plappa vs Softcover
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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)
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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/
Softcover
Track your reading progress, manage book lists, and connect with a community of readers. Discover new titles, follow friends, and engage in discussions. Features include detailed statistics, release notifications, and home screen widgets.
- Track reading progress (page/percentage/time)
- Manage reading lists (Currently Reading, Want to Read, Finished)
- Follow friends and explore trending titles
- Community book discussions and curated lists
- Detailed reading statistics and annual goals
- Release notifications for anticipated books
- Home screen widgets for reading progress
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Your favorite book tracking companion is here! Softcover brings the power of Hardcover to your iPhone with a beautifully designed, native iOS experience. Track Everything You Read Manage your Currently Reading, Want to Read, and Finished lists with ease. Update your progress by page, percentage, or time—perfect for both books and audiobooks. Stay Connected Follow friends, explore trending titles, discover curated community lists, and engage with book discussions. Join a vibrant community of passionate readers. Beautiful Home Screen Widgets Keep your reading progress at your fingertips with elegant widgets showing your current books and reading goals. Smart Features • Detailed reading statistics and annual goals • Release notifications for anticipated titles • Comprehensive book search with ratings and reviews • Edition selection Seamlessly Syncs with Hardcover All your reading data stays perfectly in sync with your Hardcover.app account across all your devices. Requires a free Hardcover.app account.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: plappa at 87% against Softcover's 33%. plappa also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (331 vs 3). Softcover's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. plappa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Softcover asks for nothing beyond the download.
plappa holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: plappa has 331 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of plappa's written reviews are positive against 33% of Softcover's.
plappa ships an update every 5 weeks, Softcover every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | plappa | Softcover |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (331 ratings) — better | 4.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 86.5% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 331 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Leo Wehrfritz | Robin Bolinsson |
Customer experience
plappa
Softcover
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
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- 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
Softcover
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
plappa
- Subscription (1 Year)1 Month trial$1.991 Year
- Full Version (Lifetime)$4.99
Softcover
No in-app purchases
