When it comes to accessing books (including audiobooks), nothing beats your local library. It’s free and it’s what Dolly would’ve wanted. But that’s not why you’re here, so I digress. Let’s talk about Audible.
I’ve been an Audible subscriber on and off for a few years now, and there’s a reason I keep coming back. It easily has the most robust audiobook catalog around, offers unmatched convenience if you’re also a Kindle user, and is packed with exclusive titles you can’t find elsewhere. I’d rather have my money go to independent booksellers, but there’s no denying Amazon’s value here.
Audible is not Netflix for audiobooks
It’s important to understand that Audible is not a “Netflix for audiobooks” app. It’s more of a book-a-month membership that gives you one premium title each month for your entry fee, with no wait times. There are two different membership options, Standard and Premium, and the tier you choose definitely matters.
I’m usually the first person to recommend the cheaper option in subscription situations (I will gladly sit through ads while streaming to save money). In this case, however, I would spend the extra money on Premium. I’ve been a subscriber of both tiers, and I do not think the Standard membership is a good deal. Period.
What’s the difference between Audible Standard and Audible Premium?
Here’s a breakdown of the different tiers:
Audible Standard
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Cost: $8.99 per month after 30-day free trial
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Includes: One audiobook selection per month and access to podcasts
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No annual subscription options
Audible Premium
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Cost: $14.95 per month after 30-day free trial
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Includes: One credit to “purchase” an audiobook each month, access to the Plus catalog with more than 150k audiobooks and podcasts, and exclusive sales and discounts
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Annual subscription options: 12 credits per year for $149.50/year or 24 credits per year for $229.50/year
It may not sound all that different on paper, but the devil is in the details. While I was a Standard subscriber, I accidentally forgot to claim my audiobook pick one month. And guess what: I didn’t get another chance. I basically had to forfeit that month entirely, throwing $8.99 in the garbage. Not to mention, if you don’t finish your audiobook selection within the allotted month, it’s gone forever. Or if you cancel your Standard membership, it’s also gone forever.
Premium is a different story. For that extra $6 each month, you get a credit that allows you to purchase a premium title. That means you own it and it’s yours to keep, even if you cancel your membership. And if you forget to use your credit one month, it rolls over to the next. Throw free access to over 150,000 audiobooks and podcasts from the Plus catalog into the mix and your subscription easily pays for itself each month.
One credit per month is not enough
Credit: Christina Buff / Mashable
As a speedy reader who can burn through a book in a few days, the one monthly credit you get with a Premium membership definitely feels restrictive. Any additional titles that aren’t in the Plus catalog will cost extra. I try to use my credit for the most expensive audiobook on my wish list and utilize the plethora of exclusive member offers to score additional books for less.
Audible’s sales do go pretty hard. There are daily deals, two-for-one credit deals, member rewards, referral offers, and so much more. You can also get a pretty sweet deal on an Audible book if you already have the Kindle book (i.e., $3.49 instead of $14.95). It’s also worth noting that if you cancel often, you’ll get a hefty discount offer when you come back. This is the real secret to making Audible worth it.
The Audible experience
If Amazon’s ownership of Audible is a dealbreaker for you, there are plenty of other ways to listen to audiobooks, including paid subscriptions like Libro.fm, Everand, or Spotify. But the truth of the matter is, Audible basically has a monopoly over the audiobook industry. A lot of titles are exclusive to Audible, including the popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series, Verity by Colleen Hoover, and the phenomenal Project Hail Mary.
Audible exclusives are fully immersive audio productions, not just someone reading you a book. You’ll be transported into the story, often with the help of a full cast of voice actors. Project Hail Mary is the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to, hands down. It beats the production of any book I’ve listened to through Libby (the library app) or Spotify.
If you also read on Kindle, the Read & Listen feature lets you switch between listening on Audible and reading on your Kindle without losing your spot. This is limited to books listed as “Read & Listen” in the details (you’ll see a badge next to the cover in the Audible app), but it’s honestly pretty clutch. It doesn’t always sync immediately on the spot, but for the most part, it works exactly how it’s supposed to.
Credit: Christina Buff / Mashable
The app itself is overwhelming
You know how the Amazon app is both simple and overwhelming? That’s also how the Audible app feels. There’s just too much going on. When you’re looking for your next read, you can filter by category, Audible charts, duration, new releases, author, bestsellers by year, series, niche topics, your Goodreads TBR (also owned by Amazon, btw), BookTok favorites, and so much more. Yes, the content selection is overflowing with options, but it’s also easy to get lost in the massive library, continuously clicking filters and subcategories and forgetting how you got there. I often find myself scrolling and clicking around for way longer than I should.
Other app features worth mentioning are speed adjustments from 1x to 2x (.5 increments), the ability to download and listen offline and set timers, and a car mode that keeps your screen from sleeping and enlarges the buttons. None of these are groundbreaking, but they do boost the app experience.
Credit: Screenshot: Audible
Credit: Screenshot: Audible
Is Audible worth it?
There’s a reason Audible is the leading audiobooks app. The exclusive audiobooks are exceptional. The sheer size of the content library is unbeatable. The seamless connectivity and extra discounts for Kindle users are unexpected life upgrades. And the regular sales and offers, including the free trials and discounted returning subscriber rates, make it an undeniably great value — but only if you opt for the pricier Premium subscription.
The app is overwhelming, it’s expensive at $14.95 per month, and I’ve canceled my Audible subscription at least five times in the past three years. And yet, here I am, a paying Premium subscriber once again. Yes, I utilize my local library as much as possible, but variety is the spice of life, my friends.