An offline ebook reader with built-in AI text-to-speech. Import any ebook, convert it to audiobook instantly—with synchronized word highlighting that follows along.
I love reading, but I don't always have time to sit with a book. Audiobooks are the obvious solution—except they come with frustrating limitations that shouldn't exist in 2025.
Already own the ebook? Too bad—audiobook is a separate purchase. Same content, double the cost.
That niche technical book or indie author? No audiobook available. Major publishers only.
Existing text-to-speech sounds mechanical and unpleasant. Not something you'd listen to for hours.
Most TTS services require internet. No connection? No listening. Your library shouldn't need WiFi.
A focused tool that does one thing exceptionally well—turns your ebooks into listenable audiobooks without compromises.
Watch Rustle transform an ebook into a synchronized audiobook with word-level highlighting.
No complicated setup. Import, convert, listen.
Drop your ebook into Rustle. EPUB, PDF, MOBI—whatever you have. The book is parsed and prepared for conversion.
Kokoro AI processes the text locally on your device. No cloud processing, no data leaving your machine.
Read along with synchronized highlighting, or close your eyes and listen. Pause, resume, adjust speed—full control.
Modern tools for a modern reading experience.
Rustle was built using "vibe coding"—a conversational approach to development where I described what I wanted and iterated with Cursor AI to bring it to life.
As a UX designer, I could articulate exactly what the experience should feel like. Cursor handled the implementation details—parsing ebook formats, syncing audio timing, managing state.
This isn't about not knowing how to code. It's about removing friction between idea and execution. I could focus on the experience while AI handled the boilerplate.
The result? A functional prototype in a weekend that would have taken weeks with traditional development.
"The best tools are the ones you build because nothing else does exactly what you need."
Cursor let me ship a functional app without being a developer. The barrier between "designer who can prototype" and "designer who can ship" is collapsing. What used to require weeks of learning frameworks and debugging now happens through conversation. I could focus on the experience—how the highlighting should sync, how the voice should feel—while AI handled the implementation details.
In an always-connected world, there's something powerful about tools that work anywhere. No accounts, no subscriptions, no dependencies. Rustle works on a plane, in a remote cabin, or in a country with spotty internet. This constraint forced better design—everything had to be self-contained, efficient, and reliable. The result is a tool that respects your privacy and your environment.
The best side projects solve problems you personally have. Rustle exists because I wanted it to exist—and that made every design decision clearer. When you're building for yourself, you know exactly what's missing. No user research needed, no feature prioritization debates. Just pure focus on solving your own problem in the best way possible.