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LibriVox

librivox.org

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Spec score 8.5 #3 of 32 in Audiobook Apps

What it is

LibriVox is a free audiobook library built from volunteer recordings of public-domain books. Listeners can browse by author, title, genre or subject, and language, then play or download individual audio files, download a book ZIP, subscribe to RSS or use BitTorrent. Catalog pages provide 64 kbps and 128 kbps MP3 files, and most books also have an M4B option. Its podcast presents one book at a time in three audio installments per week. Recordings are accepted in all languages; volunteers need no prior experience or audition, just a voice, a computer and free recording software. The catalog API offers audiobook, track and author endpoints for apps that refresh catalog data. It returns 50 records by default, up to 500 per request, with offset batches for larger pulls. Recordings are donated to the public domain, though status can vary by country. LibriVox began in 2005 and is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows. The catalog can include older works with language or ideas some readers find offensive or antiquated.

Spec sheet

What it does
LibriVox volunteers record public-domain books and release the audio online for free.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
API
The catalog API lets third-party apps update their catalog data automatically and supports audiobook, track and author endpoints.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Integrations
LibriVox describes third-party apps as unaffiliated and says it does not endorse them.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Support
LibriVox says its forum is the best way to get in touch, with email also available.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Founded
LibriVox was started in August 2005 by Hugh McGuire.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
API availability
LibriVox provides a released public Audiobooks API plus simpler audiotracks and authors endpoints.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
API extensibility
LibriVox invites third-party apps and services to redistribute its public-domain recordings, but development depends on limited volunteer time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
API formats
The API can return XML, JSON, JSONP, serialized data or PHP array format.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
API functions
API parameters support lookup by ID, author, title, genre, date, fields, cover art, format, sorting, limits and offsets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
API limit
Since the September 2026 update, API requests are capped at 500 records and larger catalogs require offset batching.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Audio formats
Catalog pages offer 64 kbps and 128 kbps MP3 files, and most books have an M4B option.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Catalog
Listeners can browse the catalog by author, title, genre or subject, and language.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Catalog browsing
The site supports browsing and searching by author, title, genre or subject, language and reader.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Catalog mission
Its stated goal is to make every public-domain book available as a free audiobook narrated by people.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Code availability
LibriVox's GitHub public code repository is archived, says it cannot be deployed as-is, and points to newer private or separate repositories for current infrastructure.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Content sources
Most source texts come from Project Gutenberg, while Internet Archive hosts the audio files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Documentation
Help materials include listener instructions, volunteer guidance, recording tutorials, a forum and a community wiki.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Languages
Volunteers may record in any language and the catalog supports multilingual projects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Limit: advertisements and bugs
Recent Google Play feedback complains about intrusive ads, inability to remove downloads, lost saved books and update-related bugs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Limit: app usability
Reviewers report confusing redesigns, difficulty finding previous books and lost chapter-reader information.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Limit: narrator consistency
Trustpilot and App Store reviewers repeatedly report uneven narration quality, including difficult-to-hear or grating readers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Listening options
Listeners can play or download individual audio files, download book ZIP files, subscribe to RSS, or download via BitTorrent.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Mobile features
The Android app offers sleep timers, unlimited bookmarks, favorites, recent and downloaded lists, search and browsing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Mobile integrations
The Android app supports Bluetooth controls, Android Auto and Google Cast.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Nonprofit model
LibriVox describes itself as non-commercial, nonprofit, ad-free and volunteer-powered.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Notable limitation
The catalog includes old public-domain texts that may contain antiquated or offensive language or ideas.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Offline listening
Users can download complete books or chapters and listen later without an internet connection.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Open-source status
The LibriVox wiki calls the project open source, free-content and public domain.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wiki.librivox.org
Organization
LibriVox says it has no paid staff, board, offices, lobbyists or fundraisers and operates through volunteers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Playback compatibility
Official listening guidance mentions iTunes, Winamp, Windows Media Player, portable players and audio CDs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Podcast
LibriVox publishes a podcast with one book at a time and three audio installments per week.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Podcast feed
LibriVox publishes a thrice-weekly podcast feed with three installments per week.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Praise: content breadth
Trustpilot reviewers praise LibriVox as an extensive audiobook source and a strong resource for short stories and bedtime listening.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Praise: free access
App Store reviewers repeatedly praise the large public-domain catalog, free access and useful downloads for offline listening.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Public domain
LibriVox recordings are donated to the public domain, though the site notes that public-domain status may vary by country.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Public-domain recordings
LibriVox places its recordings in the public domain, allowing reuse including commercial reuse.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Quality process
Submitted files are checked by volunteer prooflisteners for technical problems before cataloging.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Rating on Apple App Store
4.8 out of 5 from 33K ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Google Play
4.5 out of 5 from 68.1K reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Rating on Trustpilot
4.2 out of 5 from 8 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Recording format
LibriVox projects use mono MP3 files at 128 Kbps, commonly produced with Audacity.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Recording requirements
Volunteers need a computer, microphone, free recording software and their voice; auditions are not required.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Scale
LibriVox reported more than 21,000 completed projects in September 2026 and more than 400 million downloads since founding.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Security statement
The Google Play listing says the Android app shares no data with third parties, encrypts data in transit and allows deletion requests.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Volunteer eligibility
Volunteers do not need prior experience or an audition, and need a voice, a computer and free recording software.Read 11 Oct 2026 · librivox.org
Volunteer projects
Projects can be collaborative, solo, short-form, dramatic or in languages other than English.Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org

