What Audiobooks is, and what it is not
Audible is a store and a subscription. You pay a monthly fee or buy titles, and you listen inside Audible's app to books that carry Audible's DRM.
Audiobooks is not a store. It is a player for audiobooks you already have as files: MP3 and M4B books you bought DRM-free, audiobooks on your own server, or an ebook you convert yourself. It cannot open Audible's DRM files, and it is honest about that up front.
How they compare
| Audible | Audiobooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Subscription and purchases | Free app, one-time per book for AI narration |
| What you play | Audible's DRM catalog | Your own MP3 and M4B files, your server, converted EPUBs |
| Account | Amazon account required | No account |
| Ads and tracking | Account-based | No ads, no tracking |
| Offline listening | Yes, in the app | Yes |
Who should switch, and who should not
Audiobooks fits you if you already own audiobook files, you self-host with Audiobookshelf or Jellyfin, you are done paying monthly, or you just want a clean player with no account and no tracking.
Stay with Audible if what you want is Audible's catalog and credits. This app has no store, so it will not sell you the next book. Bring your own, and it will play them well.