Comparison

Talking Book Reader vs PlayNook Interactive Audiobook

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

Head to head
About

Talking Book Reader

Transform plain text files into audiobooks with this application. It offers automatic bookmarking, remote control support, and utilizes iOS built-in voices for multiple languages. Ideal for those with visual impairments, reading disabilities, or anyone who wants to listen to content while multitasking.

Highlights
  • Text to audiobook conversion
  • Automatic bookmarking
  • Remote control headset support
  • Multi-language support via iOS voices
  • Full VoiceOver compatibility
  • Simultaneous reading and listening
Read full description

With Talking Book Reader, your plain text (.txt) documents become audio books. Simply copy files into the application via iTunes File Sharing or from another application, select the book you want to read and enjoy reading! Features: - Simple, easy-to-use user interface available in English and Hungarian - Built-in help available in English and Hungarian - Automatic bookmarking when you stop reading - Control reading by using your remote control capable headset - Thanks to iOS built-in voices, you can read books in foreign languages - Full VoiceOver support - You can read the book with your eyes while you listen to the book You may find this application useful if: - You are blind or have low vision and you can't read with your eyes - You have reading disability and reading and listening simultaneously helps you better understand what you are reading - You are a student and you have to learn long materials - You like to read books or business materials in your car while you are driving

About

PlayNook Interactive Audiobook

Engage in immersive audio adventures where your voice guides the narrative. Explore a vast library of interactive stories, make choices that shape your journey, and experience RPG elements in this unique storytelling app.

Highlights
  • Voice-activated gameplay
  • Expansive library of interactive stories
  • RPG mechanics and inventory management
  • Dynamic sound design
  • Choose your own adventure narratives
  • Playable on the go
Features
Read full description

PlayNook is the home of interactive audio books: stories you listen to and play as the main character. An AudioGame is an experience halfway between an audiobook and an interactive fiction game. Professional voice actors narrate the story; you decide what happens next. Choose with a tap or simply speak your choice out loud! HOW IT WORKS • Listen: stories with voices, music and sound design • Choose: at key moments the story stops and asks you to decide. Some choices are timed, some need an item you've found, some change your fate forever • Roll the dice: some actions need luck. Roll a virtual 20-sided dice (D20). Tap it, or just say "Roll the dice!" YOU ARE THE HERO • Stats: earn Story Points with your choices, collect Gold, build skills like strength and charm • Health: wrong choices can wound you. Lose all your health and it's game over, unless you've reached a checkpoint • Your Bag: gather items in your Inventory, discover secrets in your Journal, unlock Badges as you play REPLAY EVERYTHING WITH JOURNEYS (NEW) Every chapter has up to 5 independent save slots called Journeys. Finish a story, then start a new Journey and take the paths you didn't dare take. Your stats, items and journal carry over from chapter to chapter within each Journey. MADE FOR EVERY LISTENER • Full accessibility: VoiceOver support, text-only or audio mode, adjustable text size, auto mode, voice speed control • Download chapters and play offline. Perfect for commutes, travel and screen-free evenings A GROWING CATALOG Originals, partnerships and community stories across fantasy, mystery, horror, romance and more. New releases every month, plus Shorts: complete one-chapter adventures. First chapters are free. Start playing today. Put on your headphones, speak and choose: the story is yours.

Screenshots

Talking Book Reader4 screens
PlayNook Interactive Audiobook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PlayNook Interactive Audiobook at Free against Talking Book Reader's $2.99. PlayNook Interactive Audiobook also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (8 vs 1). Talking Book Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 22) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On review sentiment, 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

PlayNook Interactive Audiobook is free to download; Talking Book Reader costs $2.99 up front. PlayNook Interactive Audiobook sells 22 one-off in-app purchases. Talking Book Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Talking Book Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlayNook Interactive Audiobook has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Talking Book Reader ships an update every 8 months, PlayNook Interactive Audiobook every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Talking Book Reader versus PlayNook Interactive Audiobook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTalking Book ReaderPlayNook Interactive Audiobook
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.6 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings18 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.4 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB165 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperZsolt TormaPlayNook srl

Customer experience

Talking Book Reader

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PlayNook Interactive Audiobook

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Talking Book Reader

No in-app purchases

22 purchases

PlayNook Interactive Audiobook

One-time22
  • The light that kills$0.99
  • The light inside the medallion$0.99
  • The Light of Hope$0.99
Show 19 more
  • Marco Polo | Chapter 2$0.99
  • Marco Polo | Chapter 3$0.99
  • Marco Polo | Chapter 4$0.99
  • Marco Polo | Chapter 5$0.99
  • Marco Polo | Chapter 6$0.99
  • Count of Montecristo | Ch 2$0.99
  • Count of Montecristo | Ch 3$0.99
  • The Christmas Raccoons | Bert$1.99
  • The Christmas Raccoons | Schaeffer$1.99
  • Mary Read$1.99
  • Jonathan Barnet$1.99
  • The Count of Montecristo$1.99
  • My Bonny My Lassie | Season$2.99
  • After the Light | Full Season$2.99
  • Cthulu | Lovecraft Country 1922$3.99
  • Marco Polo: Adventures Season$3.99
  • Marco Polo: Adventures$3.99
  • Fairytale Guardian | S1$4.99
  • The Christmas Raccoons Full Season$4.99

Questions

Is Talking Book Reader free?
Talking Book Reader costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PlayNook Interactive Audiobook free?
PlayNook Interactive Audiobook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Talking Book Reader or PlayNook Interactive Audiobook?
Talking Book Reader is rated higher. Talking Book Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while PlayNook Interactive Audiobook averages 4.6 from 8 ratings.
Do Talking Book Reader or PlayNook Interactive Audiobook have ads?
Neither Talking Book Reader nor PlayNook Interactive Audiobook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Talking Book Reader or PlayNook Interactive Audiobook?
Talking Book Reader ships an update every 8 months, and PlayNook Interactive Audiobook every 2 weeks. Most recently, Talking Book Reader was updated on October 24, 2026 and PlayNook Interactive Audiobook on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons