Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Apple Books vs Audible

Apple Books 4.4★ · Free to download 60
Winner Audible
Audible 4.9★ · Free + IAP 90

Audible is the clear winner for dedicated audiobook listeners due to its vast library and superior narration, while Apple Books is a decent option for casual readers who prefer a mix of ebooks and audiobooks within the Apple ecosystem.

Full reviews: Apple Books · Audible

Audible excels as a dedicated audiobook platform with a wide selection and high-quality narration, making it a favorite for many users. Apple Books, while integrated into the Apple ecosystem, struggles with bugs, clunky interfaces, and higher book costs, though it offers some free content.

Head to head

Features and Content Library edge: AudibleR5R7R15R16
Apple Books Apple Books offers a mix of ebooks and audiobooks, with users appreciating the availability of free books and samples R5R20. However, some users find the selection limited and the search interface weak for discovering new titles R7R16. There are also complaints about missing features like bookmarking and notes for audiobooks, and editable records for sorting ebooks R15R22.
Audible Audible boasts an extensive library of audiobooks, with users consistently praising the captivating stories and high-quality narration . Many find it an essential app for listening while multitasking R83R103. While some specific titles or AI-generated voices are disliked , the overall content quality and breadth are highly regarded.
Ease of Use and Interface edge: AudibleR5R6R9R11
Apple Books Apple Books is described as generally easy to use for reading and finding free books, with accessibility features like viewing presets and light/dark mode R5R11. However, recent updates have made the interface clunky, less intuitive, and difficult to navigate for some, with issues like misplaced bookmarks and distracting screen icons R6R9. Users also report difficulty finding purchased books after a reset .
Audible Audible is largely considered easy to use and intuitive . Users appreciate the ability to listen while doing other activities R83R103. Some minor issues include a timer feature not working correctly after an update and titles disappearing from the app, requiring re-downloading R63.
Reliability and Performance edge: AudibleR1R4R13R30
Apple Books Apple Books suffers from significant reliability issues, including frequent app crashes, sudden closures, and lost functionality R1. Users report syncing problems, pages sticking, and incorrect page numbers R4R30. The app is also criticized for poor optimization, leading to battery drain and device overheating, especially during audiobook playback R13. Audiobooks themselves are reported to have issues, with some not playing downloaded content and displaying only track numbers .
Audible Audible generally performs well, but some users have experienced recent bugs, such as the app randomly exiting after a few minutes of listening . There are also reports of customer support being inaccessible directly through the app, requiring users to go to the internet version R63.
Price and Value edge: AudibleR2R3R5R12
Apple Books Apple Books is free to download and offers some free books and samples R5. However, many users complain that the cost of books, especially new releases, is too high R2R3R12. Some compare it unfavorably to free alternatives like Libby or find books more expensive than on other apps R3.
Audible Audible is free to download but operates on a subscription model with in-app purchases. Users acknowledge that it can be expensive, but many feel it's worth the cost for the convenience of having someone read to them, especially while multitasking R103. The value is perceived as high for those who listen frequently R63R83R103.
Pick Apple Books if

You are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem and primarily read ebooks, especially if you can import your own epub files . You appreciate having some free books available and don't mind the occasional bug or higher book prices R5.

Pick Audible if

You are an avid audiobook listener who values a vast selection of titles, high-quality narration, and the convenience of listening while multitasking R83R103. You are willing to pay for a subscription or individual audiobooks for a premium listening experience R103.

Evidence note: Audible has a significantly larger number of reviews and a much higher lifetime rating, indicating a broader and more satisfied user base. Apple Books' reviews are more mixed, with a notable portion highlighting frustrations with bugs and cost.

Frequently asked

Is Apple Books truly free?
Apple Books is free to download and offers some free books and samples, but many books, especially new releases, still require payment, with users often finding them expensive R2R3R5R12.
Does Apple Books support audiobooks?
Yes, Apple Books supports audiobooks, and users appreciate the ability to listen to them R20R33. However, some users report issues with audiobook playback, such as downloaded audiobooks not playing correctly or lacking chapter breaks and bookmarking features R15R22.
Are there many technical issues with Apple Books?
Yes, many users report significant technical issues with Apple Books, including frequent app crashes, sudden closures, syncing problems, pages sticking, and poor optimization leading to battery drain and device overheating R1R4R13R30.
Is Audible worth the cost?
Many Audible users find the service, though acknowledged as expensive, to be worth the cost due to the convenience of listening to a vast library of high-quality audiobooks while driving, working, or cleaning R63R83R103.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Apple Books 5/5 · US Books: There are lots of really good free books and it is rather easy to find them and it shows me how long I’ve read for and it has a lot of books I have been looking for but couldn’t find.
  2. [R7] Apple Books 1/5 · US A BAD BOOK APP!!: So I was scrolling through the app, and I only had three recommendations and had mass of little options to read. This was very disappointing and I couldn’t enjoy a good book.. this had me completely petrified to write this review. i’m sorry if this affected your so-called business. This was absolutely tremendous and I will not stand for this absolutely ridiculous app a part of th
  3. [R15] Apple Books 3/5 · US Add a bookmark and notes feature to audiobooks: I really love Apple Books. I use this more often than other eReaders. How is it that despite how popular and important Apple Books is to readers everywhere, there is no way to add bookmarks or notes to an audiobook? Right now, I have to try to memorize chapters that have the information I need. I am constantly disappointed as this seems like a low
  4. [R16] Apple Books 2/5 · US Great for reading books, lousy for finding new ones: Generally, I love being able to carry my library wherever I go or picking up wherever I left off even when on a different device (iPad, Macbook, iPhone) and read it at a font size and style that is comfortable. I really dislike searching for new books though, the search interface is generally weak and poorly designed for advanced searches.
  5. [R6] Apple Books 3/5 · US Clunky after so many years: Good enough. A bit clunky with all the needless animations. Old version was more intuitive.
  6. [R9] Apple Books 3/5 · US Book mark.: Stop messing with things that work. Put the bookmark in the top right corner like before. Don’t make things more difficult for us. It should be a 1 tap thing.
  7. [R11] Apple Books 5/5 · US Apple Books: A good app that could teach kids to read and also if kids don’t want to get up and get a book, they could just go on the app
  8. [R1] Apple Books 1/5 · US Apple books: It has bugs and close app suddenly & lost its function
  9. [R4] Apple Books 1/5 · US Syncing Problem: Why won’t it stop syncing to my backup ? I physically click it off and it says “no data” I then backup my phone, check and it’s still there ???
  10. [R13] Apple Books 1/5 · US Heats up and drains battery: Just listening to an audio book with the screen off, my brand new iPhone gets warm and drained 10% battery in just 20 minutes. Apple! Come on! It’s YOUR app! Why is it so poorly optimized?!
  11. [R30] Apple Books 1/5 · US No kindle: I have a bible that is better then this and kindle. When I highlight, the words should change color not the passage. And where is the red highlight. All the colors choosen are muttered, and all are almost the same same color. Pages stick. I look up the page isn’t turning but the page number at the bottom is. Close the app reopen and I’m 300 pages in a different direction. If you are g
  12. [R2] Apple Books 5/5 · US Pls be free: Bro I’m trying to read my summer book homework 😭😭😭 but I need to pay more just to read than this iPhone
  13. [R3] Apple Books 3/5 · US I just think the books should cost less: I still think Libby is better because all the books are free
  14. [R12] Apple Books 3/5 · US It’s pretty good: I like the books, love the app, but the cost of the books aren’t very cheap. I kind of wish the costs of the books were lower.
  15. [R20] Apple Books 5/5 · US Amazing app: I love that you can listen to audiobooks and sample books
  16. [R22] Apple Books 2/5 · US Missing a lot of important features: First is the reality that the records for books are not editable resulting in it being extremely difficult to coherently sort books by author. While audiobooks created by Amazon’s Audible brand are listenable in Apple Books, chapter breaks are not accessible in the Books App. There’s more, but you get the gist.
  17. [R33] Apple Books 5/5 · US Help: This app is so good for me if I don’t have a book I can come here and get a book or a audiobook. Thank you so Apple Books for getting me to read again.
  18. [R63] Audible 3/5 · US Audible: It’s ok if you listen a lot but the titles disappear on the app and you have to goto the internet version and log in to find an audio book that you purchased and didn’t delete from the app. Customer support on the app doesn’t exist. If you click on it the entire app gets rebooted. You actually have to goto the internet version click on an d book you want to listen too and redownload it. I
  19. [R83] Audible 5/5 · US Very good: I don’t now what I’d do without my audible app. I use it when I’m walking, when I’m working, when I’m lying in bed at night.
  20. [R103] Audible 5/5 · US It’s cool: A lil expensive but it’s worth it to have someone read to me when I’m driving or cleaning or whatever… reminds me of books on tapes.

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store