Overview

Bookmate combines a subscription catalog with a free collection of 50,000 books and tools for bringing in a personal library. Its breadth across books, audiobooks and languages makes it a strong option for readers who want variety in one place. The service is less suitable for households hoping to share an account: terms restrict each account to one person and no more than three devices.

Key features

Catalog and personal library

The catalog spans 1,800,000 books and 100,000 audiobooks in 16 languages. That range serves readers who move between formats or read in multiple languages, though the free collection is only part of the overall catalog. Users can upload FB2 and EPUB books for reading on a smartphone, tablet or desktop, a useful way to keep personal titles alongside the subscription library.

Reading, listening and social features

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, allowing listeners to resume where they stopped. Following friends’ reading, sharing books and quotes, and creating or subscribing to themed bookshelves add a discovery and community layer. These features make Bookmate more than a private reading shelf, although copyright terms prohibit downloading and distributing books outside the service.

Pricing

Bookmate uses a freemium subscription model. Its Premium option has a 7-day free period and includes books, comic books, audiobooks, podcasts, personal uploads, and offline reading and listening; it can be canceled anytime. The subscription page describes monthly and annual options, but pricing for those paid terms is custom pricing.

The free plan provides access to a 50,000-book collection, making it a reasonable way to explore the service without committing. The 7-day trial is brief for assessing a larger catalog, and readers should weigh the one-person account rule and three-device cap before subscribing. Family sharing is indicated, but the terms still limit an account to one person, so it should not be treated as permission to share one login across a household.

Platforms

Bookmate is available on Android, iOS and the web. Personal uploads work across smartphones, tablets and desktops, and audiobook offline playback is useful when listening without a connection. The terms also state that Bookmate does not warrant the security of its website or services, a consideration for organizations assessing account and content risks.

Who it's for

Bookmate is a good fit for individual readers who want e-books and audiobooks together, value multilingual choice, or want to add their own EPUB and FB2 files. Social shelves and reading activity suit users who discover books through friends. It is a weaker fit for teams or families needing shared accounts, and for buyers who need a clear subscription price before starting a trial.

Pros and cons

Pros: A broad catalog across 16 languages supports readers who switch between books and audiobooks.
Pros: Personal EPUB and FB2 uploads combine owned files with the service catalog.
Pros: Offline audiobook listening and cross-device sync support listening away from a connection.
Cons: Paid monthly and annual prices are custom pricing, making cost comparisons difficult.
Cons: One-person accounts and a three-device limit rule out straightforward household sharing.
Cons: Copyright terms bar distributing books outside Bookmate, and the service disclaims a security warranty for its website and services.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, browse Audiobook Apps. Choose Hoopla if free access through a participating public library works for you; it requires a valid library card and email, and available titles vary by library. Playary is a free option across more platforms, with music, podcasts, movies, audiobooks and TV shows in its plans.

Libby is a free app for readers who can borrow through a library card and whose library has the titles they want. Pick Libro.fm instead if a monthly audiobook-credit membership with discounts and member sales better matches your listening needs. AudiobooksNow offers a $4.99 per month club after a 30-day free trial, with discounts on eligible audiobook purchases.

BorrowBox is another free audiobook option. Kobo Books is worth considering for Kobo Plus Listen at $7.99 per month after a 14-day trial, plus applicable taxes; not every Kobo audiobook is included. Audible suits listeners who prefer a paid monthly audiobook plan, with Standard at $8.99 per month after 30 days.

Verdict

Choose Bookmate if you are an individual reader who wants a broad multilingual mix of e-books and audiobooks, personal uploads and offline listening in one service. The catalog breadth and format flexibility are its strongest reasons to subscribe. Look elsewhere if shared household access or predictable subscription pricing is essential.

	Bookmate	Chirp
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, Web	Web, iOS, Android
Free plan	Yes	No
Offline listening	Yes	Yes
Access model	subscription	pay per book
Mobile platforms	ios and android	ios and android
Family sharing	Yes	—

Bookmate vs Chirp

Bookmate

Chirp