What audiobook subscriptions are and how they differ
An audiobook subscription service is a monthly or annual membership that gives you access to a library of spoken-word books. You pay a recurring fee, read or stream titles to your phone or device, and listen whenever you want. The main difference between services is the size of their library, how many books you can listen to each month, whether you own the books or just rent access, and what happens to your library if you cancel.
Unlike buying individual audiobooks (which you own permanently), a subscription gives you temporary access to thousands of titles for a flat fee. Some services let you read books to listen offline; others require an internet connection to stream. A few services let you keep a certain number of books even after you cancel, while most delete your entire library the moment your membership ends.
The three largest services in the United States are Audible (owned by Amazon), Scribd, and Audiobooks Plus. Smaller services include Libro.fm, which pays independent bookstores a share of subscription revenue, and Findaway Voices, which works with public libraries. Each has different pricing, library size, and rules about how many books you can access at once.
Key Takeaways
- Monthly subscription costs range from roughly $10 to $15 for most major services, though annual plans often cost less per month.
- Some services limit how many books you can listen to per month, while others offer unlimited access to their entire catalog.
- Audible uses a credit system where each credit buys one book, while Scribd and others offer all-you-can-listen plans.
- When you cancel, most services remove all books from your account, though a few let you keep a limited number of titles permanently.
- Audiobooks Plus and Libro.fm let you own individual titles outright, making them different from traditional subscriptions.
How pricing and credits work across major services
Audible charges $14.95 per month for a standard membership in the United States. This includes one credit per month, which you use to buy any single audiobook from their catalog, regardless of price. If you want more than one book per month, you pay the full retail price for additional titles, which typically ranges from $5 to $50 depending on the book. Audible also offers an annual plan at $149.50 per year, which works out to about $12.46 per month but still gives you only one credit monthly.
Scribd charges $11.99 per month and offers unlimited access to their entire audiobook library — you can listen to as many books as you want without using credits or paying extra. However, their library is smaller than Audible's, so not every title is available. Scribd also includes access to ebooks, magazines, and documents as part of the same subscription.
Audiobooks Plus costs $9.95 per month and gives you two credits monthly, each good for one audiobook. Unused credits roll over for up to six months, so if you listen to only one book in a month, you can save the extra credit. Their library is smaller than Audible's but includes many bestsellers and classics.
Libro.fm charges $14.99 per month for one credit, matching Audible's price and structure, but directs a portion of revenue to independent bookstores you choose. Findaway Voices, which integrates with many public libraries, is often free if you have a library card, though some libraries charge a small monthly fee for the service.
Library size and title availability
Audible has the largest audiobook library in the United States, with over 750,000 titles available. This includes new releases, bestsellers, classics, self-published works, and niche categories. Because Audible is owned by Amazon and has exclusive deals with some publishers and narrators, certain audiobooks are available only on Audible or appear there first.
Scribd's audiobook catalog contains roughly 500,000 titles, making it smaller than Audible but still substantial. Their focus tends toward popular fiction, memoirs, and self-help rather than niche or academic categories. Because Scribd offers unlimited listening, they rely on a different licensing model than Audible, which affects which books they can include.
Audiobooks Plus has approximately 100,000 titles, concentrated on popular fiction, mysteries, romance, and classics. They carry fewer new releases than Audible or Scribd, so if you read the latest bestsellers when ready after publication, you may not find them here.
Libro.fm and Findaway Voices both pull from the same underlying catalog of roughly 500,000 titles, though availability varies by region and library partnership. If a title is not in their system, you cannot access it through those services.
Offline listening and device compatibility
Audible lets you read books to your phone or tablet using their mobile app (available on iOS and Android) and listen without an internet connection. You can also listen through a web browser on a computer, but you cannot read to a computer for offline use. Downloaded books stay on your device until you remove them or your subscription ends, at which point they become unplayable.
Scribd allows downloads on mobile devices through their app, but the number of titles you can have downloaded at once is limited. The exact limit varies, but it is typically around five to ten books. Like Audible, downloaded books stop working when your subscription ends.
