# Storyteller Reader vs Absorb

The clearest difference is update cadence: Storyteller Reader at weekly against Absorb's monthly. Absorb's advantage is ratings volume (111 vs 37). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Storyteller Reader against 4.9 for Absorb. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 111 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Storyteller Reader's written reviews are positive against 97% of Absorb's.

Storyteller Reader ships an update weekly, Absorb monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Storyteller Reader | Absorb |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyteller-reader/id6474467720/reviews)** | [4.9 (111 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absorb-for-audiobookshelf/id6760673498/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 37 | **111** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 97.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 72 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shane Friedman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721687723) | [Nathan Poulson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885644242) |

## What reviewers say

### Storyteller Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyteller-reader/id6474467720)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Absorb

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absorb-for-audiobookshelf/id6760673498)

This app provides a streamlined mobile experience for listening to audiobooks and podcasts from your self-hosted media server. Enjoy features like offline playback, chapter navigation, and listening statistics. It's a free, open-source solution with no ads or data collection.

**Highlights:** Offline listening, Chapter navigation, Sleep timer, Playback speed control, Home screen widgets, Listening statistics, CarPlay support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Storyteller Reader free?

Storyteller Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Absorb free?

Absorb is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Storyteller Reader or Absorb?

Storyteller Reader is rated higher. Storyteller Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while Absorb averages 4.9 from 111 ratings.

### Do Storyteller Reader or Absorb have ads?

Neither Storyteller Reader nor Absorb shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Storyteller Reader or Absorb?

Storyteller Reader ships an update weekly, and Absorb monthly. Most recently, Storyteller Reader was updated on September 20, 2026 and Absorb on September 24, 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.*