Overview

Bookmate combines books and audiobooks in one service, with a free collection of 50,000 books and a much larger catalog spanning 1,800,000 books, 100,000 audiobooks, and 16 languages. That range makes it a sensible option for readers who move between formats or languages. Subscriptions also include comic books and podcasts, but access is for one person on up to three devices, so it is not a household account.

Key features

Catalog and personal library

The catalog’s scale and language range give readers room to explore beyond a narrow genre or format. Users can also upload FB2 and EPUB files for use on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop, which is valuable if they want their own books alongside the service’s catalog. Copyrighted books cannot be downloaded and distributed outside Bookmate, so uploads and reading do not make the service a way to share protected titles.

Reading, listening, and social tools

Brightness, font, and background-color controls let readers adjust the display to their preferences. Audiobooks can be saved for offline listening and synchronized across devices, helping listeners continue where they stopped. Bookmate also lets users follow friends’ reading, share books and quotes, and create or subscribe to themed bookshelves. Those features add a community dimension, though they matter less to readers who simply want a private library.

Pricing

Bookmate uses a freemium model, with a free plan and a seven-day trial. The free collection includes 50,000 books, giving readers a sizable selection without a subscription, but it is smaller than the full catalog. The Premium trial is 0.00 USD per free for 7 days and includes books, comic books, audiobooks, podcasts, personal-book uploads, and offline reading and listening; it can be canceled anytime.

Bookmate offers monthly and annual subscription options, but the plan page gives no price, so the subscription is effectively custom pricing until a reader checks the offer. The service makes sense for someone willing to assess a trial before choosing a term, but price-conscious readers may prefer a service with a published monthly cost. One account is limited to one person and no more than three devices, despite the family-sharing label; it should not be treated as a multi-person household plan.

Platforms

Bookmate supports Android, iOS, and web access. Personal uploads can be used on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop, while audiobook listening can continue across synchronized devices. This covers the common mobile and browser choices, though the three-device cap may constrain readers who switch often between devices.

Who it's for

Bookmate is a strong fit for readers who want books and audiobooks together, value a large multilingual catalog, or need to add their own EPUB and FB2 files. The social shelves and friend activity suit readers who enjoy sharing what they read. It is a weaker fit for households seeking separate users on one account, anyone who needs transparent subscription pricing up front, or readers who want to distribute protected books beyond the service.

Pros and cons

Pros: A catalog of 1,800,000 books and 100,000 audiobooks across 16 languages gives format-switching and multilingual readers substantial breadth.
Pros: Uploads of personal FB2 and EPUB books complement the catalog and work across phones, tablets, and desktops.
Pros: Offline audiobook playback and synchronization support listening away from a connection and resuming on another device.
Cons: The one-person, three-device account limit rules out straightforward family use.
Cons: Monthly and annual subscription prices are not shown on the subscription page, making costs harder to compare before signing up.
Cons: Copyrighted books cannot be downloaded and distributed outside Bookmate, limiting portability of protected titles.

Alternatives

For an audiobook-focused shortlist, browse Audiobook Apps. Choose Playary instead if a free service spanning songs, podcasts, movies, audiobooks, and TV shows better matches your mix of media. Sora is the alternative to consider for free student ebooks and audiobooks. Choose Audiobookshelf if you want a free self-hosted audiobook and podcast server rather than a subscription catalog. AudiobooksNow is worth considering for a published $4.99 USD per month club plan, with a 30-day free trial and discounts on eligible audiobooks. Choose Hoopla if you have a card from a participating public library and want patron access, with titles varying by library. Kobo Books offers Kobo Plus Listen at $7.99 USD per month after a 14-day free trial, a clearer audio subscription price than Bookmate. Audible suits readers who prefer one audiobook per month from its entire collection for $8.99 USD per month after a 30-day period. Libby is a free alternative when borrowing with a library card and relying on that library’s collection works for you.

Verdict

Bookmate is a good choice for an individual reader who wants a broad mix of ebooks and audiobooks, a personal-upload option, and social reading in one service. Its main advantage is the combination of catalog breadth, flexible reading controls, and offline synchronized listening; look elsewhere if you need a household account or want to compare subscription prices before starting a trial.

	Bookmate	Kobo Books
Free plan	Yes
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Paid from	Free	$7.99/mo
Platforms	Android, iOS, Web	Android, iOS, Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Offline listening	Yes	Yes
Access model	subscription	mixed
Mobile platforms	ios and android	ios and android
Family sharing	Yes	No
Included catalog		150,000 titles

Bookmate vs Kobo Books

Bookmate

Kobo Books