Audio & video
Why I built three self-hosted libraries instead of one
Navidrome for my music, Audiobookshelf for listening and Calibre-Web Automated for ebooks. The setup, the messy metadata and the mistakes that shaped it.
The full storyAudiobookshelf: a self-hosted audiobook and podcast server
Audiobookshelf organises audiobook and podcast libraries on a self-hosted server, with listening progress and supported mobile clients.
ACCESS AND VALUE
Free open-source software under the GPL-3.0 licence
How I use Audiobookshelf
I run Audiobookshelf in my self-hosted media stack for organising and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.
What makes it different?
It keeps audiobook and podcast libraries, listening progress and supported clients around a server you operate.
Competitors
- Plex: A broader hosted and self-hosted media library
- Booksonic-Air: A self-hosted audiobook server
Product source checked 2026-09-22.
Who it is for
A personally operated audiobook and podcast library.
Who can claim it?
The server source and installation routes are publicly available. A server, storage and legally obtained media are required.
What the free software includes, and what costs extra
The operator is responsible for the server, storage, backups and access controls. The software does not include audiobook or podcast content.
Billing and renewal
There is no recurring software charge; server and storage costs remain separate.
- Tax basis
- Not applicable to the free software or plan
- Card required
- Provider’s signup terms
- Expiry
- No fixed availability end date is listed.
- Public research date
- 22 Sept 2026
- Source checked
- 22 Sept 2026