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Media Automationdocker-ready100% FOSS🟢 Lightweight · ~256MB

Audiobookshelf: Open Source alternative to Audible in 2026

Audiobookshelf organizes and plays your audiobook and podcast collection with progress tracking, bookmarks and native mobile apps — no monthly Audible subscription needed.

Alternative to Audible
License GPL-3.014.7k starsWebsite GitHub Repository

Audit Snapshot

View notes →

  • License — Matches GitHub

  • GitHub — Active

  • Latest release — v2.37.1 · 18 days ago

  • Docker Compose — Not verified

  • Production — Not production-tested by AltFreeStack

Audiobookshelf vs. Audible

Pros

  • Very polished interface and mobile apps for a FOSS project
  • Supports both your own audiobooks and podcasts

Things to consider

  • Doesn't include or sell audiobooks — you need to bring your own files

Quick Docker installation guide

Copy this docker-compose.yml, adjust the example passwords and run docker compose up -d on your server. See the full step-by-step guide →

💡 Official SaaS or self-hosted with AltFreeStack?

  • On the official cloud: a recurring monthly fee and usage limits on Audible.
  • On your own VPS: 100% free software on your own server, with no artificial row, project or user limits.
docker-compose.yml
services:
  audiobookshelf:
    image: ghcr.io/advplyr/audiobookshelf:latest
    ports:
      - "13378:80"
    volumes:
      - ./audiobooks:/audiobooks
      - ./podcasts:/podcasts
      - abs_config:/config
      - abs_metadata:/metadata
    restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
  abs_config: {}
  abs_metadata: {}

🚀 Deploy in 1 command

Recommended for beginners

Copy this single command and paste it into your freshly created VPS's console (Vultr, DigitalOcean...). It downloads the script, prints it to your screen so you can see exactly what it's about to do (never a blind direct pipe), and only then installs Docker if needed, writes the files with secrets already generated, and starts everything — no nano, no pasting code blocks.

curl -sSL ".../api/deploy?stack=audiobookshelf" -o deploy.sh && cat deploy.sh && bash deploy.sh
See what this script does →

This docker-compose corresponds to an actively maintained project — last commit 12 days ago.

This docker-compose not working for you? Report it on GitHub →

Technical profile

License
GPL-3.0
Category
Media Automation
Replaces
Audible
Tech stack
Node.jsSQLite

Under the hood

Database

SQLite

Language

Node.js

Platforms

Web · Mobile (iOS/Android)

Key features

  • Syncs listening progress across devices
  • Automatic download of new podcast episodes
  • Native iOS and Android apps
💾 Backups in 3 steps (Day 2)

As long as the ./data folder (the "volume" mapped into the container) exists on your server, your data survives any restart or container update — that's the only thing you need to back up.

1. Create a compressed backup on the server

tar -czvf backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz ./data

2. Download it to your computer

From your computer's terminal (not your server's):

scp root@YOUR_IP:~/app/backup-*.tar.gz ./

3. Restore in case of emergency

tar -xzvf backup-file.tar.gz
🌐 Connect your domain with free SSL

Step 1 — Set up the DNS

In your domain registrar's dashboard (Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy...), create a record:

Type
A
Name/Host
@ (root domain) or a subdomain, e.g. app
Content/Value
Your server's public IP

Wait 5 to 15 minutes for the record to propagate across the internet.

Step 2 — Automatic reverse proxy with Caddy

One single file, no Nginx config or manual certificates — Caddy issues and renews Let's Encrypt HTTPS on its own.

Create a file called Caddyfile:

yourdomain.com {
    reverse_proxy localhost:13378
}

Start Caddy with this command (pulls the image and runs it in the background):

docker run -d -p 80:80 -p 443:443 --name caddy --restart always -v $PWD/Caddyfile:/etc/caddy/Caddyfile -v caddy_data:/data caddy