Comparison

plappa vs Narrable

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

Head to head
About

plappa

This app is a client for self-hosted media servers like Jellyfin and AudioBookShelf, designed specifically for playing audiobooks. It supports common audio formats, reads metadata, and allows for offline listening with optional in-app purchases for advanced features.

Highlights
  • Jellyfin, Emby, AudioBookShelf client
  • Supports common audio formats
  • Saves and syncs playback states
  • Reads audiobook metadata
  • Offline listening (via IAP)
  • Podcast and collection support (AudioBookShelf)
Features
Read full description

Disclaimer: plappa only works in connection with a Jellyfin or AudioBookShelf media server! plappa is an audiobook player/client for Jellyfin, Emby and AudioBookShelf, the popular self-hosted media server. Features: - Support for most common audio formats - Purpose built for audiobooks - Save and sync playback states via iCloud or your AudioBookShelf server - Reads metadata like author, narrator and others - Download audiobooks and podcast episodes for offline listening* - Support for podcasts, collections and series with AudioBookShelf * plappa allows you to unlock additional features like downloads and customization options through optional in-app purchases: You can choose between a one-time purchase or an auto-renewing subscription (1 month free trial included). The one-time purchase unlocks all current and future updates. With the subscription, all features are available for the duration of your subscription. Both the subscription and one-time purchase can be shared with your family. plappa is licensed under the Apple standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Narrable

Experience audiobooks with a full cast of distinct voices for each character. Import your own EPUB or PDF files and have them read aloud with synchronized text highlighting. Enjoy offline listening and adjustable playback speeds.

Highlights
  • Full-cast narration with distinct character voices
  • Import and read EPUB and PDF files
  • Synchronized text highlighting with audio
  • Adjustable playback speed (0.5x to 2x)
  • Offline listening with downloaded books
  • Tap any word to start listening
Features
Read full description

Read Aloud Books, PDFs & Text Books where every character has their own voice. Narrable is an audiobook app with a catalogue of full-cast recordings, and it will read your own books too. Open Discover and start listening, or bring an EPUB or PDF and have it voiced. A full cast, not one voice Most audiobooks are one narrator doing everybody. Narrable gives each character their own voice, so dialogue sounds like people talking to each other rather than one person reading both halves. And you choose. Every book is made both ways, so you can switch between the full cast and a single narrator while you listen, mid-sentence, and it picks up exactly where you were. Your own books Import an EPUB or a PDF and Narrable reads who speaks in it, gives each character a voice, and plays you a scene before it makes the rest. Your files stay private to you. While you listen Text highlights in time with the audio, so you can follow along or put the phone down. Speed from 0.5x to 2x with the pitch held, so voices keep their character. Tap any word to start there, skip, rewind, and pick up where you left off. Books download to the phone, so listening doesn't need a connection. Over a thousand voices. Nothing is recorded in a studio, and nothing is read by a person.

Screenshots

plappa4 screens
Narrable4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: plappa at 87% against Narrable's 0%. plappa also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Narrable's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. plappa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year and Narrable sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

plappa ships an update every 5 weeks, Narrable every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
plappa versus Narrable: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterplappaNarrable
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (338 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews86.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings338 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLeo WehrfritzAzam Suleiman

Customer experience

plappa

All ratings331 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral4.2%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews289 reviews
Positive86.5%
Neutral6.2%
Negative7.3%

Narrable

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

plappa

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Can't login Audiobookshelf
  • Podcasts library not listing all podcasts

Requested features

9 requests
  • Auto download when start playing book
  • Auto delete when finished book
  • Option to add multiple servers
  • More sorting and filtering options in the library section
  • Refresh button for libraries
Show 4 more
  • Easy way to change server address without logging out
  • Sync the unplayed/unlistened flags with AudiobookShelf
  • Shortcut to bookmarks from within the player
  • Slider for fine-tuned control of playback speed

Narrable

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

plappa

Subscriptions1
  • Subscription (1 Year)1 Month trial$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full Version (Lifetime)$4.99
4 purchases

Narrable

Subscriptions4
  • Basic$7.991 Month
  • Narrable Reader Pro Plan$12.991 Month
  • Basic$69.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Plan - Yearly$109.991 Year

Questions

Is plappa free?
plappa is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Narrable free?
Narrable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do plappa or Narrable have ads?
Neither plappa nor Narrable shows ads.
Which is updated more often, plappa or Narrable?
plappa ships an update every 5 weeks, and Narrable every 5 days. Most recently, plappa was updated on October 27, 2026 and Narrable on October 23, 2026.

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