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Audiobookshelf alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Audiobookshelf: mobile apps are still labelled beta, and only for audiobooks, podcasts and basic ebooks. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Audiobookshelf, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Plex currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Plex logoPlexFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 466.5
2Jellyfin logoJellyfinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 462.6
3Kavita logoKavitaOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web4 of 459.6
4Funkwhale logoFunkwhaleOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web3 of 357.2
  1. Plex logo

    1. PlexTop pick

    Best for: Households that want the most polished apps on every device with minimal fuss

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Audiobookshelf

    Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex.

    Pros

    • Apps on nearly every TV, console and phone
    • Easy setup and friendly for non-technical users
    • Strong metadata, Plexamp music app and DVR

    Cons

    • Remote streaming of your own media now needs a paid pass
    • Accounts and sign-in depend on Plex's cloud
    • Interface pushes Plex's own ad-supported content
    Visit Plex Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Plex a good Audiobookshelf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, streaming at home
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Remote Watch Pass trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Plex Pass features
    Remote streaming, hardware transcoding, downloads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Server platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, NVIDIA Shield, NAS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.plex.tv(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Jellyfin logo

    2. Jellyfin

    Best for: People who want a full Plex-style server that is free, private and fully under their control

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Audiobookshelf

    One server for audiobooks, music and video, with less audiobook-specific tooling.

    Pros

    • Completely free, with hardware transcoding included
    • No accounts or cloud dependency
    • Live TV, DVR and SyncPlay built in

    Cons

    • Apps are less polished than Plex's
    • Remote access needs your own proxy or VPN setup
    • Some platforms rely on community clients
    Visit Jellyfin Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Jellyfin a good Audiobookshelf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Subscription
    None required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jellyfin.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosted service
    No, self-hosted only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jellyfin.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Live TV and DVR
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jellyfin.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Kavita logo

    3. Kavita

    Best for: Readers who want one self-hosted library for ebooks, comics and manga

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Audiobookshelf

    For ebooks and comics rather than audio.

    Pros

    • Readers tailored to EPUB, PDF, comics and webtoons
    • Annotations with export to Obsidian
    • OPDS and fine-grained user restrictions

    Cons

    • No official native mobile app
    • Some metadata and sync features need Kavita+
    • Relies on tidy file naming for good metadata
    Visit Kavita Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Kavita a good Audiobookshelf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats
    EPUB, PDF, comics, manga
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kavitareader.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    100% free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kavitareader.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Login options
    OIDC or built-in
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kavitareader.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Funkwhale logo

    4. Funkwhale

    Best for: Communities, artists and podcasters who want federated, ad-free audio hosting

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Audiobookshelf

    A federated option for podcasts and music.

    Pros

    • Federation lets pods share and follow content
    • Publish music and podcast channels
    • No tracking or ads

    Cons

    • More complex to run than a personal music server
    • Uneven development pace
    • Fewer polished client apps
    Visit Funkwhale Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Funkwhale a good Audiobookshelf alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Federation
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026funkwhale.audio(opens source in a new tab)
    Tracking
    No analytics, tracking or ads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026funkwhale.audio(opens source in a new tab)
    Client support
    Web, Subsonic clients, podcast apps
    Checked Oct 25, 2026funkwhale.audio(opens source in a new tab)

The best Audiobookshelf alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Plex logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for most people

Plex

Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex.

Jellyfin logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for a free option

Jellyfin

One server for audiobooks, music and video, with less audiobook-specific tooling.

Plex logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Plex

Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex.

Kavita logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for open source

Kavita

For ebooks and comics rather than audio.

Funkwhale logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for self-hosting

Funkwhale

A federated option for podcasts and music.

Plex logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for Mac

Plex

Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex.

Plex logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for Windows

Plex

Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex.

Plex logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for Linux

Plex

Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex.

Plex logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for iPhone and Android

Plex

Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex.

Plex logo

Best Audiobookshelf alternative for working in the browser

Plex

Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex.

Audiobookshelf alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Audiobookshelf?

Plex ranks first right now. Can serve audiobooks with third-party apps if you already run Plex. Jellyfin and Kavita follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Audiobookshelf?

Yes. Plex (free plan + paid), Jellyfin (open source), Kavita (open source) and Funkwhale (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Audiobookshelf?

Yes: Jellyfin, Kavita and Funkwhale. Jellyfin, Kavita and Funkwhale can also be self-hosted.

Which Audiobookshelf alternatives work on Linux?

Plex and Jellyfin run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Audiobookshelf?

The complaints we hear most: mobile apps are still labelled beta; only for audiobooks, podcasts and basic ebooks; relies heavily on one lead developer.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Audiobookshelf, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.