ShelfPlayer App Reviews

This is a great app. I like the UI even more than the official ABS client in TestFlight. The only reason I still use the TestFlight and not this app is because I have my podcasts, audiobooks, and ebooks on AudioBookShelf, and the official client allows me to use all 3. If ebook support was brought to this app, I would almost definitely use it more.

I’ve been using ABS for several years and have hopped between the various iOS apps (5 thus far). ShelfPlayer is the one I keep coming back to and in late 2025, this is the one you want.

I use Audiobookshelf mostly for podcasts. I’ve tried all of the Audiobookshelf apps (to date there are 5 including this one) and I stuck with the beta official app because it was the least worse. Well shelfplayer actually feels like something in the same league as overcast, pocket cast, etc. I’m very impressed and happy. The only feature i need is the ability to add a new podcast without having to open up the mobile browser, but I suspect that’s a limitation of the API.

This is the only app for ABS that strikes the perfect balance between design and functionality.

I’m really happy overall with ShelfPlayer as it manages my audiobooks via audiobookshelf running on my Linux server. The problem is, it occasionally starts the book from the beginning. This isn’t a huge deal for shorter books, but I’m listening to 1000+ page books over the course of weeks/months and it takes a long long time of skipping around in the audio book to find my place. Infuriating.

I love the app. This is not a criticism but a bug. I think we need an option to load fully downloaded books without the need for the book trying to “handshake” the server I assume for keeping your place across different devices. Some times they fail to load until you turn off Wi-Fi. I’ve already got cellular data turned off to try and prevent this but the Wi-Fi will still cause it. We just need an option to say “I’m already downloaded I only use this device - I don’t need to talk to the server”

Downloaded this since i can’t find another audiobookshelf app with widgets. Unfortunately widgets are broken here and don’t update with last played book as advertised.