Looking Beyond Apple Books? Here Are Better Options
Apple Books is fine. It’s pre-installed on your iPhone, it syncs with your library, and it gets the job done when you want to buy a single title and press play. But if you’re listening regularly—especially if you’re juggling commutes, chores, and workouts—you’ve probably hit its limits. The catalog feels thin compared to dedicated audiobook services, there’s no subscription option, and the listening experience lacks the polish that audiobook-first platforms have spent years perfecting.
The good news? You have options. Here’s what actually deserves your attention, broken down by what you value most.
The Subscription Heavyweight: Audible
If you listen to more than one or two audiobooks per month, Audible’s subscription model is the benchmark everyone else measures against. The core pitch: one credit per month (or more, depending on your plan) gets you one audiobook, permanently, regardless of retail price. A 40-hour epic fantasy novel costs the same as a 6-hour thriller.
The catalog is the largest in the industry—over 200,000 titles in the US store—and includes Audible Originals, exclusive productions, and early releases you won’t find elsewhere. The app also handles the practical stuff well: variable playback speed, sleep timers, and Whispersync, which syncs your listening position with the Kindle ebook version if you like switching between reading and listening.
The catch? Audible’s DRM locks your purchases into their ecosystem. You can’t easily move your library to another app, and canceling your subscription doesn’t take away the books you’ve bought—but you can only play them through Audible. If that feels like a trap, you’re not wrong to be cautious. But for sheer selection and listening features, it’s still the default for a reason.
Try Audible Free for 30 Days — Start your free trial on Amazon and get two free audiobooks.
The Library Card Powerhouse: Libby
Here’s a number that surprises most people: your local library likely offers thousands of audiobooks for free, and Libby is the app that unlocks them. All you need is a library card. No subscription, no per-title fees, no DRM restrictions beyond the standard lending window.
The selection varies by library system, but most metropolitan libraries carry robust catalogs of bestsellers, classics, and mid-list titles. The app is clean and intuitive, with a straightforward hold system for popular books—you’ll often wait weeks for new releases, but the price is right. Libby also supports Library Sync, so you can start a book on your phone and pick it up on your tablet without losing your place.
The trade-off: you’re borrowing, not owning. Titles expire after 14 or 21 days, and if you don’t finish in time, you’re back on the waitlist. For commuters who blow through a book every two weeks, that can be frustrating. But as a complement to a paid service, Libby is unbeatable.
Before you commit, check your library’s digital catalog before downloading the app. Some smaller library systems have surprisingly thin audiobook selections, and if yours is one of them, Libby alone won’t cut it. You can verify this on your library’s website or by opening Libby and browsing before you invest time setting up holds. If your local system is sparse, look into reciprocal borrowing agreements—many state library systems let you get a card from a larger city library in your region, which can dramatically expand your options.
The All-You-Can-Eat Budget Option: Spotify
Spotify’s entry into audiobooks was messy, but the current model is straightforward: Premium subscribers get 15 hours of audiobook listening per month, and you can buy additional hours if you burn through your allotment. The catalog is respectable—major publishers are on board, and you’ll find most current bestsellers alongside a deep backlist.
The app itself is the weak point. Audiobook playback lives inside the music app, which means your listening position can get tangled up with playlists, and the chapter navigation is clunkier than dedicated audiobook apps. But if you already pay for Spotify Premium, the 15 free hours are essentially a bonus. For light listeners—say, one or two books per month—that might be all you need.
Where this falls apart: if you’re a series listener, Spotify’s catalog gaps become obvious fast. You’ll often find book one of a trilogy but not books two and three, or a standalone novel but none of the author’s other work. Before you rely on Spotify as your primary audiobook app, search for a few titles on your current to-read list. If they’re missing, you’ll know immediately whether this is a supplement or a dead end.
The Indie and Backlist Treasure Trove: Libro.fm
Libro.fm runs on the same model as Audible—monthly credits, permanent ownership—but with a twist: your purchases support a local independent bookstore of your choice. The catalog is smaller, particularly for big-name bestsellers, but it punches above its weight in literary fiction, indie presses, and backlist gems that bigger platforms deprioritize.
The app is solid, if not flashy, and the DRM situation is friendlier than Audible’s: your files are DRM-free, which means you can play them on any device or app you like. If you care about where your money goes and want to escape Amazon’s ecosystem entirely, Libro.fm is the most ethical alternative that still offers a subscription-style model.
One limitation to know: Libro.fm’s selection skews literary. If your listening diet is heavy on genre fiction—sci-fi, romance, fantasy—you’ll find the catalog frustratingly thin compared to Audible. Check whether your favorite authors are actually available before committing to a monthly credit plan.
The Casual Listener’s Choice: Scribd
Scribd operates on a “Netflix for books” model: one monthly fee gives you access to their entire catalog, including audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, and documents. The audiobook selection is solid, though not as deep as Audible’s, and you’ll find plenty of current titles alongside classics and nonfiction.
The catch is the “reading limits” system. Scribd doesn’t publish exact numbers, but heavy users report that after a certain amount of listening per month, the catalog thins out—popular titles become unavailable until your next billing cycle. For moderate listeners who go through two to four books per month, it’s rarely an issue. For binge-listeners, it can be frustrating.
