Audible is simply the largest audiobook collection and has the lowest cost per book. I am a voracious reader and have been an Audible subscriber since 2011. With 500+ books in my library worth $7,500, I can provide you with a complete review and test of Audible.
Audible Rating: 4.9★
Audible Rating | 4.9/5.0 |
| Pricing | ★★★★★ |
| Audiobook Availability | ★★★★★ |
| Library Depth | ★★★★★ |
| Usability | ★★★★★ |
| Returns Policy | ★★★★★ |
| Customer Support | ★★★★✩ |
| Features | 560,000+ Audiobooks, 64kb Quality |
| Unique Features | Audible Plus, Unlimited Audible Originals, Exclusive Podcasts, Alexa |
| Best for | Serious Bookworms |
| ♲ Subscription | Monthly, Yearly |
| Price | $7.95/m|$14.95/m|$149/y |
| Devices | Android, Apple, Alexa |
| Region | Global |
| ✂ Discount | Yearly Plan – 20% |
Pros
✔ Lifetime Access to the Books You Buy
✔ The Biggest Library 560K+ Titles
✔ Lowest Cost per Book $9.56
✔ 12 Month Returns Policy
✔ Compatible on All Devices
✔ Syncs with Kindle
✔ Smart Speaker & Alexa Integration
✔ High-quality audio 64 kbps bitrate
Cons
❌ Authors complain commissions are low.
Audible Review Summary
My Audible review testing shows it has the largest library of 560,000+ audiobooks, the best book returns policy, and the lowest cost per book at $9.56. Audible Plus gives you free access to 9,000+ books in your membership. Free Audible Family sharing is also a nice touch, enabling you to share all books with two adults and up to four children.
Audible Plus includes exclusive Audible Originals, Audible Studios, and high-quality original Podcasts. Finally, bestsellers are usually released on Audible first, and you keep the books you buy for life.
As a long-time member, I can attest that you will find the service unbeatable in terms of value and selection. New releases and bestsellers are inevitably released on Audible first, as its market share and customer base make it irresistible to publishers.
Video: Why the world loves Audible
How Does Audible Work
While you can purchase individual audiobooks on Audible without a subscription, it primarily operates on a subscription basis using credits. One credit equals one book. An individual audiobook purchase costs about $20. With a subscription for extra credits and special offers, you can lower the cost per book to approximately $10.
Pricing Plans, Credits & Special Offers
With Audible, you need a subscription, which means you get to buy books at a tiny fraction of their retail value. Although some people think Audible is expensive, the reality is that it’s actually the cheapest way to buy audiobooks.
Audible Plus costs $7.95 monthly, with unlimited access to 9,000+ Audible originals and podcasts. But if you want premium blockbuster titles, one credit costs $14.95 per month.
Opting for the Audible two credits service costs $22.95, bringing your average book price down to $11.47.
For the lowest price per book, consider the 24 credits per year package at $229.50, which averages out to $9.56 per book.
Audible Subscription & Pricing
With the Audible Premium Plus subscription, you will get one credit for any title and unlimited access to Audible Original titles and podcasts. This means you get one premium book per month for $14.95.
If you pay this subscription annually, you will pay $149.50, meaning you get two free months, and this brings the average cost per book down to $12.45, the lowest price in the industry.
You could also opt for $22.95 per month for two audiobook credits, which cost $11.47 per book, saving $3.42 per book.
The best deal is the 24 credits per year package at $229.50, which averages out to $9.56 per book.
Finally, Audible has a massive selection of exclusive professional podcasts that are free to members. They will also send you Christmas stories for the family and children at Christmas, a charming touch.
How to Get Extra Credits With Audible
Whichever subscription you choose, you will get 30% off any other purchases. The best news is that if you run out of subscription credits, Audible will allow you to buy extra credit for between $7 and $10 per credit, which is incredible value for money.
Audible Special Promotions
Additionally, nearly every week, you will receive special promotions for “2 books for one credit” or “Every book for $3,” which are excellent deals. This means your cost per book is even lower. I have the two-books-per-month subscription, but considering the special offers and low-cost extra credits, I estimate my average cost per book to be $8.