Plans and prices

Free Free Public-domain audiobooks · streaming or downloads · volunteer-created catalog Read 15 Oct 2026 · librivox.org

Every LibriVox plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan for public-domain audiobooks.
  • Download files, book ZIPs, RSS or BitTorrent.
  • MP3 files at 64 and 128 kbps; most books have M4B.
  • Catalog API supports audiobook, track and author endpoints.
  • Available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows.

Limits

  • Catalog may contain antiquated or offensive language and ideas.
  • Public-domain status may vary by country.
  • Third-party apps are unaffiliated and not endorsed.

Who it suits

LibriVox suits listeners looking for free recordings of public-domain books, including those who want offline downloads or several ways to browse and receive audio. Its volunteer recording option may also suit people willing to record books in any language.

LibriVox in depth

Read the full write-up

LibriVox is a volunteer-run source of public-domain audiobooks, aimed at listeners who want permanent access without paying for a subscription. It is the right choice for classic works, flexible file ownership and multilingual catalog browsing, provided you accept variable volunteer performances and the sensitivities of older texts.

Overview

Founded in 2005, LibriVox turns public-domain books into free audio recordings made by volunteers. The catalog can be browsed by author, title, genre, subject or language, making it useful both for looking for a particular classic and for discovering material by topic or region. Recordings are donated to the public domain, although the legal status of a work can differ by country.

This is a catalog rather than a tightly curated commercial audiobook service. The volunteer model opens access to a wide range of older books and languages, but readings will not have the uniform casting, production or editorial control associated with paid publishers. Some source texts also contain antiquated or offensive language or ideas, so LibriVox is a poor fit for listeners seeking consistently contemporary material.

Key features

Flexible playback and files

Each title can be played online or saved as individual audio files. Complete books can be downloaded as ZIP archives, followed through RSS, or obtained over BitTorrent. The catalog provides 64 kbps and 128 kbps MP3 files, while most books also offer M4B. Offline listening and DRM-free downloads suit commuters, archivists and anyone who wants files usable outside a particular app or account. In exchange, listeners must choose their preferred format and manage their own files rather than rely on one standardized playback experience.

Podcast and languages

LibriVox publishes a podcast that presents one book at a time in three audio installments per week. Volunteers may record in any language, extending the service beyond the English classics most associated with it. Coverage and reading quality therefore depend on what volunteers have produced, not on a commissioned release schedule.

