SoundLeaf vs RestReader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- CarPlay support
- Connect to Audiobookshelf server
- Intuitive library browsing
- Variable playback speed
- Offline listening
- Smart sleep timer
- Cross-device progress tracking
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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/
RestReader
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RestReader turns YouTube audiobooks and long-form content into a comfortable bedtime listening experience. Paste a YouTube video link or import an entire YouTube playlist, and RestReader gives you a proper audiobook player with features built for listeners, not viewers. SLEEP TIMER • Set a timer from 5 to 90 minutes • Audio fades out gently • Shake your phone to extend the timer without opening your eyes DIM MODE • Dims the screen while keeping audio playing • Perfect for bedtime listening without lighting up the room BOOKMARKS • Automatically saves your place • Create bookmarks at favorite passages • Jump back to any bookmark anytime CHAPTERS • Auto-detected from YouTube descriptions • Skip to any section with a tap PLAYLISTS & LIBRARY • Import YouTube playlists from a pasted link or share directly to RestReader from the YouTube app • Organize audiobooks into custom playlists • Search across your entire library QUEUE • Line up what you want to listen to next • Auto-advances through your queue No account required. No ads. No subscription. Just paste a link and listen.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RestReader at none against SoundLeaf's 3. 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
Both are free to download. SoundLeaf sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. RestReader asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | SoundLeaf | RestReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (34 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 34 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Hemant Kumar | WILLIAM MATTHEW ROCKEY |
In-app purchases
SoundLeaf
- SoundLeaf Supporter$0.991 Month
- SoundLeaf Supporter$9.991 Year
- Pro$9.99
RestReader
No in-app purchases









