Comparison

AudioBookSync vs Tandem Books

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

Head to head
About

AudioBookSync

Features
Read full description

AudioBookSync is the intelligent audiobook player that bridges listening and reading. LISTEN YOUR WAY • Plays M4B, MP3 and MP3 folders • Background playback with lock-screen controls • Adjustable speed (0.5× to 3×) • Adaptive skip-back when resuming — AudioBookSync remembers where you stopped • Sleep timer (including "end of chapter") • Bookmarks with notes FIND ANY SPOT IN YOUR BOOK • Point the camera at a page — OCR + fuzzy matching jump the audio to the exact passage • Works with printed books, screenshots and handwritten pages • Fully on-device: no cloud, no upload, no tracking • Choose between Apple Speech (fast) or Whisper (local, best for German) READ WHERE YOU STOP LISTENING • Built-in EPUB reader with themes (Light/Dark/Sepia), 8 fonts, adjustable size and margins • "Listen here" button jumps from reader to the matching audio position • Seamless cross-navigation: open the book in either mode CARPLAY + HOME-SCREEN WIDGET • CarPlay: full library, chapter navigation and Now Playing while driving • Home-screen widget: current book with progress ring and quick actions • No subscription, no upsell — included with the free version iCLOUD DRIVE LIBRARY • Drop your audiobooks into iCloud Drive → AudioBookSync → Audiobooks • Bookmarks and library state stay on your device • Nothing ever leaves your iCloud account AUDIOBOOKSYNC PRO — OPTIONAL ONE-TIME PURCHASE The free version keeps one audiobook active at a time. Switch books for free at any time, or unlock Pro for: • Unlimited audiobooks — use your entire library at once • Multi-device sync — listening progress syncs automatically between iPhone and iPad via your private iCloud Drive • Shared transcription index — transcribe a book once, every other device picks up the index • Apple Watch — slice off a section of your audiobook, send it to your Apple Watch and listen offline — leave the iPhone at home. Position syncs back to iPhone and iPad automatically. NO ADS. NO SUBSCRIPTION. NO TRACKING. Your library, your bookmarks, your progress — all stored in your iCloud Drive.

About

Tandem Books

Seamlessly switch between reading and listening to your books. Import your own DRM-free ebooks and audiobooks, and maintain your exact place as you transition between formats. Enjoy a distraction-free reading experience with customizable text and themes.

Highlights
  • Paired ebook and audiobook playback
  • Seamless reading/listening transition
  • Import DRM-free EPUB and M4B/MP3 files
  • Adjustable text size and spacing
  • Warm Paper and Night reading themes
  • No account or subscription required
  • Privacy-focused, no analytics
Features
Read full description

Read your book. Listen to it. Switch back and forth without losing your place. Tandem pairs your ebooks with your audiobooks. Start a chapter with your eyes on the train, tap once to continue with your ears on the walk home. Your place follows you between reading and listening. BRING YOUR OWN FILES No bookstore lock-in. Import any DRM-free EPUB ebook and pair it with a matching M4B or MP3 audiobook. Tandem works with files you already own. SWITCH WITHOUT LOSING YOUR PLACE Tap once to switch from reading to listening, or the other way. Tandem uses short audio transcription to line up the ebook and audiobook, then remembers those positions on your device so repeated handoffs in the same area are faster. MADE FOR READING A warm paper surface with a beautiful serif typeface. Adjustable size and spacing. Full-screen immersive mode hides every distraction so you can stay with the book. ONE UNIVERSAL APP Buy once, use it on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Built natively for Apple platforms using SwiftUI. PRIVACY FIRST No account required. No sign-up. No analytics. Your books live on your device. The only time Tandem ever touches the network is a brief audio transcription when you switch modes — and even that data is never stored. FEATURES • Paired ebook + audiobook in one app • Reading and listening stay aligned as you switch • Warm Paper and Night reading themes • Adjustable text size and line spacing • Per-book reading progress saved automatically • Full keyboard shortcut support on Mac • No account. No subscription. No cloud storage of your books. REQUIREMENTS iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26. Bring your own DRM-free EPUB ebooks and M4B or MP3 audiobooks. Kindle, Audible, and other DRM-protected files are not supported.

Screenshots

AudioBookSync4 screens
Tandem Books4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tandem Books at none against AudioBookSync's 1. Tandem Books also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). AudioBookSync's advantage is iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads 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. AudioBookSync sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Tandem Books asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AudioBookSync ships an update every 2 weeks, Tandem Books weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
AudioBookSync versus Tandem Books: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudioBookSyncTandem Books
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS18.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHans-Peter JordiMick Johnson

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AudioBookSync

One-time1
  • AudioBookSync Pro$5.99
None

Tandem Books

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AudioBookSync free?
AudioBookSync is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tandem Books free?
Tandem Books is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do AudioBookSync or Tandem Books have ads?
Neither AudioBookSync nor Tandem Books shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AudioBookSync or Tandem Books?
AudioBookSync ships an update every 2 weeks, and Tandem Books weekly. Most recently, AudioBookSync was updated on October 28, 2026 and Tandem Books on November 5, 2026.

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