Comparison

SoundLeaf vs BookBubble

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

Head to head
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/

About

BookBubble

This app provides a spoiler-free wiki for books, unlocking information chapter by chapter as you read. It also helps you track reading sessions, organize your library, and set reading goals to build a consistent habit.

Highlights
  • Spoiler-free fan wiki
  • Chapter-by-chapter entry unlocking
  • Reading session tracking
  • Ambient reading music
  • Customizable book library
  • Reading goal setting
  • Calendar view of reading habits
Features
Read full description

That moment when a quick online search about a character spoils the whole plot of your book. That pain is why we built BookBubble. A fan-powered and spoiler-free Wiki that only unlocks, what you’ve actually read so far. A FAN WIKI THAT CAN'T SPOIL YOU - Look up any character, creature, location, item, or group in your book and only see what you've actually read so far. - Entries unlock chapter by chapter as you read - No more accidentally spoiling yourself while searching online - Contribute while reading and become part of the wiki READING SESSIONS - Track every session you spend in a book. - Log minutes read and chapters finished - Play ambient music while you read - Build a clear picture of your reading habit over time YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR WAY - Organize your books exactly how you read them. - Default Shelves for Currently Reading, TBR, DNF, and Finished - Create and add your own custom collections - Share or hide your shelves on your public profile CALENDAR & READING GOAL - See your reading habit take shape. - A built-in calendar shows exactly which day you read which book - Watch your reading time grow as time goes by - Set a yearly reading goal and track your progress toward it - Set notifications to make reading a habit Built for readers of fantasy, romantasy, and any book with worldbuilding too rich to hold in your head. Download BookBubble and dive into your books, chapter by chapter — spoiler-free.

Screenshots

SoundLeaf4 screens
BookBubble4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BookBubble at none against SoundLeaf's 3. BookBubble also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 77%). SoundLeaf's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. BookBubble asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SoundLeaf ships an update fortnightly, BookBubble monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SoundLeaf versus BookBubble: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSoundLeafBookBubble
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (49 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings49 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB60 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperHemant KumarTimon Grassl

Customer experience

SoundLeaf

All ratings49 ratings
Positive89.8%
Neutral8.2%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive77.1%
Neutral17.1%
Negative5.7%

BookBubble

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

SoundLeaf

Subscriptions2
  • SoundLeaf Supporter$0.991 Month
  • SoundLeaf Supporter$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro$9.99
None

BookBubble

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SoundLeaf free?
SoundLeaf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BookBubble free?
BookBubble is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SoundLeaf or BookBubble have ads?
Neither SoundLeaf nor BookBubble shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SoundLeaf or BookBubble?
SoundLeaf ships an update fortnightly, and BookBubble monthly. Most recently, SoundLeaf was updated on November 2, 2026 and BookBubble on October 30, 2026.

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