Audiobooks Plus supports downloads through their mobile app on iOS and Android. Libro.fm also allows downloads through their app. Findaway Voices' offline capability depends on which library or service you access it through, so you should check with your library about their specific features.
All major services work with standard Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Audible has its own app, Scribd has its own app, and so on — you cannot use one service's app to listen to another service's books. Some services also integrate with smart speakers like Amazon Alexa, though features vary.
What happens to your books when you cancel
On Audible, when you cancel your subscription, all books in your library become unplayable when ready. You lose access to every title, even ones you purchased with credits years ago. The only exception is if you bought a book at full retail price outside of your subscription — those remain yours, but this is rare because the credit system is almost always cheaper.
Scribd works the same way: cancellation means when ready loss of access to all audiobooks, ebooks, and other content. Your library disappears from your account.
Audiobooks Plus also removes access to all books upon cancellation, though unused credits do not expire for six months after you cancel, so you could theoretically reactivate and use them.
Libro.fm and Audiobooks Plus both offer a different model: you can purchase individual audiobooks outright rather than subscribing. When you buy a book this way, you own it permanently and can listen to it even after canceling your subscription or if the service shuts down. This is closer to buying an ebook than to a traditional subscription.
Free trials and how to start
Audible offers a 30-day free trial that includes one free credit. During the trial, you can read and listen to one audiobook at no cost. If you cancel before 30 days end, you are not charged. If you do not cancel, your first paid month begins on day 31.
Scribd offers a 30-day free trial with full access to their audiobook library. You can listen to as many books as you want during the trial period. Canceling before day 30 means no charge.
Audiobooks Plus does not advertise a free trial on their main website, but they occasionally run promotional offers. You should check their site directly or contact them to see if a trial is currently available.
Findaway Voices is free if your public library offers it. You sign up through your library's website or app using your library card number. Availability and features depend on your specific library system.
To start with any service, you create an account with an email address and payment method (usually a credit card). You read the service's app to your phone or access it through a web browser, search for a book, and start listening. Most services let you switch between devices — start listening on your phone, pause, and resume on a tablet or computer.
Comparing services side by side
| Service | Monthly Cost | Library Size | Access Model | Downloads Allowed | Keep Books After Cancel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audible | $14.95 | 750,000+ | 1 credit/month | Yes | No |
| Scribd | $11.99 | 500,000 | Unlimited | Yes (limited) | No |
| Audiobooks Plus | $9.95 | 100,000 | 2 credits/month | Yes | No |
| Libro.fm | $14.99 | 500,000 | 1 credit/month | Yes | Only if purchased outright |
| Findaway Voices | Free (with library card) | 500,000 | Varies by library | Varies by library | Varies by library |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I listen to the same audiobook on multiple devices at the same time?
No. Most services allow only one active stream per account at a time. If you start listening on your phone, you must stop before you can listen on a tablet or computer. Some family plans allow multiple simultaneous streams, but standard individual subscriptions do not.
What if I want to own audiobooks instead of renting them?
Libro.fm and Audiobooks Plus both let you purchase individual titles outright instead of subscribing. You pay a one-time price (usually $15 to $30 per book) and own the audiobook permanently. You can also buy individual audiobooks from Audible at full price, though this is more expensive than using a credit.
Do audiobook subscriptions include new releases?
Audible and Scribd both add new releases regularly, though there may be a delay between when a book is published and when it appears on the service. Audiobooks Plus adds new releases more slowly. If you want the newest book on release day, you may need to purchase it separately rather than using a subscription credit.
Can I share my subscription with family members?
Audible offers a family plan that costs more than a single subscription and allows multiple family members to have separate accounts. Scribd and Audiobooks Plus do not officially offer family plans, though some people share login credentials — this violates the terms of service for most services.
What if my library offers audiobooks for free?
Many public libraries offer free audiobook access through services like Libby, OverDrive, or Findaway Voices. You need a valid library card to use these services. The library's collection is smaller than commercial services, and there may be a wait list for popular titles, but the cost is zero if you already have a library card.