Catalog API

The catalog API supports audiobook, track and author endpoints so third-party applications can refresh catalog data automatically. It returns 50 records by default and accepts up to 500 per request; larger imports can be assembled with offset batches. That makes LibriVox workable as a data source for developers building catalog tools, while its third-party apps remain unaffiliated and are not endorsed by LibriVox.

Volunteer participation

No previous recording experience or audition is required. A volunteer needs a voice, a computer and free recording software. The forum is the preferred contact route, with email also available, giving contributors a community-oriented way to ask for help.

Pricing

PlanPriceIncludesFreefreeFree audiobooks of public-domain books; recordings may be used for any purposeThere is no subscription, trial, renewal or seat charge. The single plan is a strong fit for listeners who want classic audio at no cost and for projects that need permissively usable recordings. It does not promise a modern commercial catalog or a consistent professional narration standard, so readers prioritizing current bestsellers or polished exclusives should look elsewhere.

Platforms

LibriVox supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows and the web, and provides an API for software integrations. Because downloads are DRM-free and offline listening is supported, the service remains useful when a listener moves between devices or loses connectivity.

Who it's for

Choose LibriVox for free access to public-domain literature, especially when you value downloadable files, multiple delivery methods, language variety or an API. It also suits volunteers who want to contribute without an audition or prior recording background. It is less suitable for listeners who require current commercial releases, tightly consistent narration or assurance that every old text will meet modern standards. Anyone sharing or reusing recordings should also account for differences in public-domain status by country.

Pros and cons

Pro: The 0.00 USD plan removes subscription cost and permits recordings to be used for any purpose.

Pro: MP3, M4B, ZIP, RSS and BitTorrent options, plus offline and DRM-free access, give listeners control over storage and playback.

Pro: Browsing by author, title, genre, subject and language makes a large classic catalog approachable.

Pro: The API's audiobook, track and author endpoints support automated catalog applications, with batches up to 500 records.

Con: Volunteer production means narration and audio quality can vary from title to title.

Con: Older public-domain texts may include offensive or antiquated ideas and language.

Con: Public-domain treatment can vary by country, complicating reuse across borders.

Alternatives

Audiobook Apps is a useful starting point when you want to compare audiobook software broadly rather than use a public-domain catalog.

Playary is a free, multi-media service spanning songs, podcasts, movies, audiobooks and TV shows on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows; choose it when that wider entertainment mix matters more than LibriVox's public-domain focus.

Bookmate offers a seven-day free Premium trial with books, comics, audiobooks, podcasts, uploads and offline use on Android, iOS and web; pick it for a subscription reading ecosystem.

Audible charges $8.99 a month after a 30-day trial for one audiobook monthly and selected audio; choose it for a paid commercial service.

Audiobookshelf is a free, self-hosted audiobook and podcast server for readers who want to manage their own library.

Sora is a free OverDrive student reading app for ebooks and audiobooks; choose it when school-provided access is the priority.

BookPlayer provides free core playback with an optional paid Pro subscription on Android, iOS and macOS; pick it when playback management matters more than catalog discovery.

Hoopla provides free patron access with a participating public-library card, but title availability depends on that library.

Kobo Books offers Kobo Plus Listen at $7.99 a month after a 14-day trial; choose it for a subscription audiobook catalog.

Verdict

LibriVox is the best fit for cost-conscious listeners, classic-book readers, developers and volunteers who value free, reusable audio and control over downloads. Its decisive advantage is breadth of access without payment or DRM. Look elsewhere if you need current commercial titles, dependable studio-level consistency or a uniformly modern reading experience.

Verdict

LibriVox offers free listening and downloads, with a catalog API and multiple audio formats and delivery options. Readers should be comfortable with volunteer recordings and the possibility that older source texts contain language or ideas they find objectionable.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to LibriVoxAll alternatives →