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What's a good audiobooks server/client combo?
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2026
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Set up audiobookshelf via docker. I like using portainer to manage docker containers because it has a GUI. Command line stuff is more difficult if you don't have the background experience to go with it. I think doing it all in a GUI feels more comfortable for most people.
Docker can also be kind of intimidating if you are just wading into the self hosting world but it really is much simpler to use once you get the hang of it. Portainer helps a ton with that. Audiobookshelf would be great to start with both imo because it's a pretty basic set up. You have to define a storage location for your library and config files and that's about all it takes to get it up and running.
I recently got into all this and remember well what it was like to feel out of my element so feel free to ask questions if you have any. I'm no expert but I'm happy to share what I can.
I did setup Audiobookshelf via normal apt in the command line. I also have docker for other things, but this time I wanted to try things the normal way to see. It wasn’t bad. It created a config file that has two lines in /etc and I just created a folder in /srv and and dumped the files there and pointed the client to it. Still experimenting with it and a client app called “Audiobooth”. Not bad so far.
Nice, it sounds like you're learning stuff just fine. I recommended it elsewhere in the comments here but if you're looking for audiobook sources I suggest checking out libro.fm. They give half of your purchase price to a local bookstore of your choice and you can download the files in multiple formats with no DRM.
I’ll leave that part for the wife to take care since she’s the one who does audiobooks. I can’t. I will never be able to actually listen to an audiobook no matter how much I try. I don’t know if it’s my ADHD or what, but I just can’t focus.
Haha I get that. I was the same way for a long time but gave them another shot a year or so ago and now I'm hooked. They are so much more convenient than physical books
This is what I'm doing and all my friends and fam who like the books have accounts and it works very well. Direct replacement for audible.
Libro.fm seems to be a solid paid service. They give half of your purchase price to a local bookstore of your choice and you can download the files in multiple formats with no DRM.
Fuck audible and fuck Amazon. They literally used my card without my permission to charge for an audible subscription. I had to call them and get my money back. Closed all of my accounts with these fuckers.
Ya same. Has left over credits which you lose if you cancel, didn't know what I want, only let you pause in hopes you forget and they bill you. It's a shady business practice