About Listenary-Enjoy AudioBooks
I got Listenary a few months back after the app I was using started crashing every time I tried to skip back 30 seconds. It was driving me nuts on my morning drive. I saw Listenary had a high rating and was free, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I’ve been using it on my iPhone 15 Pro ever since, mostly during my commute and when I’m doing chores around the house. I just wanted something that worked without me having to think about it, and for the most part, that’s exactly what this is.
Features & Highlights
The best thing is the library. I thought a free app would just have old classics, but I’ve found some really cool modern stuff from authors I’d never heard of. The search actually finds what I’m looking for, which shouldn’t be a big deal but sometimes is. My favorite feature by far is the speed control. I listen to a lot of non-fiction, and bumping it up to 1.7x lets me get through books way faster without the narrator sounding weird. The sleep timer is perfect. I set it for 20 minutes every night, and it just stops. No more waking up at 3 AM to a whispered mystery novel. It also remembers my spot automatically, which saved me last Tuesday when my phone died in the middle of a chapter.
User Experience
It just feels simple. I open the app and my current book is right there, big and easy to tap. No confusing menus or a million buttons. Everything is where you’d expect it to be. I was listening on my phone at the gym, and when I got home and opened it on my iPad, it was already on the same page. I didn’t have to do anything. That’s the kind of smart stuff I appreciate. The only time I’ve ever been annoyed was trying to download a really long book for a flight. It took a little while, but once it was on my phone, it played perfectly even when I had no service.
Pricing
It’s free. Completely free. You get all the books and all the features. The catch is ads, obviously. There’s a small banner at the bottom of the screen most of the time, and every few chapters you might get a short video ad. They’re not crazy loud or anything, and you can just close them. For an app that doesn’t cost me a dime and gives me this much, I really don’t mind the ads. I haven’t seen any option to pay to remove them, so what you get is what you get.
Updates & Support
I check the update notes sometimes when my phone does its thing. The developers, fancyLab, seem to update it pretty regularly, like every month or so. It’s usually small stuff like fixing a bug or making something look a bit nicer. I’ve never had a problem bad enough that I needed to contact support myself. The app has a contact form in the settings. I looked at other reviews in the App Store, and a few people mentioned getting help with book requests, so they seem to answer.
Security & Privacy
I got it from the normal App Store. The privacy stuff is pretty standard. It says it collects listening data to recommend other books and to show you ads that might be relevant. You can turn off personalized ads in your iPhone settings if you want. It didn’t ask for any weird permissions, just the storage to save books offline. It feels as safe as any other app I use daily.
Can I adjust the playback speed in Listenary?
Yes, Listenary includes a speed control feature that lets you speed up or slow down narration. Many users find it helpful for non-fiction, allowing them to listen at 1.7x or faster without the narrator sounding distorted.
Does Listenary have a sleep timer?
Absolutely, the app has a built-in sleep timer that you can set for any duration, like 20 minutes. It automatically stops playback at the end of the timer, so you won't wake up to a book playing in the middle of the night.
Why is my Listenary app taking a long time to download a book?
Download times can vary depending on the length of the book and your internet connection. If you're downloading a very long book, it may take a little while, but once it's saved to your device, it will play perfectly even without an internet connection.
What should I do if Listenary crashes or stops working during playback?
First, make sure your app is updated to the latest version from the App Store. If the issue persists, try restarting your device or reinstalling the app, as most crashes are resolved by a fresh install.
How does Listenary compare to other free audiobook apps like Libby?
Listenary offers a larger selection of modern titles and doesn't require a library card, unlike Libby. It also has handy features like auto-sync across devices and a sleep timer, though it includes ads since it's completely free.
