What is HushBook: Read while you listen
HushBook is a private audiobook read-along app that turns any audiobook into word-level karaoke. It transcribes audio on-device, syncing every word with the narration so you can read along as you listen. The app is privacy-first, works offline after a one-time engine download, and requires no account or sign-in. It is free on iOS and Android.
How to use HushBook: Read while you listen
- Pick a book – Browse free classics from the built-in catalogue (LibriVox, Internet Archive) or import your own audiobook files (MP3, M4B, FLAC, OGG, and many more).
- Tap Transcribe – One tap per chapter. Chapters in M4B files are detected automatically.
- The Engine works – The on-device HushBook Engine transcribes every spoken word into synchronized text.
- Read along – Every word lights up with the narrator. Tap any word to jump to that point in the audio.
Features of HushBook: Read while you listen
- Word-level sync at 60 fps – Every word highlights in real time with the narration.
- 100% on-device transcription – Audio never leaves your phone; no cloud or server involved.
- Works offline – After a one-time engine download, the app functions fully offline.
- No account required – Open the app and start reading immediately.
- Supports 99 languages – Transcribes audiobooks in the original language.
- Import your own files – Supports MP3, M4A, M4B, AAC, WAV, FLAC, OGG, OPUS, OGA, AIFF, AIF, MKA, and ALAC.
- Built-in library of free classics – Thousands of public-domain audiobooks from LibriVox and Internet Archive.
- Reading profiles – Choose from Comprehension, Dyslexia/ADHD, or Vision profiles that adapt fonts, caption sizes, colors, contrast, and spacing.
- Quote saving – Tap the first and last word of a line to save a quote; share as a polished card.
- Character mapping – Drag characters onto a canvas, draw relationships, and label them.
- Private analytics – Track reading streaks, words read, comprehension, and consistency with a Brain Health score (0–100). All computed on-device.
- Collectible badges – Earn badges for streaks, books, words, hours, and firsts.
- Thermal-aware engine – Caps worker threads and rests between chunks to keep your phone cool; resumes automatically if interrupted.
- Night mode – Solid dark canvas with high-contrast themes (white-on-black, amber-on-black).
Use Cases of HushBook: Read while you listen
- Language learners – Read along in the original language to improve listening and reading comprehension.
- Readers with dyslexia or ADHD – The Dyslexia/ADHD profile offers OpenDyslexic font, color overlays, generous spacing, and a highlight that anchors the eye to the voice.
- Low-vision readers – The Vision profile provides Atkinson Hyperlegible font, very large captions, and high-contrast themes.
- Commuters and travelers – Fully offline after one download, so you can read on flights, in tunnels, or anywhere without internet.
- Audiobook enthusiasts – Transform any audiobook into a read-along experience with synced text.
- Students and researchers – Save quotes, track reading analytics, and map characters in complex texts.
Pricing
The core read-along experience and the public-domain library are free. There is an optional Pro upgrade for advanced analytics. Going Pro helps keep HushBook independent and improving.
FAQ
Does my audio ever leave my phone?
No. Transcription runs entirely on your device — there's no upload, no account, and no server. After a one-time engine download, the whole app works offline.
Where do the synced lyrics come from?
HushBook generates them from your audio with the on-device HushBook Engine — there's no lyrics database. The first pass on a long book takes a while; after that, it's instant every time you open it.
What files can I import?
MP3, M4A, M4B, AAC, WAV, FLAC, OGG, OPUS, OGA, AIFF, AIF, MKA, and ALAC — one file per import. Chapters inside M4B files are detected automatically, along with cover art and metadata.
How much does it cost?
The core read-along experience and the public-domain library are free. There's an optional Pro upgrade for advanced analytics.
Will it drain my battery or heat up my phone?
The Engine is thermal-aware: it caps its worker threads and rests between chunks to keep your phone cool, and it resumes automatically if a long transcription is interrupted.
Who is HushBook for?
Anyone who reads with their ears — and especially readers with dyslexia, ADHD, or low vision, language learners, and anyone who focuses better when they can see the words they hear.
Can I read in the dark?
Yes — night mode swaps the blurred cover backdrop for a solid dark canvas, and the Vision profile adds high-contrast themes like white-on-black and amber-on-black.
