LAABS Audio vs ReadCast

LAABS Audio is a full-featured iPhone player for Audiobookshelf. Stream, download, organize, and enjoy your audiobooks and podcasts—with unique tools that go beyond standard ABS players. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR SERVER - Connect directly to your Audiobookshelf server - Stream over Wi-Fi or cellular - Download audiobooks and podcast episodes - Sync listening progress automatically - Keep your library under your control AMBIENT AUDIO - Create your ideal soundscape by layering rain, fireplace sounds, brown noise, music, or any compatible audio file beneath your narration. - Import tracks from your device or iCloud, adjust the volume for each audiobook, and let Ambient Audio pause and resume automatically with playback. BOOKMARKS & AUDIO CLIPS - Save a point bookmark or select an exact passage as an audio clip. - Trim clips to the second - Preview clips without losing your listening position - Add titles and notes - Export clips as M4A files (book must be downloaded for clip export) - Transcribe clips on supported devices - Create bookmarks and clips from podcast episodes BOOKS & PODCASTS - Browse, search, stream, and download both audiobook and podcast libraries. - Podcast support includes Continue Listening, recent and downloaded episodes, customizable Home shelves, episode details, offline playback, and progress sync. YOUR HOME, YOUR WAY - Browse Continue Listening, Recently Added, and Discover - Create device-only custom shelves - Turn Audiobookshelf playlists into Home shelves - Reorder or hide shelves - See progress, favorites, and download status at a glance FIND & ORGANIZE - Search by title or author - Filter by genre, tag, favorite, or finished status - Sort by author, title, date added, duration, or publication date - Browse Series, Collections, and Playlists - Rename, reorder, and edit Collections and Playlists LISTEN ANYWHERE - Play downloads without a connection - Sync offline progress when you reconnect - Browse and control playback with CarPlay - Use iOS Home Screen widgets for progress and play/pause - Set playback speeds up to 4× - Automatically rewind after longer pauses - Use configurable lock-screen controls and a sleep timer LAABS Audio has no subscription. Optional one-time tips are available for listeners who want to support continued development. **Requires an active Audiobookshelf server running version 2.3.0 or later and iOS 26.0 or later.

ReadCast turns your own books into a flexible reading and listening experience. Import PDF, EPUB, or TXT files, read with a clean and customizable interface, or switch to natural AI narration when you want to listen instead. Adjust text size, theme, playback speed, and voice to match the way you like to read. Use ReadCast to move smoothly between reading and listening, pick up where you left off, and enjoy your personal library in a more accessible way. Terms of Use: https://readcast.cc/terms