Comparison

Auribook vs Start Speaking

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

Head to head
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. Queue several books or episodes and they download one after another, and Auribook checks free space before each download. * Multiple library sources: Connect Audiobookshelf, OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox and bring your own audiobooks to your wrist. * Public domain library: Browse free classics from LibriVox across multiple languages, with curated categories and search across more than 20,000 titles. * Covers everywhere: See book covers in your library, downloads, and Continue Listening, or switch Now Playing to a full-screen cover and tap it to play or pause. * Listening your way: Choose your skip intervals, let smart rewind replay a few seconds after a pause, and adjust playback speed. * Sleep timer: Pause after a set time or at the end of the chapter, with a gentle fade-out. Works for audiobooks, podcasts, and ambient sounds. * Siri and Shortcuts: Say "Resume Auribook", pause, skip, or start a sleep timer, also from the Action button. * Widgets and complications: Continue Listening with cover and a play/pause button, time remaining, chapter progress, and quick access to the player, your books, and sounds — on your watch face and in the Smart Stack. * Audiobookshelf syncing: Start on your watch and continue elsewhere, or the other way around. Progress stays in sync with your Audiobookshelf server, and your watch picks up where you left off on other devices. * 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. * 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 * A selection of free classics is included. * 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/

About

Start Speaking

Features
Read full description

Start Speaking helps you read books and supported documents in the way that works best for you. Read on screen, listen with speech, or move naturally between both as you go. Whether you are enjoying a novel, studying, reviewing a document, or catching up on an audiobook, Start Speaking brings your library, reading controls, and personal preferences together in one focused place. Flexible, Focused Reading Key Features • Read and Listen Read visually or listen with Apple system voices. Optional cloud AI voices from supported providers are available with your own provider account. • Your Library, Organized Keep books together in bookshelves, search your library, save bookmarks, and return to your place. • Find Your Place Use Headings, Contents, Search, and Go to Page to move through long books and documents. • Make Reading Comfortable Choose themes, colors, font size, and reader layout. Typoscope modes and speech highlighting help you keep your focus on the text. • Books and Documents Open supported EPUB, DAISY, Word, PDF, plain-text, rich-text, audiobook, spreadsheet, presentation, and other compatible document formats. • Paste Text to Speak Paste text from the clipboard or open a text file when you want to hear it right away. • Made to Fit Your Needs Start Speaking supports VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, clear controls, and flexible visual settings. Perspective All Access (Subscription Features) Unlock more ways to read with Perspective All Access: • Excel Workbooks Open workbooks with a Workbook Overview and switch between Table view and Document view. • PowerPoint Presentations Read slides, text, images, tables, diagrams, and charts. Choose whether to include speaker notes and reviewer comments. • One Subscription Use your Perspective All Access purchase across supported Techopolis apps. All Access plan choices and current prices are shown by Apple before you confirm a purchase. You can restore earlier purchases and manage subscriptions from Settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Auribook1 screens
Start Speaking4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Auribook at 15.0 against Start Speaking's 26.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Auribook sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 3 months and Start Speaking sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Auribook versus Start Speaking: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAuribookStart Speaking
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJonas MinkeTechopolis Online Solutions, LLC

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Auribook

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Catalog$1.993 Months
One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Cloud Providers$1.99
  • Medium Tip$3.99
Show 1 more
  • Large Tip$5.99
2 purchases

Start Speaking

Subscriptions2
  • All Access Monthly$5.991 Month
  • All Access Annual$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Auribook free?
Auribook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Start Speaking free?
Start Speaking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Auribook or Start Speaking have ads?
Neither Auribook nor Start Speaking shows ads.

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