Is Audible Free With Prime?
No, Audible is not free with Prime or included with a Prime subscription. However, if you have a Prime subscription, you will get an extra free audiobook when you start a 30-day free trial. This means your free trial will have two free audiobooks rather than 1.
Audible vs. Audiobooks vs. Everand
| Audible vs. Audiobooks vs. Everand | Audible | Audiobooks | Everand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9★ | 4.2⯪ | 3.8★ |
| Do You Own the Audiobook? | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Lifetime Access to Books | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Audiobooks Collection | 560,000+ | 370,000 + | 40,000 |
| # Audiobooks/Month | 1 Book | 1 Book | Unlimited/Throttled |
| Bonus Books With Membership | 9,000 Audible Plus | 1 VIP Collection | ✘ |
| Returns Policy | 1 Year No Limit | At Company Discretion | N/A |
| Family Sharing (Included) | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Membership /Monthly | $14.95 | $14.95 | $9.95 |
| Membership /Yearly | $149.50 | – | – |
| Cost per Book /Yearly | $12.45 | $14.95 | – |
| Platinum 24 Books /Yearly | $229.50 | – | – |
| Platinum Cost Per Book | $9.56 | – | – |
| Result | Winner | Recommended | |
| Try It | Visit Audible | Visit Audiobooks | Visit Everand |
Library
Over the past few years, I have noticed the incredible growth in Audible’s original and exclusive content. Being an Amazon company, Audible can invest heavily in differentiating itself from its competitors.
- Audible Plus (New) – 9,000 quality audiobooks available to every member for free. This separates Audible from its competitors.
- Audible Originals – Produced by Audible Studios, high-quality blockbuster titles like Winter Rising by Alex Callister (11 hours 31 minutes)
- Audible Original Podcasts – Free Podcasts Exclusively from Audible, featuring big names such as Stephen Fry’s “Victorian Secrets” (7 hours 40 minutes)
- Audible Theatre – High-end theater production from great names, for example, Stories by Heart by John Lithgow
Sound Quality
Audible offers two formats, Enhanced and Format 4. Format 4 has a 32 kbps bitrate for those who value storage space rather than audio quality. The Audible Enhanced Format is currently at 64kbps, higher than its closest competitor, Audiobooks.com, which uses 32kbps. Audible is also experimenting with a bit rate of 128kbps.
I download all my books in Enhanced format, exclusive to Audible. Audiobooks in Enhanced format are minimally compressed, so their audio quality is the best on the market. This means the audiobook file is larger and takes more time to download.
Audible vs. Audiobooks.com Library & Audio Quality
| Audible vs. Audiobooks Product Comparison | Audible | Audiobooks |
|---|---|---|
| Audiobook Type | Full | Full |
| Do You Own the Audiobook? | ✔ | ✔ |
| Lifetime Access to Books | ✔ | ✔ |
| Audiobooks Collection | 560,000+ | 200,000+ |
| Audio Quality | Excellent (64kbps) | Good (32 kbps) |
| Free Podcasts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Exclusive Content (Podcasts & Original Productions) | ✔ | ✘ |
| Podcasts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Result | Winner | |
| Visit Audible | Visit Audiobooks |
Customer Service & Returns Policy
One of the most important reasons Audible is the clear winner for me is that they have the industry’s best returns policy. If you do not like a book, for whatever reason, the narrator, the plot, or it is dull, you can return it within one year of purchase.
Great Listens Guarantee
“For me, one of the essential elements of books or audiobooks is that you get to keep the books you pay for. I own 500+ titles valued at $7,500, and I am pleased that I can hand them down to my children in the future.”
Some services, such as Everand, offer an unlimited listening subscription, but you are just borrowing the book for the duration of your subscription. When you end the subscription, you have nothing.
With Audible, you can still log in and use the app even after ending the subscription.
Nothing is worse than paying for a book you ultimately dislike; Audible solves this problem with its “Great Listens Guarantee.”
You can go to Account -> Purchases -> Click Return Title, and you will immediately be refunded your credit.
I would know; I have returned at least 50 books for numerous reasons, and they have never once said no.
