Storytel Review: The Best Audiobook Service for Indian Consumers

I am a fan of audiobooks. I eat them when I am traveling, when I am doing house chores, and when I am in my bed at night and I don't want to see any source of illumination what so ever. Since I have been introduced to audiobooks, my monthly novel consumption has increased ten folds as now I can swallow them in situations in which previously I couldn't. Still, there is i big problem with all the major audiobooks providers out there, and that'due south the fact that none of them offer books past Indian authors. That's why I am then happy to tell yous nigh a new audiobook subscription service which non simply provides books from foreign authors but too houses a large collection of works from Indian authors. The service I am talking well-nigh is called Storytel, and here is my review:

Key Features

Let us begin our review past taking a look at all the cardinal features of Storytel. The features will aid united states understand what Storytel has in shop for its users and whether the service is worth your time:

• Offers Both Audiobooks and eBooks

I of the all-time features of Storytel is that you are not limited to the audiobook version of a book. The service provides both audio and eBook version of the books and then you tin can eat them in the form that you desire. The best part about the service is that both the versions of the books are available at no actress toll to you (more on the pricing details later). The service currently boasts of a catalogue of more than than 7000 books from some of the best authors in Bharat and the globe.

• Automated Sync between Audiobooks and eBooks

While in that location are a lot of things that I love about Storytel, the feature which fabricated me subscribe to the service was the effortless sync between audiobooks and eBooks. Although the service does provides both the audiobook and eBook versions of books, it would accept been pointless if a user had to physically mark his progress while consuming the book. However, thankfully the service automatically syncs a user'due south progress between the audiobook and the eBook, making it actually easy switch betwixt both the versions.

For example, if you lot are listening to the audiobook version of a book and accept reached to say somewhere in chapter 5. When you switch to its eBook version, it will open up direct at the line where you airtight your audiobook. To assistance users find the exact line, the app even highlights the text till which the user has listened to the volume in the audio version. The same happens when a user switches from the eBook version to the audiobook version. All one needs to exercise is tap on the line where he is finishing and the audiobook will be synced to that line. It is by far my favorite characteristic of the app as it makes switching between the versions a existent treat.

• Big Option of Content From Indian Authors

The biggest reason which pushed me to give this service a try was its selection of books from Indian authors. And no, I am not talking about a few Indian authors who take managed to publish books in English, rather the writers which publish their work in Hindi and are generally left undiscovered. It's pitiful that while nigh of us grow up with the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata, we discard Hindi literature and novelists as soon as we are able to cull our own books.

I was the same, nonetheless, it changed when I first read Munshi Premchand'south work, and have been following Hindi literature since and then. Before Storytel, there was no other service which allowed me to easily consume works of Hindi novelist and that's why I was so happy to discover it. What's fifty-fifty better is that Storytel as well houses books from regional authors. Right at present, the only prominent regional language that is featured on Storytel is Marä thi, nevertheless, I am quite sure that the service will add together more regional authors in the future.

• Serial, Curt Stories, Poems, and More than

Another thing that is great almost Storytel is that the service not only offers total-fledged novels but also offers short stories, poems, and serialized content. I especially love to heed to brusque stories when I am not in the mood to continue my novel or I just want to listen to something light. I have also started giving a try to serialized content which is basically a tv-series for your years.

• Audiobook Player Features

The audiobook thespian that is included in the app is pretty straight-forrad and packs almost all the features that one expect from a good audiobook player. I beloved that the forrad and back button can exist long-pressed to chop-chop and hands skip to the part that you want to go to. Yous tin also change the audio speed and set a sleep timer. I exercise wish that the audio speed changer was a slider which gives a more than precise control, but other than that I am happy with the player.

• eBook Reader Feature

The congenital-in eBook reader that comes with Storytel is fairly basic and offers only a few features. There's a push button which easily allows users to switch betwixt the capacity, a button to bookmark a page, and a button to modify the overall appearance of the folio which includes the page background and text-size. It's apparent that although the eBook reader gets the chore done, the Storytel app is a primarily an audiobook app and the eBook functionality has been merely added to enhance the overall experience and was not a priority for the evolution squad.

User Interface and Ease of Utilize

The user interface of the Storytel is probably its weakest point and needs improvements. Don't get me wrong, it'due south not bad, still, it is disruptive, especially if you are using the app for the outset time. The major problem that I faced was with the naming scheme of the certain parts of the apps which fabricated navigating the app a little fleck cumbersome. For instance, when you swipe from left to correct to access the hamburger bill of fare, the start sub-menu is titled as "Volume Tips". Now, before you read farther, just tell me what comes to listen when you volition run into the sub-menu item for the first time.

Whatever comes to your mind it certainly will non exist "Home" which is what this sub-card is. It's basically the home page of the app which houses all the book titles which are either featured or popular or suggested. Similarly, the featured section is titled every bit "News" which confused me a lot, and then much so that I am withal not sure if its the featured department or the latest arrivals section.

That said, if you can become over these nomenclature mistakes, the app is adequately like shooting fish in a barrel to navigate. Just slide from left to right to admission the hamburger menu and you will find all the options there including the search selection. You tin can browse books by either selecting titles from the home folio, or you can go to the categories department and browse by genre. If you know what you lot are looking for, you can search for it either by using the championship of the book or by the author. Ane thing I dearest is that the search bar supports non only the English language language but also Hindi and Marathi, making it easier to find Hindi or Regional titles and authors.

Then at that place are the little things that I like very much. When you tap on any menu particular, it bobbles for a split-2d which looks cool. I also dear that when you are browsing the app while listening to an audiobook, there's a small-scale round logo which keeps on rotating. The logo shows the cover page of the novel which you are listening to and allows yous to switch to the player just by tapping on it. The bottom line is that yous will need a few minutes to adjust to the app, but once yous do, it's as easy every bit any other audiobook app out at that place.

Price and Availability

Storytel is a subscription-based service and you volition need to pay a monthly subscription fee to enjoy this app. That said, once you lot subscribe, all the content within the app is free to listen or read. The service offers a fourteen-day free trial flow, however, if you use our link, you will go a 30-day trial catamenia, which is more than enough for you to check out the app. One time you do decide to subscribe, it will cost you Rs. 499/month.

Pros:

• Large selection of Indian titles
• Both audiobook and eBook versions are available
• Syncs automatically betwixt audiobook and eBook version
• Feature-rich Audiobook Player

Cons:

• The UI tin can be disruptive when using the app for the get-go time

Storytel: A Great Audiobook Service of Indian Bibliophiles

Storytel is the first service of its kind which provides Indian consumers with a large selection of novels, short stories, poems and more from Indian authors. The service not only features content in Hindi merely is also improving its content catalog in regional language. If you are a fan of Indian literature and novelists, Storytel is the best place to consume their work.

Try Storytel Free for 30 Days

Source: https://beebom.com/storytel-review/

Posted by: schumacherhichaveste.blogspot.com

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