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Audible is an audiobook and podcast platform owned by Amazon with tons of titles available to buy.
An Audible Plus subscription adds access to thousands of audiobooks and original series for $8/month.
Audible Premium Plus costs $15/month, and gives members an extra monthly credit for a free audiobook.
Audible is an audiobook and podcast service that boasts a massive catalog of more than 500,000 titles, including exclusive releases. You can buy specific audiobooks via Audible and listen with a free account, or subscribe to Audible Plus or Premium Plus to gain access to thousands of titles and original series for a monthly fee.
The Audible app offers downloads, streaming playback, and the ability to track your listening progress across different devices. As an Amazon subsidiary with one of the largest available libraries, Audible sets the standard for audiobook apps. However, if you’re new to Audible or audiobooks in general, it may not be clear how to get the best value for your time and money.
Whether you’re a hardcore podcast and audiobook junkie, or just looking for a new way to experience books, we’re here to help you decide if Audible is right for your needs.
What is Audible and how does it work?
Audible is an app and storefront that’s strictly dedicated to audiobooks and podcasts. Pricing on Audible varies based on the book, and purchased titles are immediately available for streaming or download. Audible also offers a selection of free books and podcasts, and allows for returns and exchanges on purchases.
Audible’s basic service is free to use but you need a standard Amazon account to purchase audiobooks; Amazon Prime is not required.
In addition to the free app, Audible has two subscription plans: Audible Plus ($8/month) and Audible Premium Plus ($15/month). Audible Plus members get access to thousands of audiobooks and podcasts for a monthly fee, while Audible Premium Plus also adds store credits and discounts.
Audible downloads are stored in a proprietary format, meaning you can’t add them to your personal MP3 collection; you’ll need to use the Audible app or a third-party converter to access the files. Users with shared Amazon accounts will automatically share their Audible purchases, but books featured in the Plus catalog are not included.
While listening, you can skip between chapters, change the playback speed, or bookmark and clip important moments from a book. Progress and bookmarks are stored to your Audible account and will transfer between devices. Kindle readers can also use Amazon’s Whispersync feature to swap between the written and audio versions of more than 100,000 books.
If you want a complete walkthrough of how to use Audible, Insider has full guides for getting started with the app and buying books.
What are the different Audible Plus subscription options?
Audible Plus costs $8 a month and provides access to thousands of audiobooks in the Audio Plus catalog. Audible Premium Plus costs $15 a month and gives you one credit each month to spend on a title in the Audible store, along with a 30% discount on “premium” titles.
Audible also offers annual Premium Plus plans with more credits for an even better deal. You can pay $149.50 for one year of Audible Premium Plus with 12 credits, or $229.50 for one year with 24 credits.
Here’s a full breakdown of Audible Plus plans:
Subscription PlanPriceNotesAudible Plus$7.95 a monthDoes not include monthly book creditAudible Premium Plus$14.95 a monthOne credit per month (Prime members get two during trial)Audible Premium Plus (extra credit)$22.95 a monthTwo credits per monthAudible Premium Plus annual (12 credits)$149.50 a yearCredits expire after one yearAudible Premium Plus annual (24 credits)$229.50 a yearCredits expire after one year
Does Audible Plus offer a free trial?
Yes, Audible offers a free 30-day trial of its Audible Plus or Premium Plus plans. The Premium Plus trial includes a free credit that you can use to keep a single audiobook even if you end up canceling your subscription.
As part of a limited-time promotion, Prime members can take advantage of a special three-month extended trial. The deal will be active until July 31.
What devices are compatible with the Audible app?
Amazon
The Audible app is available on Windows and Mac computers, Android and iOS devices, Alexa-enabled devices, Amazon Fire tablets, Kindle devices (2016 or later), the SanDisk Clip Jam mp3 player, Victor Reader Stream, and Milestone 312 Ace.
What titles are included with Audible Plus?
Audible
Audible has one of the largest available collections of audiobooks, and subscribing to Audible Plus will give you thousands of audiobooks and originals to choose from. Audible hosts original podcasts and audiobooks that are only available to Plus subscribers, ranging from kids content like “The Sesame Street Podcast” to series with full casts like “Hit Job” starring Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson.
However, many of Audible’s most popular exclusives, like “The Four Agreements,” aren’t featured in the Audible Plus collection and must still be purchased directly. It’s best to browse the store first to see how many books you want are actually included in the Plus catalog before subscribing.
The overall value of the Audible Plus library will ultimately depend on each listener’s taste, but there’s certainly no shortage of new content to enjoy for the monthly fee. If you’re curious, we recommend using the 30-day trial of Audible Premium Plus, since you’ll get at least one free store credit to use on a specific audiobook you want and you can keep it forever.
Is Audible Plus worth it?
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The value of Audible Plus boils down to how much time you spend listening to audiobooks or podcasts. Audible will let you know the expected playtime for your books, which can help you get an idea of how much time you spend listening in a week or month.
If you’re spending less than four hours a week listening to podcasts and audiobooks, your subscription money might be better spent on simply purchasing a single book you’ll enjoy.
If you want a large listening library but don’t have a preference for which books you want to check out, Audible Plus has plenty of content to choose from. However, if you’re finishing multiple books a month, investing in Premium Plus is probably a better choice so you can pick up the specific books you’re interested in, as well as popular bestsellers.
Again, both Audible Plus and Audible Premium Plus offer a 30-day trial, but the Premium Plus trial will let you keep at least one book of your choosing.
What are your alternatives?
Audible is one of the most well-known audiobook platforms out there, but it’s not the only one. The Amazon-owned service competes with storefronts like Google Play Books, Nook Audiobooks, and Kobo Books. Public libraries also offer a wide selection of audiobooks that can be accessed for free.
Other platforms with subscription options include Audiobooks.com ($15 a month) and Scribd ($12 a month). A Scribd membership also includes ebooks and magazines for a lower monthly price, making it our top subscription choice for online reading.
Other competitors like Libro.fm and Downpour offer audiobooks in a standard MP3 format, allowing you to buy them and listen with the app of your choosing, rather than relying on a specific app like Audible.
The bottom line
For most audiobook listeners, Audible is the best platform to use thanks to its free app, premium subscription options, gigantic library, and account sharing with Amazon and Kindle.
If you’re considering one of the service’s subscription plans, we recommend Premium Plus ($15/month) since it offers a credit to redeem an extra audiobook every month that isn’t already included with a Plus membership. You can even keep the book if you cancel your membership.
Avid readers, however, may also want to consider a few competing services. Scribd is a good choice if you prefer to get a mix of ebooks and audiobooks, while platforms like Libro.fm or Downpour are a better fit if you want your audiobooks in a standard MP3 format without Amazon’s copyright protection.
Pros: Free to use for streaming and downloads, unmatched library with tons of exclusives, shared purchases between Amazon households, premium subscription options, WhisperSync with Kindle ebooks
Cons: Paid Audible Plus catalog lacks some exclusives, downloads cannot be easily transferred or played without the Audible app, not compatible with older listening devices