Audible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison

Is Audible the King of Audiobooks? This Audible Review Compares Price Per Book, Library Size, Audio Quality & Returns Policy With Its Competitors

Audible is simply the largest audiobook collection and the lowest cost per book. I am a voracious reader and have been an Audible subscriber since 2011. With 350 books in my library worth $4,500, I can provide you with a complete review and test of Audible.

Audible RatingAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks 4.9/5.0
💸 PricingAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks ★★★★★
🚦 Audiobook Availability ★★★★★
📰 Library Depth ★★★★★
🖱  UsabilityAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks ★★★★★
↩ Returns PolicyAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks ★★★★★
☎ Customer SupportAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks ★★★★✩

Audible Review Summary

Our Audible review shows it has the largest library of 520,000 audiobooks, the best book returns policy, and the lowest cost per book at $9.56. Audible just released Audible Plus, which gives access to 9,000 books for free in your membership.

Audible also offers exclusive Audible Original, 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 you will find the service unbeatable for 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.

Audible Review: Features

⚡ FeaturesAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks 220,000 Audiobooks, 64kb Quality
🏆 Unique FeaturesAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks Audible Plus, Unlimited Audible Originals, Exclusive Podcasts, Alexa
🎯 Best for Serious Bookworms
♲ Subscription Monthly, Yearly
💰 Price $14.99-$22.50/mo
💻 OS Android, Apple
✂ Discount None Available
🌎 Region Global

Audible Pros

Review Winning Software
Audible Review: Review Winner

★ Lifetime Access to the Books You Buy
★ The Biggest Library 570K+ 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

Audible Cons

✘ Nothing

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Audible Review
In-depth Review & Testing of the Audible Audiobook Service

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 $9.

Audible Pricing Plans, Credits & Special Offers

Audibleplus costs $7.95 monthly, with unlimited access to all 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.

With Audible, you need a subscription, which means you get to buy books at a tiny fraction of their retail value. Some believe that Audible is expensive, but the reality is that they are the cheapest way to buy audiobooks.

Audible Audiobooks App - Homescreen - Always has a Good Member Deal
Audible Audiobooks App – Homescreen – Always has a Good Member Deal

Audible Subscription & Pricing

With the audiblepremiumplus 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.

Finally, Audible has a massive selection of exclusive professional Podcasts they offer 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 credits between $5 and $7 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. Audiobook vs. Scribd Pricing Comparison

Audible vs. Audiobooks vs. Scribd Audible Visit Audiobooks.com Scribd Audiobooks
RatingAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks ★★★★★ ★★★★☆ ★★★☆☆
Do You Own the Audiobook?
Lifetime Access to Books
Audiobooks Collection 520,000+ 200,000 + 40,000
# Audiobooks / Month 1 Book 1 Book Unlimited/Throttled
Bonus Books With Membership 1 Audible Original 1 VIP Collection
Returns PolicyAudible Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks 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  
Visit Audible Visit Audiobooks Visit Scribd

Audible Review: Content

Over the past few years, I have noticed the incredible growth in Audible 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

Audible Review: 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 Comparison

Audible vs. Audiobooks Product Comparison Audible Visit Audiobooks.com
Audiobook Type Full Full
Do You Own the Audiobook?
Lifetime Access to Books
Audiobooks Collection 220,000+ 200,000+
Audio Quality Excellent (64kbps) Good (32 kbps)
Free Podcasts
Exclusive Content (Podcasts & Original Productions)
Podcasts
Result Winner
Visit Audible Visit Audiobooks

Audible 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

The Excellent Audible App Library - Easy To Use.
The Excellent Audible App Library – Easy To Use.

“For me, one of the essential elements of books or audiobooks is that you get to keep the books you pay for. I own nearly 300 titles valued at $4,500, and I am pleased that I can hand them down to my children in the future.”

Some services, such as Scribd, 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 never once have they 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.

Audible 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 from Apple, Android, and Smart TVs; even the Amazon Alexa smart speaker will read them to you.

How Many Books Are Available on Audible?

There are over 520,000 audiobooks available on Audible. I went to every category section on Audible to accurately count the total number of books; 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 amongst our 1,000 people poll.

Pie Chart - Survey Question: What is the Best Audiobook Service?
Pie Chart – Survey Question: What is the Best Audiobook Service?

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Audible Review Summary

Audible wins our Audiobooks review, with the largest library, a 1-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 Original 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.

Video: Why the world loves Audible

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Audible Features, Benefits & Costs Table

Audiobook ServiceAudible
Our Rating☆☆☆☆☆
Audiobook TypeFull
Do You Own the Audiobook
Lifetime Access to Books
Audiobooks Collection200K+
Membership /month$14.95
Membership /yearly$149.50
# Audiobooks1 /month
Cost per book /monthly subscription$14.95
Cost per book /yearly subscription$12.45
Subscription RequiredYes
Audio QualityExcellent
Books Returns Policy1 Year
Unlimited
Customer SupportPhone, Chat, Email
Special ServicesAudible Original Podcasts
Podcasts
App Store Rating4.6 ☆
DevicesiPhone, Android, PC, TV, Alexa, Kindle, Fire TV
Smart SpeakerAlexa
Table 1: Audible Audiobook Service, Features, Benefits & Costs

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 Review 2024: Hands-On Test & Comparison Books & Audiobooks

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

Editor's Rating:
4.9
Barry D. Moore
Barry's 25 years of experience with Silicon Valley Corporations such as IBM, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Hewlett Packard Enterprise & DXC Technology enables him to share his knowledge of succeeding in today's professional corporate environments and develop a great work life for yourself.