What an Audible gift subscription includes
An Audible gift subscription gives the recipient a paid membership to Audible, Amazon's audiobook and podcast service, for a set period. The person who buys the gift chooses the length — typically one month, three months, six months, or one year — and pays upfront. The recipient receives a code or direct access to an Audible account with a monthly credit to spend on audiobooks, plus access to Audible Plus content (a rotating library of titles included with membership).
The gift does not stack with an existing subscription. If the recipient already has an active Audible account, the gift subscription begins after their current membership ends, or they can choose to start it on a different date. Audible sends the recipient an email with instructions to claim the gift, and they can set up or log into their account from there.
Key Takeaways
- Audible gift subscriptions come in one-month, three-month, six-month, and one-year terms, with prices varying by length and current promotions.
- The recipient gets a monthly credit (the amount depends on the subscription tier) to purchase any audiobook in Audible's catalog, plus access to included Audible Plus titles.
- You can send the gift when ready via email or schedule it for a future date, and the recipient claims it by entering a code or accepting the gift through their Amazon account.
- The gift subscription does not automatically renew; when it expires, the recipient must choose to purchase their own membership or let the account go inactive.
- If the recipient already subscribes to Audible, the gift credit typically waits until their current membership ends, though they can request it start sooner.
How much the gift costs and what credit the recipient receives
Audible gift subscription prices vary by length and change based on promotions. A one-month gift typically costs less than a full month of a standard subscription, while longer terms (six months or one year) often have a lower per-month cost. You can see the current price when you go to purchase on Audible's website or through Amazon.
The monthly credit amount depends on which subscription tier you choose. Standard Audible memberships include one credit per month, which the recipient can use to buy any single audiobook regardless of price. Some promotional offers or higher tiers may include more credits or additional benefits like discounts on audiobooks beyond the monthly credit.
The recipient can also purchase additional audiobooks beyond their monthly credit at Audible's member discount price, which is typically 30 percent off the retail price. Any credits not used in a given month do not roll over to the next month — they expire at the end of the billing period.
How to send an Audible gift subscription
To send a gift, go to Audible's gift page (audible.com/gift) or search for "Audible gift" on Amazon. Select the subscription length and price tier you want to give. You will then enter the recipient's email address and choose whether to send the gift when ready or schedule it for a specific date up to one year in advance.
Audible sends the recipient an email with a gift code or a direct link to claim the subscription. They do not need to have an Amazon account beforehand, though they will need to create or log into one to set up their Audible account and claim the gift. The email includes instructions for each step.
If you want to give the gift in person or include a personal message, you can print the gift code or take a screenshot of the email. Some people add it to a card or include it with another gift. The recipient can claim the code anytime after receiving it.
What happens when the gift subscription ends
When the gift subscription period ends, the recipient's Audible membership does not automatically renew. Their account becomes inactive, and they lose access to the Audible Plus library and the ability to use credits. Any unused credits expire when the membership ends.
The recipient will receive an email before the subscription expires, reminding them that their membership is about to end. If they want to continue, they can purchase their own subscription at that point. Audible sometimes offers discounts to former members or people whose gift subscriptions have ended, though these offers vary.
If the recipient does not renew, they keep any audiobooks they purchased with their credits — those remain in their library. They just lose the ability to buy new books or access the included Audible Plus content until they subscribe again.
Audible gift subscriptions versus buying individual audiobooks
A gift subscription gives the recipient ongoing access to credits and the Audible Plus library over several months, whereas buying a single audiobook is a one-time purchase. With a subscription, the recipient can explore different genres and authors each month without paying full price for each book. They also gain access to Audible Plus, which includes a rotating selection of titles at no additional cost beyond the subscription.
If you know the recipient loves audiobooks and listens regularly, a subscription is usually better value than a single book. If you are unsure whether they will use it, a gift card for a specific amount (which Audible also offers) lets them decide whether to start a subscription or buy individual titles. A gift subscription commits them to a membership for the duration you choose, whereas a gift card gives them more flexibility.
Restrictions and things to know before giving
Audible gift subscriptions are available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and several other countries, but not everywhere. The price and available subscription lengths may differ by country. If you are sending a gift to someone outside the US, check Audible's website for your recipient's country to confirm the gift option is available.
The recipient must be at least 18 years old to claim and use an Audible account. If you want to give an audiobook subscription to someone younger, you would need to set up a family account or purchase individual audiobooks instead.
Once you purchase a gift subscription, you cannot cancel it or get a refund. If the recipient does not claim the code within a certain period (usually several months), the code may expire. Audible's customer service can sometimes help if a code expires before the recipient claims it, but this is not may provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send an Audible gift subscription to someone who already has a subscription?
Yes. If the recipient has an active subscription, the gift will be held and begin after their current membership ends. They can also contact Audible customer service to request that the gift start on a different date or be applied to a different account.
What if the recipient does not use their monthly credit?
Unused credits expire at the end of each month and do not carry over. The recipient should use their credit before the billing date each month, or they lose it for that period. Audible sends reminders when a credit is about to expire.
Can I give an Audible gift subscription as a digital gift card instead?
Audible offers both gift subscriptions and gift cards. A gift card lets the recipient choose how to spend the amount (on a subscription, individual audiobooks, or both), while a subscription gift commits them to a membership for the length you select. Gift cards work differently and may have different terms.
What happens to audiobooks the recipient bought if their subscription ends?
Audiobooks purchased with subscription credits stay in the recipient's library permanently, even after the subscription ends. They can listen to those books anytime, but they cannot buy new books or access Audible Plus content without an active subscription.
Is there a way to extend a gift subscription if the recipient wants to keep it going?
No, but the recipient can purchase their own subscription when the gift ends. Audible sometimes sends discount offers to people whose gift subscriptions have expired, which may make renewal cheaper than the standard price.