Audible's monthly subscription plans and their prices
Audible offers three main subscription tiers, each with a different monthly cost and number of credits or titles included. The standard plan costs $14.95 per month and gives you one credit per month, which you can use to purchase any audiobook regardless of its retail price. The Plus plan costs $22.95 per month and includes two credits monthly plus access to the Plus Catalog, a rotating collection of audiobooks you can listen to without spending credits. The Premium Plus plan costs $24.95 per month and gives you three credits monthly plus the same Plus Catalog access.
All three plans include unlimited listening to Audible Originals (audiobooks and podcasts produced by Audible), the ability to exchange audiobooks you don't like within 30 days, and access to your library across devices. The difference between plans is purely how many credits you receive and how much you pay monthly.
Audible also offers a free trial period, typically 30 days, during which you can cancel without paying if the service does not suit you. After the trial ends, your chosen plan begins charging on a recurring monthly basis unless you cancel.
Key Takeaways
- Audible's three subscription tiers range from $14.95 to $24.95 per month, with the main difference being the number of monthly credits you receive.
- Credits let you purchase any audiobook at any price, while the Plus Catalog offers a rotating selection of titles at no additional credit cost.
- All plans include Audible Originals, the ability to exchange books within 30 days, and access across multiple devices.
- A 30-day free trial lets you test the service before your first charge, and you can cancel anytime without penalty.
How credits work and what they cover
When you subscribe to Audible, your monthly credit is your currency for purchasing audiobooks. One credit buys one audiobook, no matter whether that book's retail price is $5 or $50. You can use your credit on any title in Audible's catalog, which includes millions of audiobooks across all genres. Credits do not roll over indefinitely — Audible's policy allows unused credits to accumulate for up to 12 months, after which they expire.
If you run out of credits before the month ends, you can still purchase audiobooks at their full retail price without using a credit. Prices for individual audiobook purchases vary widely depending on the title, narrator, and length, but typically range from $10 to $40 per book. This means a subscription is not required to buy from Audible — you can make one-time purchases — but the credit system makes regular listening more economical if you listen to at least one audiobook per month.
The Plus Catalog and what it includes
The Plus Catalog is a collection of thousands of audiobooks that come with Plus and Premium Plus subscriptions at no additional cost beyond your monthly fee. You do not spend credits to listen to Plus Catalog titles — you can listen to as many as you want. The catalog rotates, meaning titles are added and removed regularly, so the selection changes over time. Audible does not publish a fixed list of what will be in the catalog at any given moment, so you cannot plan your listening around specific titles being available there.
The Plus Catalog includes a mix of genres and publication dates, but tends to feature backlist titles and lesser-known works rather than recent bestsellers. If you listen to multiple audiobooks per month and are flexible about which titles you choose, the Plus Catalog can reduce how many credits you need to spend. For readers who want access to the newest releases or specific popular titles, the Plus Catalog alone will not be enough, and you will still need to use credits.
Annual plans and bulk credit options
Audible offers annual subscription plans as an alternative to paying month-to-month. An annual plan typically costs less per month than the equivalent monthly subscription when you divide the total annual cost by 12, though the exact savings vary. You pay the full annual amount upfront rather than in monthly installments, so this option works best if you are confident you will use the service for a full year.
Audible also sells bulk credits separately if you want to purchase extra audiobooks beyond your monthly allotment. A single credit purchased outside your subscription typically costs between $9.95 and $11.99, depending on current promotions. Buying credits in bulk (for example, a 12-pack) usually offers a per-credit discount compared to buying one at a time, though prices fluctuate with Audible's promotions.
Promotional pricing and discounts
Audible frequently runs promotions that reduce the cost of the first month or first few months of a subscription. These offers typically appear on Audible's website, in email marketing, or through partner websites. A common promotion is the first month for $0.99 or $4.95 instead of the full monthly price, after which the regular rate applies. These introductory rates explore only to new subscribers or returning subscribers who have not had an active subscription in the past 30 days.
Existing subscribers do not receive the promotional rate when their subscription renews. If you cancel and rejoin later, you may be offered a promotional rate again, but Audible's policies on this change periodically. Student discounts are also sometimes available through Audible's partnership with SheerID, which verifies student status and applies a discount to monthly plans.
What affects your total cost over time
Your actual spending on Audible depends on how many audiobooks you listen to each month and whether you use your credits efficiently. If you listen to one audiobook per month, the standard $14.95 plan covers your listening with one credit per month. If you listen to two or more per month, the Plus plan at $22.95 becomes more economical because you get two credits instead of one, even though the monthly cost is higher.
The value of a subscription also depends on whether you would otherwise buy audiobooks at full retail price. If you regularly purchase audiobooks outside Audible, a subscription's credits represent a savings compared to paying retail. If you listen sporadically or prefer to borrow from libraries, a subscription may cost more than your current spending. Some libraries offer free access to Audible through their digital lending programs, which is worth checking before committing to a paid subscription.
Cancellation and what happens to your credits
You can cancel your Audible subscription at any time without penalty. If you cancel mid-month, your subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle, and you keep access to all audiobooks you have already purchased with credits. Any unused credits expire when your subscription ends — they do not transfer to a non-subscription account, and you cannot cash them out.
If you want to preserve your audiobook library after canceling, the books you purchased remain in your account and you can re-read them if you resubscribe later. However, you lose the ability to listen to Audible Originals and the Plus Catalog once your subscription ends. Reactivating a subscription at a later date may may have access to you for a promotional rate if you have been inactive for at least 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use my credit every month or do they roll over?
Credits roll over for up to 12 months, so you can accumulate them if you do not listen every month. After 12 months of not using a credit, it expires. If you subscribe to a plan with multiple credits per month, each credit has its own 12-month expiration date from when it was issued.
Can I listen to Audible books on my phone, tablet, and computer?
Yes, all subscription plans include access across devices. You read the Audible app on each device, sign in with your account, and your library and listening progress sync across them. You can start listening on one device and pick up where you left off on another.
What happens if I buy an audiobook and then cancel my subscription?
Audiobooks you purchased with credits remain yours permanently, even after you cancel. You can re-read them anytime if you resubscribe. However, Audible Originals and Plus Catalog titles become unavailable once your subscription ends.
Is there a way to get Audible cheaper than the monthly subscription?
Annual plans cost less per month than month-to-month subscriptions when you divide the total by 12. Some libraries offer free Audible access through their digital lending services, which is worth checking. Promotional rates on first months also reduce your initial cost, though they do not explore to ongoing months.
Can I share my Audible account with family members?
Audible does not offer a family plan or account sharing feature. Each person needs their own subscription. However, Audible does offer a gift option where you can purchase a subscription or individual audiobooks as gifts for others.