Comparison

Tonspur vs Auribook

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

Head to head
About

Tonspur

Listen to your personal audiobook collection with this companion app. Enjoy features like adjustable playback speed, a sleep timer, and easy chapter navigation. Download books for offline listening and sync your progress across devices.

Highlights
  • Variable playback speed
  • Sleep timer
  • Offline listening
  • Chapter navigation
  • Progress syncing
  • CarPlay support
  • Multi-library support
Features
Read full description

Listen to your personal audiobook collection with Tonspur, the companion app for Audiobookshelf. Tonspur makes it easy to enjoy the audiobooks you own. Adjust playback speed to match your preference, set a sleep timer for bedtime listening, and jump between chapters with a simple tap. Download books to listen offline, and sync your progress across all your devices including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and CarPlay. Connect to multiple libraries and switch between them effortlessly. Whether you're at home, in the car with CarPlay, or on the go, your audiobooks are always ready when you are. FEATURES: * Variable playback speed and sleep timer * Download books for offline listening * Read eBooks * Easy chapter navigation * Multi-User Support * Easily switch between libraries * CarPlay support * Automatic progress syncing * Statistics * Widgets * Pinned Genres and Playlists

About

Auribook

Listen to audiobooks and podcasts directly on your Apple Watch. Access a library of public domain classics or connect to your own server for offline playback. Enjoy seamless syncing and a private listening experience.

Highlights
  • Offline audiobook and podcast playback
  • Public domain audiobook library
  • Connect to Audiobookshelf server
  • Progress syncing
  • Watch face complications
  • Sleep timer
Features
Read full description

Auribook is a focused, standalone Apple Watch app for listening to audiobooks, podcasts, and relaxing sounds on the go. Discover and download classic public domain audiobooks right from your watch, no server required. Or connect your own library through Audiobookshelf, OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox to browse, download, and listen offline — directly from Apple Watch. Google Drive and Dropbox support are currently in beta. They are available for testing and everyday use, but some files, formats, or account setups may not work perfectly yet. OneDrive and Audiobookshelf are the recommended options if you want the most stable experience. Why you will love it * Robust offline playback: Download reliably to Apple Watch for runs, commutes, flights, sleep, and phone-free moments. * Multiple library sources: Connect Audiobookshelf, OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox and bring your own audiobooks to your wrist. * Public domain library: Browse a growing collection of free classics across multiple languages, with curated lists and new titles added regularly. * Podcasts: Browse shows and episodes, filter for unplayed items, sort your feed, and download episodes for offline listening. * Ambient sounds: Play relaxing nature sounds and noise colors such as rain, fireplace, white noise, pink noise, and brown noise. * Complications: Add Auribook to your watch face for quick controls, jump back to your last title, or see progress at a glance. * Audiobookshelf syncing: Start on your watch and continue elsewhere. Progress stays in sync with your Audiobookshelf server. * Sleep timer: Set a timer to pause audiobooks, podcasts, or ambient sounds automatically. * Direct connection: Point Auribook to your Audiobookshelf server URL or connect a supported cloud provider and enjoy your library on your terms. * Private by design: No analytics, no tracking, no third parties. Your listening stays with you. * Simple setup: Connect once, then get straight to your books. Built with the community in mind Auribook started as a contribution to the open-source Audiobookshelf ecosystem and has grown into a flexible phone-free listening app for Apple Watch. Requirements * Public domain library access is available via an optional in-app purchase. * Cloud provider access for Audiobookshelf, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox is available via a one-time in-app purchase. * Google Drive and Dropbox are currently beta features. * For Audiobookshelf libraries: access to your own Audiobookshelf server and a valid server URL. * For cloud libraries: a valid OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox account. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Tonspur4 screens
Auribook1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Auribook at 5.0 against Tonspur's 4.7. Auribook also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.1). Tonspur's advantage is ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Tonspur sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Auribook sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Auribook holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tonspur has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 27, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Tonspur versus Auribook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTonspurAuribook
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (6 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTim OlbrichJonas Minke

Customer experience

Tonspur

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Auribook

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Tonspur

One-time1
  • Downloads$8.99
2 purchases

Auribook

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Catalog$1.993 Months
One-time1
  • Cloud Providers$1.99

Questions

Is Tonspur free?
Tonspur is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Auribook free?
Auribook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tonspur or Auribook?
Auribook is rated higher. Tonspur averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Auribook averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Tonspur or Auribook have ads?
Neither Tonspur nor Auribook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tonspur or Auribook?
Tonspur ships an update every 3 weeks, and Auribook every 3 weeks. Most recently, Tonspur was updated on August 27, 2026 and Auribook on September 9, 2026.

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