HushBook

HushBook is a mobile audiobook player that creates synchronized text from audio and highlights each word as the narrator speaks. It is built for people who want to read and listen at the same time, whether that helps them stay focused, follow unfamiliar names, practise a language, or simply enjoy a book in a more active way. Instead of requiring a matching ebook or a transcript supplied by a publisher, HushBook generates the text from the audiobook itself. It is available on iOS and Android, and it can work with books from its public-domain catalogue or audio files the reader already owns.

The basic workflow is deliberately direct. A reader picks a free classic or imports an audiobook, then starts transcription for a chapter. HushBook supports MP3, M4A, M4B, AAC, WAV, FLAC, OGG, OPUS, OGA, AIFF, AIF, MKA, and ALAC files. It detects chapters, cover art, and metadata inside M4B files when those details are present. The HushBook Engine turns every spoken word into timed text, and the player lights up the current word during playback. Tapping a word jumps the audio to that point, which makes it easier to revisit a line without scrubbing through a long recording. The first transcription of a long book can take time, but the completed text is ready immediately on later opens.

Privacy is a central part of how the app works. Speech recognition runs on the phone rather than sending the audiobook to a cloud transcription service. Audio, transcripts, notes, reading scores, and saved quotes stay local, and there is no account or sign-in requirement. After a one-time engine download, transcription, playback, and the read-along view work offline. The engine also processes long books in chunks, limits its worker activity based on temperature, and can resume after an interruption. That local approach is useful for readers who don't want personal libraries, notes, or listening activity uploaded to another service, though it also means the phone does the computational work.

HushBook goes beyond a single karaoke-style view with reading profiles and adjustable presentation. Its profiles cover general comprehension, dyslexia or ADHD, and low vision. They can change fonts, caption size, colors, contrast, spacing, and other defaults across the app. Available options include OpenDyslexic and Atkinson Hyperlegible, reading overlays, high-contrast themes, line spacing controls, and night mode. The built-in catalogue draws on public-domain audiobooks from LibriVox and the Internet Archive, while imported books remain part of the local library. The transcription engine supports 99 languages, so the read-along model isn't limited to English material.

Readers can save a quote by selecting its first and last words, edit it later, and turn it into a shareable card with the book and author details. Character maps offer a manual way to arrange a novel's cast, connect people, and label their relationships. Local habit tools track streaks, books, time, and words derived from the transcript. More detailed Pro analytics add views such as habitual listening times, genre patterns, words per book, and goals. These extras make HushBook a better fit for regular audiobook listeners than someone seeking only basic playback, while its accessibility settings give it a clear role for readers who benefit from seeing the words they hear.

The everyday playback details are shaped around staying in the text. A reader can seek by tapping the transcript instead of estimating a timestamp, keep place across listening sessions, and use the same local book record for notes, quotes, character relationships, and reading history. The site says word counts come from the actual transcript rather than an estimate based only on playback time. Streaks and more than 30 collectible badges cover books, words, hours, and early milestones. These features don't change the underlying audiobook file, but they give someone who is building a reading habit a concrete record of progress while keeping that activity on the device.

The core read-along player and public-domain library are free, with no ads and no account. An optional Pro upgrade unlocks advanced analytics, so the appropriate pricing model is freemium. HushBook doesn't sell commercial audiobooks and isn't a replacement for a bookstore or subscription catalogue. Readers need a file they have the right to use or can choose one of the included free classics. It also isn't instant for every book because the first on-device transcription must finish before the full synchronized text is available. For people comfortable bringing their own audio, that tradeoff supports an unusually private reading experience that works offline and avoids a second ebook purchase.