Your books. Your files. Your place.

A quiet home for the audiobooks you own.

Bookshelf is an offline audiobook player for iPhone, designed around your MP3, M4A, and M4B files—not a store, a subscription, or somebody else’s library.

See the easiest way to import
  • Works offline
  • Plays in the background
  • 50 hours included, then unlock once
Bookshelf library displaying audiobook covers and listening progress

Works from any computer

Open a browser.
Drop in a book.

Open Bookshelf’s private receiver, then visit its local address from a browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, or Chromebook. Drop in your audiobook and it travels straight to your iPhone over your local network.

  1. 1
    Open the receiverIn Bookshelf, choose Add, then Receive from Computer.
  2. 2
    Visit the local pageEnter the address and pairing code in any modern browser.
  3. 3
    Drop in your bookUpload MP3, M4A, M4B, multi-part folders, or ZIP archives.

Fastest on a Mac: skip the browser and drag books from Finder straight onto Bookshelf through iPhone Mirroring. It requires supported Apple hardware and software and is not available in every region. Check Apple’s requirements

Bookshelf’s private receiver showing a local browser address and pairing code
From any browser
Bookshelf receiving an audiobook dropped through iPhone Mirroring
Fastest on a Mac

Also available on iPhone: Files, AirDrop, the share sheet, and ZIP import are always there when they fit better.

Made for long listens

Everything your own library needs.

Bookshelf keeps the practical controls close and the interface calm—so getting back into a story never feels like work.

A library that feels like one

See your books on the shelf.

Browse cover art on warm wooden shelves, switch to a compact list, and search a growing collection quickly.

Audiobook covers and listening progress in Bookshelf’s library
Your place, protected

Resume without hunting.

Playback position, speed, chapter, and sleep timer stay ready for the next listening session.

Bookshelf now-playing screen with chapter, timeline, and custom playback controls
Listen your way

Make every control yours.

Choose playback speed, skip intervals, and whether seeking follows the current chapter or the whole book.

Bookshelf playback settings for speed, skip intervals, and chapter-aware seeking

Bring books you have the right to enjoy

Looking for your next listen?

Start with public-domain recordings or stores that provide downloadable, DRM-free files. Availability and copyright status can vary by country.

Volunteer-read · Free

LibriVox

Public-domain audiobooks read by volunteers around the world, with downloadable MP3 files.

Browse LibriVox Public domain · Free

Project Gutenberg

Explore its collection of human-read audio books and classic literature available in audio formats.

Explore audio books Independent stores · Paid

Libro.fm

Purchase audiobooks while supporting an independent bookshop, then download DRM-free MP3 or M4B files.

Visit Libro.fm

Only import recordings you are legally permitted to use. Public-domain status depends on where you live.

Bookshelf app icon

A human place for help

Questions, ideas, or a stubborn file?

Join fellow listeners and talk directly with the Bookshelf community on Reddit. For a private question, send the moderators a message.

Visit r/BookshelfAudiobooks Send a private message