND ANY SPOT IN YOUR BOOK • Point the camera at a page — OCR + fuzzy matching jump the audio to the exact passage • Works with printed books, screenshots and handwritten pages • Fully on-device: no cloud, no upload, no tracking • Choose between Apple Speech (fast) or Whisper (local, best for German) READ WHERE YOU STOP LISTENING • Built-in EPUB reader with themes (Light/Dark/Sepia), 8 fonts, adjustable size and margins • "Listen here" button jumps from reader to the matching audio position • Seamless cross-navigation: open the book in either mode CARPLAY + HOME-SCREEN WIDGET • CarPlay: full library, chapter navigation and Now Playing while driving • Home-screen widget: current book with progress ring and quick actions • No subscription, no upsell — included with the free version iCLOUD DRIVE LIBRARY • Drop your audiobooks into iCloud Drive → AudioBookSync → Audiobooks • Bookmarks and library state stay on your device • Nothing ever leaves your iCloud account AUDIOBOOKSYNC PRO — OPTIONAL ONE-TIME PURCHASE The free version keeps one audiobook active at a time. Switch books for free at any time, or unlock Pro for: • Unlimited audiobooks — use your entire library at once • Multi-device sync — listening progress syncs automatically between iPhone and iPad via your private iCloud Drive • Shared transcription index — transcribe a book once, every other device picks up the index • Apple Watch — slice off a section of your audiobook, send it to your Apple Watch and listen offline — leave the iPhone at home. Position syncs back to iPhone and iPad automatically. NO ADS. NO SUBSCRIPTION. NO TRACKING. Your library, your bookmarks, your progress — all stored in your iCloud Drive.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Storyteller Reader at none against AudioBookSync's 1. Storyteller Reader also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.6). 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
Both are free to download. AudioBookSync sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Storyteller Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Storyteller Reader | AudioBookSync |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (44 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 95.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 44 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Shane Friedman | Hans-Peter Jordi |
In-app purchases
Storyteller Reader
No in-app purchases
AudioBookSync
- AudioBookSync Pro$5.99
Questions
Is Storyteller Reader free?
Is AudioBookSync free?
Do Storyteller Reader or AudioBookSync have ads?
Which is updated more often, Storyteller Reader or AudioBookSync?
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