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| There are several free and paid Audible alternatives |
If you love to listen to audiobooks you'll easily find apps and websites providing access to all kinds of public domain works, such as those provided by Librivox. But what if you want to listen to new and bestselling titles? Or older titles that are still copyrighted? There are several paid and free services available that offer bestselling or newer audiobooks for a monthly fee, at discounted prices, or for free.
Audible (owned by Amazon) is the best-known audiobook service, but one that's quite expensive. At the time of writing, $14.95 a month comes with 1 audiobook credit while $22.95 a month gets you 2 credits. Subscribers also have full access to the Audible Plus catalog. If you don't like a book you buy with one of your credits, you can exchange it. If you cancel, you get to keep purchased audiobooks, although you lose access to the Audible Plus catalog. If $14.95 is too steep a price to pay, these are some paid and free alternatives to consider.
Paid AudioBook Services:
Audible Plus
Audible's all-you-can-listen plan Audible Plus is $7.95 a month. Because this service is similar to Netflix in how it works, you don't own anything you listen to on the service. However, for a little over half the price of Audible, it's a great option for anyone who wants lots of books to listen to at an affordable price. This plan provides access to a limited selection of audiobooks. Books included with Audible Plus are labeled Included, so it's easy to see what is and isn't available to you.
Scribd
Like Audible Plus, Scribd is a subscription service without the option to buy books to own. Unlike Audible Plus, it also offers ebooks and documents. For just $9.99 a month, the service provides "unlimited" access. Scribd used to offer this unlimited service in the past before switching to a credit system allowing subscribers to read three ebooks and listen to one audiobook per month. They have since returned to their unlimited service. However, if Scribd decides you're reading or listening too much each month, limitations may be placed on your account. Some books won't be available to you until a specified date. So while it's marketed as unlimited, if you are a heavy user, that may not be the case. Scribd also comes with perks including free subscriptions to CuriosityStream, Peak Pro, and CONtv + Comics. In my opinion, this is a great deal because it offers so much content for only $9.99 a month. However, unlike Audible, it won't have every book you may want.
Kobobooks
Owned by Japanese conglomerate Rakuten, the Kobobooks audiobook service is similar to the one offered by Audible, but costs $9.99 a month. Subscribers get one credit per month. Like with Audible, you get to keep your books if you cancel your subscription. Subscribers also have access to Kobo Originals. However, the Kobo Originals library isn't as extensive as the offerings on Audible Plus.
Downpour
Like with Kobo, Downpour members receive 1 credit per month but at a cost of $12.99. They don't offer extras like Audible Plus and Kobo Originals.
Chirp
Chirp advertises itself as, "No subscription fees. Just amazing audiobook deals." They offer Featured Deals that are up to 95% off. They also let you know how many hours or days are left in a sale. Some books are on sale for as many as 25 days. Before I buy an audiobook, I always check Chirp first to see if it is being offered at a steep discount.
Audible's all-you-can-listen plan Audible Plus is $7.95 a month. Because this service is similar to Netflix in how it works, you don't own anything you listen to on the service. However, for a little over half the price of Audible, it's a great option for anyone who wants lots of books to listen to at an affordable price. This plan provides access to a limited selection of audiobooks. Books included with Audible Plus are labeled Included, so it's easy to see what is and isn't available to you.
Scribd
Like Audible Plus, Scribd is a subscription service without the option to buy books to own. Unlike Audible Plus, it also offers ebooks and documents. For just $9.99 a month, the service provides "unlimited" access. Scribd used to offer this unlimited service in the past before switching to a credit system allowing subscribers to read three ebooks and listen to one audiobook per month. They have since returned to their unlimited service. However, if Scribd decides you're reading or listening too much each month, limitations may be placed on your account. Some books won't be available to you until a specified date. So while it's marketed as unlimited, if you are a heavy user, that may not be the case. Scribd also comes with perks including free subscriptions to CuriosityStream, Peak Pro, and CONtv + Comics. In my opinion, this is a great deal because it offers so much content for only $9.99 a month. However, unlike Audible, it won't have every book you may want.
Kobobooks
Owned by Japanese conglomerate Rakuten, the Kobobooks audiobook service is similar to the one offered by Audible, but costs $9.99 a month. Subscribers get one credit per month. Like with Audible, you get to keep your books if you cancel your subscription. Subscribers also have access to Kobo Originals. However, the Kobo Originals library isn't as extensive as the offerings on Audible Plus.
Downpour
Like with Kobo, Downpour members receive 1 credit per month but at a cost of $12.99. They don't offer extras like Audible Plus and Kobo Originals.
Chirp
Chirp advertises itself as, "No subscription fees. Just amazing audiobook deals." They offer Featured Deals that are up to 95% off. They also let you know how many hours or days are left in a sale. Some books are on sale for as many as 25 days. Before I buy an audiobook, I always check Chirp first to see if it is being offered at a steep discount.
Free AudioBook Services:
Free audiobook services require a library card. Getting cards from multiple library systems can provide access to a greater number of titles and varied lending periods. These apps are perfect for voracious readers who can read or listen to an unlimited number of titles.
Libby by Overdrive
Libby by Overdrive is a free service offering access to many newer releases. More than 30,000 libraries support Overdrive. A library card is required. Each library system sets limits on how many books can be checked out at a time and how many can be placed on hold. For example, a library may allow users to borrow up to fifteen ebooks and audiobooks at a time, and place up to 15 on hold. Because this service is available through libraries you are borrowing books and there are limits on how long you can keep them. Each library has its own rules but most allow borrowers to keep a book for 14 or 21 days. Books can be renewed if no one has them on hold. You should return books immediately after finishing them, which makes them available to other readers. When a book you have on hold becomes available you have the option to borrow it or deliver it later if you don't have time to read or listen to it. Thousands of titles are offered.
Libby by Overdrive
Libby by Overdrive is a free service offering access to many newer releases. More than 30,000 libraries support Overdrive. A library card is required. Each library system sets limits on how many books can be checked out at a time and how many can be placed on hold. For example, a library may allow users to borrow up to fifteen ebooks and audiobooks at a time, and place up to 15 on hold. Because this service is available through libraries you are borrowing books and there are limits on how long you can keep them. Each library has its own rules but most allow borrowers to keep a book for 14 or 21 days. Books can be renewed if no one has them on hold. You should return books immediately after finishing them, which makes them available to other readers. When a book you have on hold becomes available you have the option to borrow it or deliver it later if you don't have time to read or listen to it. Thousands of titles are offered.
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| Books available on Libby are loans |
Hoopla
Like Overdrive and Libby, Hoopla provides access to digital content provided by public libraries around the country. Hoopla provides access to ebooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, and television shows. While I have to put many books I want on hold with Libby, Hoopla offers instant access. Unfortunately, Hoopla through my library doesn't offer nearly as many books as Libby. However, it does offer visual content including many titles in The Great Courses series. Movies and TV shows are only available for 3 days.
Other Services
Libby and Hoopla aren't the only services offered by libraries, but they are two of the most popular. To see which audiobook service your library offers, check out the Digital Content section on their website.
Like Overdrive and Libby, Hoopla provides access to digital content provided by public libraries around the country. Hoopla provides access to ebooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, and television shows. While I have to put many books I want on hold with Libby, Hoopla offers instant access. Unfortunately, Hoopla through my library doesn't offer nearly as many books as Libby. However, it does offer visual content including many titles in The Great Courses series. Movies and TV shows are only available for 3 days.
Other Services
Libby and Hoopla aren't the only services offered by libraries, but they are two of the most popular. To see which audiobook service your library offers, check out the Digital Content section on their website.
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