How to test this: if you’re a fast listener, start with a free trial month and track what happens in the third week. If you suddenly can’t access titles that were available earlier in the month, you’ve hit the limit. That’s not a bug—it’s the model. Decide whether the cap is acceptable before you commit to a yearly plan.
The Format Purist’s Pick: Downpour
Downpour is one of the few major audiobook retailers that sells DRM-free files in the M4B format, which supports chapter markers and bookmarking across apps. You buy titles individually—no subscription required—and you can download your purchases in MP3 or M4B, then play them in any app you choose.
The catalog leans toward literary fiction, classics, and nonfiction, with less genre fiction than Audible or Spotify. But if you value ownership and portability over convenience, Downpour is the cleanest option. The app is functional but basic; most users pair Downpour with a third-party player like Bookmobile or Bound for a better listening experience.
A practical warning: DRM-free means you’re responsible for your own backups. If you lose your phone or your hard drive dies, your Downpour purchases are gone unless you’ve saved them elsewhere. Audible and Apple Books keep your library in the cloud; Downpour hands you the files and trusts you to manage them. For some listeners, that’s exactly the point. For others, it’s a hidden responsibility they didn’t sign up for.
The Free Ad-Supported Option: Hoopla
Hoopla is another library-based service, but unlike Libby, it works on an instant-borrow model: no holds, no waitlists. You borrow up to a set number of titles per month (determined by your library), and they’re available immediately. The audiobook catalog is strong on genre fiction, children’s titles, and indie releases, though it lags behind Libby for current bestsellers.
The app is serviceable, and the instant access makes it a great companion to Libby—when the library’s copy of a hot title is weeks out, Hoopla often has it ready to go. The downside is the monthly borrowing cap, which can feel restrictive if you’re a heavy listener.
Know your cap before you rely on it: the borrowing limit varies wildly by library system—some allow 5 titles per month, others allow 15. You can check your limit in the Hoopla app under your account settings. If your cap is low, treat Hoopla as a supplement, not your primary source. It’s best for filling gaps when Libby’s waitlists are too long.
How to Choose: A Decision Framework
If you’re overwhelmed by the options, start with your listening habits.
If you listen 10+ hours per week, Audible’s credit system gives you the best value per hour, especially for long books. The permanent ownership matters when you’re burning through titles.
If you listen 3–5 hours per week, Libby plus Hoopla will likely cover your needs for free. If you want new releases without waitlists, add Scribd.
If you’re an Apple Books loyalist who just wants more selection, Spotify’s included hours are the cheapest add-on. If you want to own titles, Libro.fm offers the best ethical alternative.
If you hate DRM and want your files portable, Downpour is the only major retailer selling DRM-free audiobooks outright. Pair it with a good third-party player.
The practical takeaway: the right choice depends on whether you’re a borrower or an owner. If you’re fine with temporary access, Libby, Hoopla, and Spotify cover most needs for little or no money. If you want to build a permanent library, Audible, Libro.fm, and Downpour are your options—and your choice between them comes down to whether you prioritize catalog size, ethics, or file portability. There’s no wrong answer, but there is a wrong answer for your specific habits.
What About Apple Books Itself?
Apple Books isn’t bad—it’s just limited. The catalog is smaller than Audible’s, there’s no subscription option, and the app lacks advanced listening features like variable speed presets or robust chapter navigation. But it has one advantage: if you buy ebooks from Apple, the audiobook versions are often discounted, and the integration between the two is seamless.
If you’re already invested in Apple’s ecosystem and buy most of your books there, it’s a reasonable default. But for anyone listening regularly, a dedicated audiobook service will almost always offer better value and a better experience.
The one scenario where Apple Books wins: if you exclusively buy ebooks from Apple and want the audiobook version of the same title, the discounted bundle pricing can make it cheaper than buying the audiobook elsewhere. That’s a narrow use case, but it’s real. For everything else, you’re paying more for less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Apple Books audiobooks to another app?
No. Apple Books audiobooks are DRM-protected and can only be played within the Apple Books app. If you want portable files, buy DRM-free from Downpour or Libro.fm.
Is Audible worth it if I already have Spotify Premium?
It depends on how much you listen. Spotify’s 15 free hours cover roughly one to two books per month. If you listen more than that, Audible’s credit system is more cost-effective—especially for long books.
Are library audiobooks really free?
Yes, through Libby and Hoopla. You just need an active library card. Some library systems also offer reciprocal borrowing agreements, so even a small local library can unlock access to larger regional collections.
What’s the difference between Libby and Hoopla?
Libby uses a hold-and-waitlist system for popular titles, while Hoopla offers instant borrowing with a monthly cap. They complement each other well—use Libby for bestsellers you can wait for, and Hoopla for immediate access to everything else.
Can I listen to audiobooks on my Apple Watch?
Audible and Apple Books both support Apple Watch playback, but Audible’s implementation is more mature, with better offline syncing and playback controls. Libby’s Watch support is limited to remote controls, not standalone playback.
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