Audible offers three main subscription tiers, each with different monthly costs and audiobook allowances

Audible, Amazon's audiobook service, charges a monthly subscription fee in exchange for access to a library of audiobooks and the ability to purchase additional titles at a discount. The three standard plans are Plus, Plus Premium, and Premium Plus. Each tier includes a different number of monthly credits — the vouchers you use to "buy" audiobooks at no additional cost — plus access to the full Audible catalog to listen to for free during your subscription.

The exact price of each plan varies by country and changes periodically. In the United States, as of early 2024, Plus costs around $12.95 per month, Plus Premium around $14.95 per month, and Premium Plus around $22.95 per month. Prices in Canada, the UK, and Australia differ. You can see current pricing on Audible's website for your region before you commit.

All plans include the same core features: unlimited listening to Audible's Plus Catalog (a rotating selection of thousands of titles), the ability to pause or cancel anytime, and access to customer service. The main difference between tiers is how many monthly credits you receive and whether you get access to Audible Plus Premium, which includes a larger rotating selection of premium titles.

Key Takeaways

  • Audible's three main plans differ by monthly cost and the number of credits you receive each month to purchase audiobooks.
  • All plans include unlimited listening to Audible's Plus Catalog, a rotating selection of thousands of titles at no extra charge.
  • Monthly credits do not roll over to the next month if unused, so you lose them if you don't purchase an audiobook before your billing date.
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time without penalty, and you keep any audiobooks you purchased with credits even after you cancel.
  • Prices vary by country and change over time, so check Audible's website for your region to see current rates.

How monthly credits work and what happens if you don't use them

Each Audible plan comes with a set number of credits per month. A credit is a voucher you use to purchase one audiobook from Audible's full catalog, regardless of the book's retail price. This means a credit can buy you a $5 title or a $50 title — the credit covers the full cost either way.

Credits expire at the end of each billing month if you don't use them. If you subscribe to Plus and receive one credit per month but don't purchase an audiobook in month one, that credit disappears when your billing date arrives in month two. You do not accumulate credits, and Audible does not refund unused credits as cash. This is a key difference from some other subscription services: the credit is use-it-or-lose-it.

Once you purchase an audiobook with a credit, it belongs to you permanently. If you cancel your subscription later, you keep every audiobook you bought. You can listen to them on the Audible app, download them to your device, or transfer some titles to other devices depending on the publisher's restrictions.

The Plus Catalog versus the full Audible library

Audible's Plus Catalog is a rotating collection of thousands of audiobooks included with every subscription plan at no extra charge. You can listen to any title in the Plus Catalog as many times as you want without using a credit. The catalog changes regularly — titles are added and removed — so the selection you see today may be different in a few weeks.

The full Audible library contains hundreds of thousands of titles beyond the Plus Catalog. To listen to a book outside the Plus Catalog, you must use a monthly credit or purchase it separately at Audible's retail price. This two-tier system means you have immediate access to a large free selection, but the newest releases and most popular titles often require a credit or a separate purchase.

Premium Plus, the highest tier, includes access to Audible Plus Premium, which is a larger rotating selection of premium and bestselling titles. This expanded catalog gives you more options to listen to without spending credits, though it still does not include every title in Audible's full library.

What you pay if you want to buy audiobooks beyond your monthly credits

If you run out of credits or want to purchase a book outside your plan's monthly allowance, you can buy audiobooks individually at Audible's retail price. Prices vary by title but typically range from $5 to $50. Subscribers receive a 30 percent discount on these purchases, so a $20 audiobook might cost $14 when you buy it as a subscriber.

You can also purchase Audible gift cards or credits as standalone products if you want to build up a balance for future purchases. Some subscribers do this during sales or when they know they want to buy multiple titles in a month.

Cancellation, pausing, and what happens to your books

You can pause or cancel your Audible subscription at any time without a penalty or early termination fee. If you pause, your subscription freezes and you stop being charged, but you keep access to the audiobooks you purchased. When you resume, you pick up where you left off.

If you cancel outright, you lose access to the Plus Catalog immediately — you can no longer listen to titles that are only available through your subscription. However, you keep permanent access to every audiobook you purchased with credits or bought at retail price. You can download these titles to your device and listen to them offline, or you can re-subscribe later and access them again through your account.

Audible does not offer refunds for unused credits when you cancel. If you have credits remaining in your current billing month, they are forfeited when your subscription ends.

Free trial periods and promotional pricing

Audible frequently offers free trial periods for new subscribers, typically 30 days at no cost. During the trial, you receive the same credits and access as a paid subscriber. You must cancel before the trial ends if you don't want to be charged for a full month.

The company also runs promotional pricing for new members, such as discounted rates for the first few months. These offers change regularly and are often advertised on Audible's homepage or through email campaigns. If you are considering a subscription, check whether a current promotion applies to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use my credit every month or do they roll over?

Credits do not roll over. Each credit expires at the end of your billing month if unused. You lose any credits you don't spend, and Audible does not refund them as cash or extend them to the next month.

Can I listen to audiobooks on multiple devices with one subscription?

Yes. You can download the Audible app on your phone, tablet, and computer and listen on all of them using the same account. You can listen to different books on different devices at the same time, though some publishers restrict how many devices can access a single title simultaneously.

What happens to my audiobooks if I cancel my subscription?

You keep every audiobook you purchased with credits or bought at retail price. You lose access to the Plus Catalog and cannot listen to titles that are only available through your subscription. Your purchased books remain in your account if you re-subscribe later.

Is there a way to get more credits per month without upgrading my plan?

No. The number of credits is fixed by your plan tier. You can purchase additional credits or audiobooks individually at the subscriber discount rate, but there is no way to earn extra credits through your current plan.

Can I share my Audible account with family members?

Audible does not offer a family plan or account sharing feature. Each person needs their own subscription. However, you can gift audiobooks to others, and some titles can be shared through Audible's sharing tools depending on publisher permissions.