Audiobookshelf vs LibriVox

Audiobookshelf is a free, open-source media server for audiobooks and podcasts that users host themselves. It supports multiple users with custom permissions and keeps each user’s playback progress synced across devices. Its beta Android and iOS apps support offline listening, alongside web access and Linux and Windows platform support. Users can find and apply metadata and cover art from several providers. Audiobook tools include chapter lookup and editing, metadata embedding, and merging audio files into one M4B. Podcast features include finding shows, downloading episodes automatically, and open RSS feeds for podcasts and audiobooks. Basic ebook support covers EPUB, PDF, CBR, and CBZ, with an ereader and an option to send books to a device such as Kindle. Scheduled backups include the database and metadata-directory cover images, but exclude media files and covers stored with library items. Docker is the recommended installation method. Audiobookshelf does not provide built-in remote access: users must configure a VPN or reverse proxy, and the server uses unencrypted HTTP.

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.