Storytel gives readers and listeners unlimited access to a library through a monthly subscription. The company began in Sweden and is a major audiobook service across the Nordics, with strong local-language catalogs in many markets, including Spanish, Polish, and Indian languages. Listeners use the mobile app to stream or download books and can adjust speed and set sleep timers.
The service has experimented with AI. VoiceSwitcher lets a listener change between the original human narrator and a synthetic voice for the same book, which helps with books that would not otherwise be recorded. Storytel also uses AI voices to expand its catalog and to translate books, an approach that has drawn debate about the role of human narrators.
Storytel is paid, with plans for individuals, families, and different usage limits depending on the country. Its catalog differs by market, and some bestsellers may be missing. Alternatives include Audible, Spotify with audiobooks, Nextory, BookBeat, and Libby for library borrowing. Storytel suits people in its core markets who listen to many books.