Discover the Best Audio Book Apps: Listen Anytime, Anywhere

Listening to books has never been easier thanks to audiobook apps. Whether you’re traveling, working out, or just relaxing, these apps let you enjoy stories and knowledge on the go. With many options to choose from, finding the perfect app can be overwhelming. This blog will help you discover the best audiobook apps in 2026 that are user-friendly, packed with features, and perfect for listening anytime, anywhere.

Why Use Audiobook Apps?

Listen Anywhere, Anytime

With audiobook apps, you can enjoy your favorite books wherever you are—on the commute, at the gym, or even while cooking. You don’t need to sit with a physical book; just open the app, press play, and start listening anytime you want.

Save Time

Audiobook apps let you “read” while doing other tasks, like walking, cooking, or traveling. This way, you can enjoy more books and learn new things without spending extra time sitting with a physical book.

Huge Library

The best audiobook apps offer thousands of books in all genres, from fiction and self-help to business and education. No matter what you like, you can always find something new to listen to.

Easy to Use

Using an audiobook app is straightforward. Controls like play, pause, and fast-forward make it easy to enjoy books anytime without confusion.

Offline Listening

Many audiobook apps let you download books, so you can listen even when you don’t have internet.

Top 10 Best Audiobook Apps in 2026

Finding the perfect audiobook app is easier when you know the best choices. Each app comes with its own features, pricing, and library of books, making some better for casual listeners and others for serious readers. To save you time, we’ve gathered the top 10 best audiobook apps in 2026, all available in the USA, so you can start listening anytime, anywhere.

#1. Audible

Audible is one of the most popular audiobook apps in the USA, known for its large library and easy‑to‑use listening experience. With Audible, you can find thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive Originals in every genre — from bestsellers and fiction to self‑help and true crime. Users can stream or download titles to listen offline, making it perfect for travel or daily routines. It also has features like adjustable listening speed and a sleep timer that make listening simple and fun.

Audible works mainly on a subscription model. Plans range from a basic catalog of unlimited streaming to a Premium Plus plan that gives you monthly credits to buy books you can keep forever — even if you cancel later. New users can try Audible free for a limited time before paying.

One of its newest features lets you “read along” with the text while listening (in supported books), helping improve comprehension and make listening more engaging.

Overall, Audible is a top choice for audiobook lovers who want a huge selection, easy downloads for offline listening, and flexible membership options in 2026.

#2. Libby

Libby is a free and user‑friendly audiobook and ebook app that lets you borrow digital books from your local public library using your library card. Unlike subscription services, Libby doesn’t charge any monthly fee — you get access to audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines for free as long as your library supports it.

With Libby, you can browse your library’s digital catalog and borrow titles instantly on your phone, tablet, or even in a web browser. Once borrowed, you can stream books or download them for offline listening, so you can enjoy audiobooks on the go — even without internet. The app syncs your loans, bookmarks, and listening progress across devices for a smooth experience.

Libby’s audiobook player includes helpful features like adjustable playback speed, sleep timer, and easy navigation between chapters. It also supports listening in your car through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, making it a great choice for commuters and frequent travelers.

Since Libby connects to thousands of public libraries across the USA and other countries, you can discover a wide variety of audiobooks without paying a cent — perfect for budget‑friendly listeners who still want quality content anytime, anywhere.

#3. Scribd

Scribd is a popular digital reading and listening app that works like a “Netflix for books” — with one subscription, you get access to a huge library of audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, and more. Instead of buying books one by one, Scribd lets you listen to as many audiobooks as you want each month for one fixed price, usually with a 30‑day free trial to try it first.

With Scribd, you can:

• Find thousands of audiobooks in different genres — from fiction and business to self‑help and true crime.
  
• Download audiobooks for offline listening so you can listen even without internet.
  
• Sync your listening progress across devices, which makes it easy to pick up where you left off on your phone, tablet, or computer.
  

Because Scribd includes ebooks, magazines, and other reading content along with audiobooks, it’s a great choice if you want one app for all types of books and listening instead of separate services for each.

#4. Storytel

Storytel is a global audiobook app known for giving listeners access to a large and growing library of audiobooks and e‑books under one subscription. With hundreds of thousands of titles in many languages, Storytel lets users enjoy stories, self‑help books, and more all in one place. The app is built to be easy to use, so you can quickly find books you love and start listening right away.

One of the best parts about Storytel is that you can download books for offline listening, which means you can enjoy audiobooks even without internet — perfect for travel, commuting, or listening while relaxing at home. The app also offers useful features like adjustable playback speed and a sleep timer, helping you listen at your pace and stop the audio automatically when you’re done.

Storytel includes Storytel Originals — exclusive audiobooks and stories you won’t find on many other apps — and personalized recommendations based on what you’ve listened to. It also has features like synced listening (read and listen together) and search tools that help you find parts of books quickly.

