Free public-domain audiobooks
and Audiobookshelf on Your Wrist.
Introducing Auribook, the standalone Apple Watch app with a built-in catalog of free public-domain audiobooks. Including support for Audiobookshelf server to connect your server to bring your personal library along.
Available on the App StoreListen Anywhere, Untethered.
No iPhone needed. Download your books and listen on a run with just your Apple Watch and AirPods.
Discover Free Public Domain Audiobooks
Browse thousands of public-domain recordings, curated into categories and ready to download directly on your Apple Watch.
Find the genres and themes you love faster with in-app collections; fresh classics and standout narrations are added regularly from trusted public-domain sources.
Core Features
Built for the Audiobookshelf experience you love & offering much more!
Audiobooks
Jump into immersive stories synced from Audiobookshelf with chapters and rich metadata on your wrist.
Podcasts
Queue the latest episodes, control playback from complications, and keep everything in sync even without your iPhone nearby.
Remote Progress Sync
Your listening progress now syncs automatically across your devices. No more scrubbing to find your spot when you switch from your phone to your tablet!
Offline Playback
Download your favorite audiobooks directly to your watch for offline listening on a run or commute.
Privacy First
No analytics, no tracking, no callbacks. Auribook never phones home, your listening habits stay private, just as they should.
Direct Server Connection
Securely connect to your Audiobookshelf server URL. Your library, your data, always.
Sleep Timer
You can now set a timer to automatically pause your audiobook! Perfect for listening in bed without losing your spot.
For the Community, by the Community
Auribook is my contribution back to the incredible open-source Audiobookshelf project. It was built out of a love for the platform and a desire to listen on the go, without a phone.
A Note on Cost
The small, one-time cost for the app is only to help cover the annual Apple Developer Program fees required to publish and maintain an app on the App Store. This project is a labor of love, not a for-profit venture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Auribook include free audiobooks?
Yes. Auribook now ships with a built-in catalog of public-domain audiobooks that are free to browse and download directly to your Apple Watch.
Titles are categorized inside the watch app so you can jump into genres or themes quickly, then listen offline without bringing your iPhone.
Why are downloads on my Apple Watch so slow, and how can I speed them up?
Downloads can sometimes be slow because your Apple Watch prioritizes a low-power Bluetooth connection to your iPhone to save battery. While this is great for notifications, it's not ideal for large audiobook files.
To dramatically increase download speed, you can temporarily force your watch to use its own much faster Wi-Fi or Cellular connection. Here’s how:
How to Force a Faster Connection
The goal is to temporarily sever the Bluetooth link between your watch and your iPhone. You must do this from the main Settings app on your iPhone.
Instructions for iPhone (Recommended Method):
- On your iPhone, open the Settings app (the grey gear icon).
- Tap on Bluetooth.
- Tap the green toggle switch at the top to turn Bluetooth off.
Alternative Method (Directly on Apple Watch):
- Make sure your watch is connected to a known Wi-Fi network or has an active cellular plan.
- On your watch, open settings.
- Find and open Bluetooth to turn it off.
Don't Forget to Reconnect!
Once your download is complete, follow the same steps to turn Bluetooth back on. This will restore the normal, battery-efficient connection to your iPhone for calls, notifications, and other features.
Found a bug? Help me squash it.
I test carefully, but issues can slip through. If you run into a crash, glitch, or anything that feels off, I want to hear about it so I can fix it quickly.
Please email me at auribookapp@gmail.com with a short description, steps to reproduce, your device model, and iOS/watchOS version. Screenshots are super helpful, too. Thanks for helping make AuriBook better.
Ready to Listen?
Download Auribook from the App Store today and rediscover your audiobook library.
