Audiobookshelf is a self-hosted audiobook and podcast server.
The tool addresses the need for personal control over audiobook and podcast libraries without reliance on commercial streaming services. It operates as a centralized server that organizes, streams, and manages audio content across multiple devices. Users can upload their own audiobooks and podcasts, configure automatic episode downloads, and maintain synchronized playback progress across devices. The system auto-detects library updates without requiring manual rescans and supports on-the-fly streaming of various audio formats.
Audiobookshelf suits users who want to self-host their media infrastructure and maintain full ownership of their libraries. It works well for those with existing audiobook collections who need multi-user household support with individual progress tracking and permission controls. The tool includes companion mobile apps for iOS and Android, a progressive web app, and Chromecast support, making it practical for streaming across different platforms. The project is fully open-source, including its mobile applications, which distinguishes it from proprietary alternatives.
Development activity shows consistent engagement with user feedback and feature requests through GitHub issues. The project maintains active communication channels via Discord for community support. A significant frontend migration from Vue to React is underway, with the README noting that existing Vue frontend pull requests are not currently being reviewed or merged during this transition. The tool requires websocket connections for proper operation, which is an important consideration for reverse proxy configurations.