#5. Audiobooks.com

Audiobooks.com is a well‑known audiobook app and subscription service that gives users access to a large library of audiobooks — over 500,000 titles including bestsellers, new releases, true crime, self‑help books, kids’ stories, and more.

With Audiobooks.com, you can stream audiobooks instantly or download them for offline listening, so you can enjoy your favorite titles while commuting, traveling, or relaxing at home. The app works across phones and tablets, and offers helpful features like adjustable playback speed, sleep timers, bookmarks, wishlists, and personalized book suggestions based on what you like to listen to.

One of the key benefits is its free content and trial offer — there are over 10,000 free audiobooks available with no membership, and new users often get a 30‑day free trial that includes 3 free audiobooks before needing to subscribe.

#6. Libro.fm

Libro.fm is a unique audiobook app that stands out from many other services because it lets you support independent bookstores every time you buy audiobooks. When you sign up, you choose a local bookstore in the USA (or other supported regions) that will receive a portion of your purchase, helping keep small bookshops alive in your community.

The app offers a large catalog of over 600,000 audiobooks, including bestsellers and popular titles across many genres. You can use credits, memberships, or buy audiobooks individually — giving you flexible ways to get what you want.

With the free Libro.fm app on Android, iPhone, iPad, or even Apple Watch, you can download audiobooks for offline listening, set a sleep timer, adjust playback speed, and easily bookmark and organize your library. These features make listening smooth and enjoyable whether you’re commuting, traveling, or relaxing at home.

#7. Hoopla

Hoopla is a free digital media app that works with your local public library card to give you access to audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV shows, and music — all in one place without any subscription fees. You simply link your library card in the app, and you can borrow and stream titles instantly or download them for offline listening so you can enjoy stories anytime, anywhere.

With Hoopla, there’s no monthly subscription — as long as your library supports the service, the content is free with your library card. The app lets you stream or download thousands of audiobooks, including popular bestsellers and classics, with no late fees and no holds required on most titles.

The audiobook player has helpful features like adjustable playback speed, sleep timer, bookmarks, and sync across devices, making it easy and convenient to listen whether you’re commuting, traveling, or relaxing at home.

#8. Chirp

Chirp is a unique audiobook app and service designed for listeners who want to buy audiobooks without paying a subscription fee. Instead of a monthly plan or credits, Chirp offers limited‑time discounted deals on individual audiobooks, often up to 90% off popular titles — and every book you buy is yours to keep forever.

You can download the free Chirp app on Android and iOS, or listen through your web browser, and then stream or download purchased audiobooks for offline listening, making it easy to enjoy books while commuting, traveling, or relaxing. The app also includes features like adjustable playback speed, sleep timer, bookmarks, and chapter navigation, helping you control your listening experience with ease.

What makes Chirp stand out is its no subscription, pay‑as‑you‑go model — you don’t pay a monthly fee or earn credits, you simply choose the audiobooks you want at great prices. Chirp also sends personalized deal alerts via email, so you can discover discounted audiobooks in your favorite genres every day.

#9. LibriVox

LibriVox is a completely free audiobook platform that offers thousands of audiobooks from books that are in the public domain — meaning the original texts are no longer under copyright and anyone can use them without paying. These audiobooks are read and recorded by volunteers from around the world, making classic literature available to everyone at no cost.

With LibriVox, you can stream or download audiobooks for offline listening on your phone, tablet, or computer using one of the many apps that connect to its library. Most titles are older classics like Pride and Prejudice, Sherlock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland, and many more in English and other languages.

Although the audiobooks aren’t produced by professional voice actors, the wide range of free, timeless stories makes LibriVox a great choice for learners, classic book lovers, and anyone who wants to listen without a subscription or purchase. You can also use features like sleep timer, bookmarks, and offline listening in compatible apps, so you can enjoy your books anytime, anywhere.

#10. Google Play Books

Google Play Books is a digital reading and listening app from Google that lets you buy and enjoy both ebooks and audiobooks in one place. In the USA, millions of stories are available — from bestsellers to classics — all ready to play as soon as you purchase them. You can download audiobooks for offline listening, adjust playback speed, set a sleep timer, and bookmark your place so you never lose track of where you left off.

Unlike subscription‑based services, Play Books allows you to buy audiobooks one by one without a monthly fee, giving you flexibility to choose only the books you want.

The app works across phones, tablets, and computers, and your library syncs everywhere so you can pick up where you left off on any device.

Final Words

Audiobook apps have made it easier than ever to enjoy books anytime, anywhere. Whether you want bestsellers, classics, or exclusive originals, there’s an app for every type of listener. From subscription services like Audible and Scribd to free options like LibriVox and Libby, you can find audiobooks that suit your style, schedule, and budget. Try a few of these apps, explore their features, and find the one that makes listening to your favorite stories simple, fun, and convenient.