Out of 250+ shelfplayer apps on iOS, 19 are free and the rest sit in the paid tier. This page sorts them so you can compare both sides before you commit.
This app provides a native iOS experience for managing and listening to audiobooks and podcasts from your self-hosted Audiobookshelf library. It offers robust playback controls, offline access, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.
This app is a client for self-hosted media servers like Jellyfin and AudioBookShelf, designed specifically for playing audiobooks. It supports common audio formats, reads metadata, and allows for offline listening with optional in-app purchases for advanced features.
What We Love
🚀 Great app with all the same features
🚀 Excellent, love download to watch
🚀 Works great! Just what I needed!
👍 Brilliant app
👍 Amazing!
👍 Amazing
👍 Fantastic!
👍 A Must-Have for Audiobook Shelf Lovers
👍 Great dev!
👍 Works Wonderfully
👍 Always improving
👍 Best Audiobook player for Audiobookshelf
👍 Outstanding
👍 A great way to access audiobook shelf!
👍 Excellent Audiobookshelf Client!
👍 Just what I was looking for
👍 Great for selfhosting
👍 Great app
👍 Masterpiece
👍 5 Stars
👍 Works perfectly with Audiobookshelf
👍 Incredible
👍 Love this app
👍 Very good already
👍 Excellent app!
👍 Great alternative to main Emby app
👍 Great app for IOS!
👍 Great for self hosted audiobooks
👍 AudiobookShelf
👍 Fantastic app!!
👍 Unbeatable
👍 Really great Podcast/Audiobook app for self-hosters
This app provides a streamlined iOS experience for managing and listening to your self-hosted audiobook library from Audiobookshelf. Enjoy essential playback controls, offline downloads, and seamless integration with your server.
ShelfPlayer - Audio Book Shelf tops our shelfplayer apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 3.8-star average from 134 App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Are there free shelfplayer apps for iPhone?
Yes — 19 of the top shelfplayer apps we rank are free to download, including ShelfPlayer - Audio Book Shelf and plappa.
Does ShelfPlayer - Audio Book Shelf have ads or in-app purchases?
ShelfPlayer - Audio Book Shelf shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
How many shelfplayer apps are on the App Store?
We track 250+ shelfplayer apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
What is ShelfPlayer?
ShelfPlayer is a powerful iOS application designed for users who have self-hosted Audiobookshelf libraries. It allows you to listen to your audiobooks and podcasts directly from your own server, offering a native and integrated experience on your iPhone or iPad.
Do I need to buy audiobooks or podcasts through the app?
No, ShelfPlayer does not include any media content. You must have a running Audiobookshelf instance with your own audiobooks and podcasts to use the app. It acts as a client to access and play your existing library.