Finally, you can contact Audible via phone, chat, or email. I have used chat many times, and they are available instantly, 24/7, with no wait; that is an excellent service.
App & Device Compatibility
Play Store App Rating – 4.6 ☆ Excellent
Having used the Audible app for so long, I can safely say it is rock solid, easy to use, and perfect.
The Audible App has the following key features:
- Car Mode – This makes the app simple to use when driving with bigger buttons.
- Books Sharing – Send a Book to a Friend or share your progress
- Clips, Bookmarks & Notes – saving sound clips and making notes
- Sleep Timer – useful for listening when you go to bed, so it does not play all night
- Variable Speed Playback – great for slow narrators or digesting long books quicker
Your Audible books will play on all devices, including Apple, Android, and Smart TVs; even the Amazon Alexa smart speaker will read them to you.
How Many Books Are Available on Audible?
Over 560,000 audiobooks are available on Audible. I went to every category section on Audible to count the total number of books accurately; Audible has the largest collection of audiobooks on earth.
Audible Audiobook Download Speeds
Downloading an Audiobook to your phone is quick, even with enhanced mode quality. Within 30 seconds, you can start listening to a book. This is because the intelligent downloading system allows you to start listening before downloading the entire audiobook.
Audible Customer Satisfaction
They say customers vote with their feet; if this is the case, our recent audiobook survey suggests that Audible Customers are thrilled. Audible was the most popular choice of audiobook service in our 1,000-person poll.
Wrap Up
Audible won my Audiobooks Comparison and testing. It has the largest library, a one-year returns policy, and 9,000 high-quality free books in the Audible Plus catalog. As part of your membership, you will also receive access to Audible Originals and Audible Studios productions and a wealth of high-quality, exclusive podcasts. I have been a member since 2011 and find the service unbeatable for value and selection.
Audible Features, Benefits & Costs Table
FAQ
How does Audible work?
Audible is an audiobook service that allows you to listen to books on your preferred device. It offers a vast library of audiobooks, including bestsellers, classic literature, and exclusive content.
Can I listen to Audible without an internet connection?
Yes, you can download audiobooks from Audible and listen to them offline. This feature is especially useful for those who want to enjoy their books while traveling or in areas with limited internet access.
How much does Audible membership cost?
Audible starts at $7.95 for Audible Plus. For Premium books the one credit per month plan costs $14.95 and for two credits it is $22.95.
Can I return audiobooks on Audible?
Yes, Audible has a generous return policy. If you're not satisfied with a book, you can easily return it within a year of purchase and get a refund or exchange it for another title.
What is Audible Plus?
Audible Plus is a subscription plan that gives you access to a wide range of audiobooks and podcasts from their extensive library. It includes thousands of titles that you can listen to as much as you want, without using any credits.
Can I listen to Audible on multiple devices?
Yes, you can listen to Audible on multiple devices with multiple family members. The service is compatible with various platforms, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart speakers. You can seamlessly switch between devices and pick up where you left off.
Do I need a Kindle to listen to Audible?
No, you don't need a Kindle to listen to Audible. While Audible is owned by Amazon, you can access and listen to audiobooks using the Audible app on your preferred device, regardless of whether you own a Kindle or not.
Can I share my Audible account with family members?
Yes, Audible offers a Family Sharing feature that allows you to share your audiobooks with members of your Amazon Household. This means you can enjoy your favorite titles together with your loved ones without the need for separate accounts.
Are there any additional benefits to being an Audible member?
Absolutely! As an Audible member, you gain access to exclusive member-only deals, discounts on additional audiobooks, and the opportunity to explore Audible Originals, which are unique, original audio productions.
Can I cancel my Audible membership anytime?
Yes, you can cancel your Audible membership at any time. There are no long-term commitments or cancellation fees. If you decide to cancel, you'll still have lifetime access to the audiobooks you've purchased.
Audible
Audible has the largest library of audiobooks on the planet, offering over 200,000 books. As part of your membership, you will also receive access to Audible Original and Audible Studios productions and a wealth of high-quality exclusive podcasts.
Product SKU: NA
Product Brand: Audible
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 7.95
Price Valid Until: 2025-06-01
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.9
