Audible's current pricing and plan options
Audible offers three subscription tiers in the United States: a monthly plan at $14.95 per month, an annual plan at $14.95 per month paid upfront as $179.40 per year, and a discounted annual plan at $9.95 per month paid upfront as $119.40 per year. The annual plans lock you in for twelve months, while the monthly plan renews every thirty days and can be cancelled anytime without penalty.
All three tiers give you the same core features: one credit per month to read any audiobook regardless of price, access to the Audible Plus catalog of included titles, and the ability to listen on any device through the Audible app. The difference is in how much you pay per month and whether you commit to a year upfront.
Audible also runs promotional offers for new members, typically offering the first month at a reduced rate—sometimes $0.99 or $4.95—before the regular price kicks in. These promotions change frequently and vary by region, so the price you see when you sign up may differ from the standard rates listed above.
Key Takeaways
- Monthly membership costs $14.95 per month with no commitment, while annual membership costs $179.40 upfront ($14.95 per month) or $119.40 upfront ($9.95 per month) if you choose the discounted annual option.
- Every tier includes one credit per month to read any audiobook, plus access to the Audible Plus catalog of included titles at no extra cost.
- New member promotions often reduce the first month to $0.99 or $4.95, but regular pricing applies after that unless you cancel.
- Cancelling a monthly membership has no penalty, but annual plans require you to commit to twelve months or pay a cancellation fee.
What each monthly credit covers
Your monthly credit works like a voucher: you can use it to read any single audiobook in Audible's catalog, no matter how expensive. A newly released bestseller and a backlist title both cost one credit. Once you read an audiobook with your credit, it stays in your library permanently—you keep it even if you cancel your subscription later.
If you want to buy additional audiobooks beyond your monthly credit, Audible sells them individually at prices that vary by title, typically ranging from $5 to $50. Members receive a 30 percent discount on these purchases. You can also return an audiobook within thirty days of purchase if you change your mind, which refunds your credit or money.
Unused credits roll over month to month, but only up to a limit. Audible allows you to accumulate up to twelve unused credits before the oldest ones expire, so if you skip a month, you do not lose that credit when ready—but if you skip twelve months in a row, the first credit disappears.
The Audible Plus catalog versus individual purchases
Audible Plus is a rotating collection of audiobooks included with every subscription tier at no extra charge. These titles are available to stream or read anytime without using your monthly credit. The catalog changes regularly—titles are added and removed—so a book available today may not be available next month.
The Audible Plus catalog is separate from the full Audible catalog. Most new releases and bestsellers are not in the Plus catalog; they require a credit to read. The Plus catalog tends to include backlist titles, self-published works, and older releases. If you want to know whether a specific book is in the Plus catalog, you can search for it in the Audible app or website—the listing will say "Included with Audible Plus" if it is available without a credit.
This distinction matters if you listen to a lot of audiobooks. If you primarily read new releases, your monthly credit is your main tool, and the Plus catalog is a bonus. If you listen to older titles or niche subjects, the Plus catalog may cover much of what you want to hear.
Annual plans and the savings calculation
The discounted annual plan costs $119.40 per year, which breaks down to $9.95 per month. The standard annual plan costs $179.40 per year, or $14.95 per month—the same as paying month-to-month. The difference between the two annual options is $60 per year, or $5 per month.
Whether the annual plan saves you money depends on how long you stay subscribed. If you cancel after six months, you typically owe a cancellation fee equal to the remaining balance of your annual commitment. For example, if you paid $119.40 upfront for a discounted annual plan and cancel after six months, you would owe roughly $59.70 (half the annual cost). This fee can wipe out any savings from the lower monthly rate.
The monthly plan has no cancellation fee, so you can stop anytime without penalty. This makes it the safer choice if you are uncertain whether you will use the service for a full year. The annual plan makes sense only if you are confident you will listen regularly for twelve months.
Family plans and shared access
Audible does not offer a family plan that lets multiple people share one subscription at a discount. Each person who wants to listen needs their own account and their own subscription. However, you can share individual audiobooks you have purchased with your credit by sending them to another person's email address, and they can listen to that book in their library for up to fourteen days.
If you live with someone else who listens to audiobooks, you would each need to pay for your own subscription. Some families use a shared Amazon account to manage multiple Audible subscriptions, but this requires careful setup to avoid accidentally sharing purchases or listening history.
How to cancel and what happens to your library
You can cancel your Audible subscription anytime through your account settings on the Audible website or app. If you are on a monthly plan, cancellation takes effect when ready, and you lose access to new downloads but keep all audiobooks already in your library. If you are on an annual plan, you may owe a cancellation fee unless your subscription is within thirty days of renewal.
Your downloaded audiobooks remain playable on your device even after cancellation, but you cannot read new titles or stream from the Audible Plus catalog. If you resubscribe later, your library is still there, and you can read those books again.
Audible also offers a pause option for monthly members: you can pause your subscription for up to three months without cancelling, which stops your monthly charge but keeps your account active. This is useful if you know you will not have time to listen for a few months but plan to return to the service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Audible subscription on multiple devices?
Yes. You can read the Audible app on phones, tablets, computers, and some smart speakers, and listen on all of them with the same account. Your library and listening progress sync across devices, so you can start a book on your phone and pick up where you left off on your tablet.
What happens if I do not use my monthly credit?
Unused credits roll over month to month up to a maximum of twelve. If you accumulate twelve unused credits and do not spend one in the next month, the oldest credit expires. This means you can skip a month or two without losing your credit, but you cannot stockpile credits indefinitely.
Do I have to use my credit every month or lose it?
No. Your credit carries over to the next month, so you can skip months without penalty. However, credits expire after twelve months of not being used, so if you do not read a book within a year, that credit disappears.
Is there a student discount for Audible?
Audible does not currently offer a dedicated student discount. However, Amazon Prime Student members may receive promotional offers on Audible subscriptions. Check your Prime Student account or contact Audible directly to see what current offers are available to students.
Can I switch between monthly and annual plans?
Yes, but switching from annual to monthly may trigger a cancellation fee on the remaining balance of your annual commitment. Switching from monthly to annual is straightforward and takes effect at your next billing date. Contact Audible customer service to discuss your options before making the switch.