What audiobook subscriptions are and how they differ

An audiobook subscription is a monthly or annual payment that gives you access to a library of spoken books. Unlike buying individual audiobooks, which you own permanently, a subscription lets you listen to as many titles as the service offers while you pay. When you stop paying, you lose access to those books — though some services let you keep a small number you've "purchased" within the subscription.

The main difference between services is how many books you can listen to at once and whether you can download them to your phone. Some subscriptions let you listen to one book at a time and require an internet connection. Others let you download multiple books and listen offline, or let multiple people in your household listen simultaneously. The price, the size of the library, and the quality of the narration also vary significantly between services.

Key Takeaways

  • Most audiobook subscriptions cost between $10 and $15 per month and include access to thousands of titles, but the exact library differs by service.
  • You listen through an app on your phone, tablet, or computer, and some services let you download books to listen without internet.
  • Cancelling a subscription means you lose access to all books you were listening to, though some services let you keep a small number you've marked as owned.
  • Many services offer a free trial period of 7 to 30 days before charging you, so you can test whether the library and app work for you.
  • Family plans and student discounts are available from some services and can reduce the per-person cost if multiple people want to listen.

How to choose between major audiobook services

The largest services are Audible (owned by Amazon), Scribd, Audiobooks.com, and Libro.fm. Audible has the biggest library and the most narration options, but costs around $15 per month for one book per month, plus the ability to buy additional books at a discount. Scribd costs around $12 per month and includes unlimited listening to most titles, plus access to ebooks and magazines. Audiobooks.com costs around $15 per month for one book per month and is owned by the same company as Barnes & Noble. Libro.fm costs around $15 per month for one book per month and directs a portion of your subscription fee to independent bookstores.

The choice often comes down to three things: the specific books you want to read, whether you want unlimited listening or a monthly allowance, and whether the app works smoothly on your device. Most services let you search their full library on their website before you subscribe, so you can check whether the books you're interested in are available. If you listen to many books per month, unlimited services like Scribd may save you money. If you listen to one or two books per month, a monthly-credit service like Audible may be cheaper.

What happens when you sign up

When you create an account, you'll provide an email address, create a password, and enter a payment method. Most services require a credit card, though some accept debit cards or PayPal. You'll choose whether you want a monthly or annual subscription — annual plans usually cost less per month but require paying the full amount upfront. Many services offer a free trial of 7 to 30 days before your first charge, so you won't be charged until the trial ends unless you cancel.

After you sign up, you download the service's app to your phone, tablet, or computer. You log in with your account, and the app shows you the library of available books. You can search by title, author, or genre, add books to a wishlist, and start listening immediately on most services. Some services let you download books to your device so you can listen without using data or internet. Others stream only, meaning you need an active internet connection to listen.

How much listening you get for your money

The amount of listening included in your subscription depends on the service's model. Audible, Audiobooks.com, and most others use a monthly-credit system: you get one credit per month, which you can use to "buy" any book in the library, regardless of length. A 40-hour book and a 5-hour book both cost one credit. Unused credits usually roll over for a few months, so if you don't listen to a book one month, you can use two credits the next month. Once you've used a credit on a book, you own it and can listen to it again even if you cancel your subscription.

Scribd and a few others use an unlimited model: you pay one monthly fee and can listen to as many books as you want, as long as you keep your subscription active. There's no limit on how many books you can start or finish in a month. However, some very new releases or bestsellers may not be included in unlimited listening and require an extra purchase. When you cancel, you lose access to all books you were listening to.

Downloading books and listening offline

Most services let you download books to your phone or tablet so you can listen without using data or needing internet. This is useful if you commute on transit, travel, or have limited data. The download usually takes a few minutes depending on the book's length and your internet speed. Downloaded books stay on your device until you manually delete them, even if you cancel your subscription — though you won't be able to download new books once your subscription ends.

Some services limit how many books you can have downloaded at once, usually between 5 and 20. If you reach the limit, you have to delete an older download before you can download a new one. A few services, like Audible, let you download as many as you want. Check the service's app settings or help section to see what the limit is before you subscribe.

Family plans and sharing

Several services offer family plans that let multiple people listen under one subscription. Audible's family plan costs around $23 per month and gives two adults separate accounts with their own libraries and listening history. Scribd's family plan costs around $18 per month and lets up to six people listen simultaneously on different devices. Libro.fm offers a similar multi-user option. The exact number of people allowed and the cost varies by service, so check the current pricing on each service's website.

Some services also offer student discounts of 20 to 50 percent off the regular monthly price if you have a valid student email address or can verify your enrollment. Student plans usually have the same features as the regular subscription but cost less. Discounts are often available for the first year only, so the price may increase when you renew.

Cancelling and what you keep

You can cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings on the service's website or app. Cancellation is usually immediate, and you won't be charged again. What happens to your books depends on the service's model. On credit-based services like Audible, you keep the books you've purchased with credits even after you cancel — you can listen to them forever. On unlimited services like Scribd, you lose access to all books the moment your subscription ends.

Some services charge a cancellation fee if you cancel during a promotional trial period, so read the terms before you sign up. Most do not charge a fee for cancelling after the trial ends. If you want to pause your subscription instead of cancelling — for example, if you're taking a break from listening — some services offer a pause option that temporarily stops your monthly charge without cancelling your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to the same book on multiple devices at the same time?

On most services, you can listen on multiple devices, but only one at a time. If you start listening on your phone, you have to stop before you can start on your tablet. Family plans usually let multiple people listen simultaneously, but a single account cannot stream to two devices at once. Check your service's terms to confirm.

What if I don't like a book I've started listening to?

On credit-based services like Audible, you can return a book within 30 days and get your credit back, even if you've listened to most of it. On unlimited services, you simply stop listening and start a different book — there's no return process. The return policy varies by service, so check before you subscribe if this matters to you.

Do I need to listen in order, or can I skip around?

You can skip around within a book or jump between books whenever you want. Most apps let you bookmark a spot, create notes, and jump to a specific chapter. You can also adjust the playback speed on most services, so you can listen faster or slower than the narrator's original pace.

What if my subscription service removes a book I was listening to?

On unlimited services, publishers can ask for books to be removed from the library. If you were listening to a book that gets removed, you lose access to it. On credit-based services where you've purchased a book with a credit, you usually keep it. This happens rarely, but it's a risk of subscription services rather than ownership.

Can I share my login with someone else?

Most services' terms of service say you shouldn't share your login with people outside your household. Doing so may violate the terms and could result in your account being suspended. If you want multiple people to listen, use a family plan instead, which is designed for sharing and usually costs less than multiple individual subscriptions.