Audiobookshelf
Audiobookshelf is available in the NetActuate Marketplace as a one-click, open-source appliance you can deploy into any NetActuate PoP. Self-hosted audiobook and podcast server with progress that syncs across devices. It is grouped under the Media & Streaming category.
What It Does
Audiobookshelf is a self-hosted server for your audiobooks and podcasts. It organizes your library, streams to any device through a clean web player and the native iOS and Android apps, and keeps your listening progress in sync across all of them so you always pick up exactly where you left off.
Key features
- Stream audiobooks and podcasts to a browser and to the native mobile apps
- Progress, bookmarks and playback speed sync across every device
- Automatic podcast subscriptions with scheduled episode downloads
- Rich metadata, chapters, cover art and library folder watching
- Multi-user accounts with per-user permissions and access control
- Built-in ffmpeg and ffprobe for on-the-fly transcoding and probing
Use cases
- A private, self-hosted alternative to commercial audiobook services
- A single home for a family or team audiobook and podcast collection
- A podcast archive that downloads and retains episodes on your own storage
Why run it on the NetActuate edge Hosting Audiobookshelf in a PoP close to your listeners keeps streaming fast and responsive, and running it on your own infrastructure keeps your library and your listening history entirely under your control.
First boot The initial administrator account is created automatically on first boot from the Admin Username and Admin Password you set at deploy (the password is generated for you if you leave it blank). The web UI is served on port 13378.
Upstream attribution: Audiobookshelf is developed and maintained by advplyr and contributors (https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf) and is free software licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. This appliance packages the unmodified upstream Audiobookshelf 2.35.1 release on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the upstream project.
Vendor and Project
Audiobookshelf is an open-source project, offered here under the Open Source listing with best-effort community support.
- Project home: www.audiobookshelf.org
NetActuate supports the underlying infrastructure. Application-level support follows the listing SLA class (open-source, best effort).
Sizing
| vCPU | RAM | Disk | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1 | 1 GB | 10 GB |
| Recommended | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB |
No VPU (hardware acceleration) is required for this appliance. Choose a size at deploy based on your expected load.
Configuration Fields
When you deploy, you provide these fields. They are written into the appliance at first boot.
| Field | Required | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admin Username | No | admin | Username for the initial administrator account created on first boot. Defaults to admin. |
| Admin Password | No | generated | Password for the initial administrator account. Leave blank to have a strong password generated for you at first boot. Stored write-only in your account secret list |
Using the Appliance
Audiobookshelf is up
- Open the web UI. Browse to
http://YOUR_VM_IP:13378/and sign in with the Admin Username and Admin Password you set at deploy. - Add a library. Create an audiobook or podcast library and point it at a folder under
/var/lib/audiobookshelf; add media there and let it scan. - Connect the apps. Install the Audiobookshelf app on iOS or Android and point it at
http://YOUR_VM_IP:13378/; your progress syncs across every device. - Add users. Invite additional users from Settings and set per-user permissions.
FAQ
Is there a software license fee? No. Audiobookshelf is open source and free to run. You pay only for the NetActuate infrastructure and bandwidth.
Which port does the appliance serve on?
The primary service is published on port 13378 by default; see the configuration fields for any adjustable ports.
Who supports it? NetActuate operates the underlying infrastructure. The application itself is community-supported open source (best-effort SLA class).
Version and Changelog
| Version | Status | Released |
|---|---|---|
| 2.35.1 | Current (default) | 2026-07-11 |
Deploy
- Deploy in the portal: Deploy Audiobookshelf
- View the listing: portal.netactuate.com/platform/marketplace/l/audiobookshelf
- Public listing: netactuate.com/marketplace/audiobookshelf
Need Help?
Contact support@netactuate.com or open a support ticket from the portal.