Customer Reviews (111)

Angel McMillan15 • 2025-02-25T04:18:01-07:00

I wish there was a way to view the books on the app prior to purchasing it. I pay 2.99 for the app to find out that the books of the author that I wanna read are listed I wasted my money.

GrownShees • 2025-02-02T14:58:34-07:00

I just paid for the PRO version and am shocked that none of my books begin at the very beginning. I have to manually go back. This will become very tedious and annoying. Please FIX. Thanks!

Bexter1234 • 2024-12-14T19:06:37-07:00

I just wish it were easier to back up.

Summary of Key Insights

The LibriVox Audio Books Pro app is generally well-received, providing access to a vast library of free audiobooks. Users appreciate the concept, the wide selection of classic literature, and the ad-free experience. However, the app suffers from recurring technical issues, particularly related to playback, offline access, and user interface glitches. Recent updates seem to have introduced several bugs that negatively impact the user experience. There are also requests for improved navigation, synchronization across devices, and more consistent reader quality. The sentiment is generally positive, but the technical problems are a significant source of frustration.

  • Strengths: Vast catalog of free audiobooks, ad-free experience (Pro version), ease of finding classic literature.
  • Weaknesses: Recurring technical issues (playback, offline access, crashes), UI glitches, inconsistent reader quality, lack of synchronization across devices.
  • Overall Sentiment: Moderately positive, but trending downwards due to recent bugs.
  • Overall Rating: Approximately 4.1 out of 5 (based on the score distribution).
  • Score Distribution: 5-star: 50.45%, 4-star: 13.51%, 3-star: 9.01%, 2-star: 9.01%, 1-star: 18.02%.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 111 reviews
  • Time Frame: The reviews span a considerable period, with some dating back several years (e.g., mentions of iOS 9 updates) and others mentioning October 2024 issues. This suggests the reviews are not limited to a specific, recent timeframe.
  • Analysis Methods: The analysis involved a manual review of each comment, identifying recurring themes, sentiment (positive, negative, neutral), and feature requests. Keyword extraction was used to identify frequently mentioned issues (e.g., "crashing," "offline," "navigation").

Key User Pain Points

  • Playback Issues: Frequent crashes, sudden stopping, cutting off mid-sentence, and failing to resume from the last position are major problems.
  • Offline Access Problems: Users report that downloaded books are sometimes not accessible offline, defeating the purpose of downloading.
  • User Interface Glitches: Issues include book titles being pushed off-screen, missing navigation bars/scroll features, smaller button sizes, and incorrect icons.
  • Synchronization Problems: The app doesn't reliably sync progress across multiple iOS devices.
  • Reader Quality: Inconsistent quality of volunteer readers is a known issue, although many users are understanding given the nature of the project.
  • Search Functionality: Search functionality is reported as not working.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved Navigation: Users want the return of the rapid access scroll feature and quick chapter forward/reverse controls.
  • Better Synchronization: Syncing listening progress across multiple devices is a highly desired feature.
  • CarPlay Integration: Users want to be able to use the app through CarPlay.
  • Reader Quality Ratings: A separate rating system for readers would help users find enjoyable narrations.
  • Backup Functionality: Easier backup options are desired.
  • Ability to sort by BOOKS ONLY

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Vast Selection of Free Audiobooks: The primary draw is the huge library of classic literature available for free.
  • Ad-Free Experience (Pro Version): Users appreciate the ad-free listening experience provided by the paid version.
  • Convenience: The app provides a convenient way to access LibriVox content compared to manually downloading files.
  • Playback Speed Control: The ability to adjust playback speed is a popular feature.
  • Offline Listening: The ability to download books for offline listening is valued when it works.
  • Dedicated Volunteers: Many users express gratitude to the LibriVox volunteers who record the audiobooks.
  • Responsive Developer: Some users have had positive experiences with the developer responding to and fixing issues.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:
    • Fix Playback Issues: Address the crashing, stopping, and resuming problems immediately. This is the most frequently reported and disruptive issue.
    • Resolve Offline Access Problems: Ensure that downloaded books are consistently available for offline listening.
    • Address UI Glitches: Fix the screen display issues (titles being pushed off-screen, missing navigation bars, small buttons).
  • Medium Priority:
    • Implement Synchronization: Add reliable synchronization of listening progress across devices.
    • Restore Navigation Features: Bring back the rapid access scroll feature and chapter forward/reverse controls.
    • Improve Search Functionality: Fix the reported issues with search.
  • Low Priority:
    • Explore CarPlay Integration: Investigate the feasibility of adding CarPlay support.
    • Implement Reader Quality Ratings: Consider adding a separate rating system for readers.
    • Improve Backup Functionality: Make it easier for users to back up their data.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Reader Quality Enhancement: Develop an AI tool to improve the audio quality and consistency of volunteer recordings.
  • LibriVox Subscription Service with Enhanced Features: Offer a premium subscription with features like curated playlists, personalized recommendations, and higher-quality recordings (if technically feasible with LibriVox's volunteer model).
  • Community-Driven Reader Feedback Platform: Create a platform where users can provide more detailed feedback on reader performances, helping LibriVox identify and promote high-quality readers.
  • Accessibility Focused LibriVox App: Create a version of the app focused on accessibility for users with disabilities.

Trends and Observations

  • Negative Impact of Recent Updates: Many negative reviews mention that recent updates have introduced bugs and reduced functionality.
  • iOS Version Compatibility Issues: Some issues appear to be related to specific iOS versions, suggesting a need for more thorough testing on different devices and OS versions.
  • Varied User Technical Skills: The reviews suggest a range of technical skills among users. Some users can troubleshoot issues themselves, while others struggle with basic navigation.
  • Value of Classic Literature: There is a clear appreciation for the app's focus on classic literature.
  • Appreciation for Volunteer Effort: Even when criticizing the app, many users acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the LibriVox volunteers.

Conclusion

The LibriVox Audio Books Pro app offers significant value by providing free access to a vast library of classic audiobooks. However, recurring technical issues and recent updates have negatively impacted the user experience. Addressing the prioritized action recommendations, particularly fixing playback and offline access problems, is crucial for maintaining user satisfaction. By improving stability, enhancing navigation, and adding requested features like synchronization, the app can solidify its position as a leading platform for free audiobook listening.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/librivox-audio-books-pro/id662558935?uo=2