What Scribd is and what you get for the monthly fee

Scribd is a subscription service that gives you access to a library of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and documents. You pay a monthly fee and can read or listen to as much as you want from their collection during that month. The service works on phones, tablets, and computers through their app or website.

When you subscribe, you can read titles to read offline and switch between reading and listening to the same book without buying it twice. Scribd also includes access to podcasts and sheet music in some regions. The exact titles available change over time, and not every book ever published is in the Scribd library.

You can cancel your subscription at any time, and you lose access to all Scribd content once your subscription ends. Any books you downloaded to your device will no longer open after cancellation.

Key Takeaways

  • Scribd costs a set monthly amount and includes unlimited reading and listening from their library, though the exact price varies by region and changes periodically.
  • You can read ebooks, listen to audiobooks, and access magazines all under one subscription without paying per title.
  • Downloaded books work offline, but only while your subscription is active — they become unreadable once you cancel.
  • Scribd's library does not include every book in print, and availability of specific titles can change.
  • You can pause or cancel your subscription whenever you want without penalty.

Monthly cost and what changes the price

Scribd charges a monthly subscription fee that varies by country and region. The price in the United States differs from the price in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries where Scribd operates. Scribd also periodically adjusts its pricing, so the amount you pay may not be the same as what someone else pays if they signed up at a different time.

The company sometimes offers discounted rates for the first month or first few months to new subscribers, though these promotional offers are not always running. You can see the current price for your region by visiting Scribd's website or opening their app and checking the subscription page before you commit to paying.

There is no separate tier or plan that costs less — Scribd offers one subscription level with the same content access for everyone who pays the monthly fee.

How to start and stop your subscription

To begin a Scribd subscription, you create an account on their website or through their mobile app, enter a payment method, and confirm your subscription. Scribd will charge your payment method on the same day each month. You can use a credit card, debit card, or other payment methods that Scribd accepts in your region.

To cancel, you log into your Scribd account, go to your account settings or subscription page, and select the option to cancel your subscription. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — you keep access until that date, then lose it. Scribd does not refund the monthly fee if you cancel partway through a billing cycle.

If you want to pause your subscription temporarily rather than cancel it completely, Scribd offers a pause feature in some regions that stops charging you for a set number of months while keeping your account active. You can resume paying when you are ready to use the service again.

What content is included and what is not

Scribd's library includes hundreds of thousands of ebooks and audiobooks across many genres — fiction, nonfiction, business, self-help, romance, mystery, science fiction, and others. The collection also includes magazines, newspapers, and documents. However, Scribd does not have every book that exists. Some authors and publishers choose not to make their books available through Scribd, and some titles are exclusive to other services.

Scribd adds new titles regularly, but also removes some titles when licensing agreements end. If you are looking for a specific book, you can search for it on Scribd's website or app to see whether it is currently available. The availability of a title can change over time.

Scribd does not include physical books, textbooks from major academic publishers, or very recent releases from some publishers. If a book you want is not on Scribd, you would need to buy it separately through another retailer or borrow it from a library.

Reading and listening features

When you open an ebook on Scribd, you can adjust the text size, change the font, and switch between light and dark reading modes. You can highlight passages, take notes, and bookmark pages. Scribd tracks your reading progress and remembers where you left off across all your devices.

For audiobooks, you can adjust the playback speed, set a sleep timer, and skip forward or backward by chapters. The app shows you the narrator's name and lets you see the text while listening if you want to follow along. Like ebooks, your listening progress syncs across devices.

You can read titles to your phone or tablet to read or listen offline. Downloaded content uses storage space on your device and remains readable only while your subscription is active. Once you cancel Scribd, downloaded books will not open.

How Scribd compares to buying books and to library borrowing

If you read many books each month, a Scribd subscription costs less than buying each book individually. However, you do not own the books — you are renting access to them for as long as you subscribe. When you cancel, you lose everything. Buying books means you keep them permanently and can resell them, give them away, or lend them to friends.

Public libraries offer free borrowing of ebooks and audiobooks through apps like Libby and OverDrive, though you have to wait for popular titles and borrowing periods are limited (usually two to three weeks). Scribd has no wait and no due dates, but you pay a monthly fee. Libraries also do not have every book, just as Scribd does not.

Some readers use both — they borrow from the library when they can and subscribe to Scribd for titles the library does not have or when they do not want to wait. Others buy books they know they will reread and use Scribd for titles they want to try once.

Device compatibility and account management

Scribd works on iPhones and iPads through the Apple App Store, on Android phones and tablets through the Google Play Store, and on computers through their website. You can have one Scribd account and use it on multiple devices at the same time. Your reading and listening progress syncs across all devices, so you can start a book on your phone and continue on your tablet.

You manage your subscription, payment method, and account settings by logging into your Scribd account on the website or through the app settings. You can change your password, update your payment information, and see your subscription renewal date in your account page.

If you share a device with someone else, they can create their own Scribd account on that device. Scribd does not offer a family plan that lets multiple people share one subscription at a discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read Scribd books on my e-reader like a Kindle?

Scribd books are not compatible with Amazon Kindle devices or most other dedicated e-readers. You can read Scribd ebooks only through the Scribd app or website on phones, tablets, and computers. If you want to read on a Kindle, you would need to buy the book separately through Amazon or another retailer.

What happens to my books if I cancel my subscription?

All Scribd content becomes unreadable when ready when your subscription ends. Downloaded books will not open, and you lose access to the library. If you want to keep reading a book, you would need to buy it before your subscription cancels or resubscribe to Scribd later.

Does Scribd have a free trial?

Scribd sometimes offers a free trial period for new subscribers, though this is not always available and the length varies. You can check their website or app to see whether a trial is currently being offered in your region. Any trial period will end and convert to a paid subscription unless you cancel before the trial ends.

Can I share my Scribd account with family members?

Scribd allows one account to be used on multiple devices, but does not offer a family plan or household sharing option. Each person who wants their own library and reading history needs their own subscription.

How often does Scribd add new books?

Scribd adds new titles regularly, but the exact number and frequency are not published. You can browse the "New Releases" or "Recently Added" section in the app to see what has been added recently. The library changes constantly as new titles are added and some older titles are removed.