How does Audible work?

AMAZON offers a number of different subscription services, and for bookworms who struggle to sit down and read, Audible is the go-to choice.

But before you sign-up, you might be wondering: how does Audible work? I’ve got it allcovered in this explainer.

Audible, £7.99p/m after 30-day trial

Audible was founded in 1995 with the aim of providing a better way to listen to books while on the go.

Initially, the company released a digital audio player that allowed you to download your audiobooks directly to the device and bring them with you.

It wasn’t until 2003 that we began to see Audible more widely available when a deal was signed with Apple allowing us to access audiobooks from iTunes.

Just five years later, Amazon purchased Audible for $300 million in January 2008. If Amazon was willing to splash the cash, Audible must have been doing something right to grab the retail giant’s attention.

What is Audible?

Audible is a popular streaming platform that offers a vast selection of audiobooks, podcasts and original audio shows so there’s really a load to choose from.

Think Prime Video but for all of your favourite audiobooks. You sign up for a membership plan that offers you credits each month, which you use to buy the books.

It’s a convenient way to listen to books or podcasts on the go, from your smartphone, tablet or even computer if you prefer to listen to stories over music.

Audible is especially useful if you’ve been wanting to catch up on your favourite books but haven’t had the time to actually pick up the book and read it.

How much does Audible cost?

Audible comes as a separate membership to subscriptions like Amazon Prime, so even if you’re a Prime member, you’ll still need to add this one to your monthly outgoings.

However, the subscription is not costly—it’s only £7.99 a month. Promotions like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday often offer great discounts across all of Amazon’s services, so keep an eye out.

In fact, earlier this month, Senior Writer Matt Breen reported on a springtime promotion in which new subscribers could purchase three months of Audible for 99p.

Books, on the other hand, have individual pricing if you’ve already used your monthly token, and that can vary.

For example, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K Rowling is £17.99, whereas You Are Here by David Nicholls is £13.99.

Do you pay for every book you listen to on Audible?

The Audible service isn’t quite as straightforward as you’d expect. It’s not as simple as signing up, and then you have access to thousands of titles.

What actually happens is you receive a free token every month you’re subscribed, which you can then use to purchase the titles you’re after. Of course, if you’re getting through the books at a record pace, you can always buy more, but that will cost you.

However, it’s worth remembering that if you choose not to renew your membership, you keep access to all of the audiobooks you’ve purchased – they are yours.

It may be worth checking out our how to cancel Audible guide to make sure you don’t get any unwanted charges once you’re done with the service.

Are books free to read on Audible?

Some books are free to read on Audible, but these free options rarely include new releases or the more popular titles Amazon believes customers are willing to pay for.

So, while you’re not limited to the monthly free audiobook you choose, don’t expect to be able to download titles like Spare by Prince Harry, Worthy by Jada Pinkett Smith, or The Woman In Me by Britney Spears for free.

The benefits of an Audible subscription also include access to the Unlimited Listening Plus Catalogue, which contains thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and select audiobooks.

If you’re a slightly more old-fashioned book lover with a Kindle and prefer the feel of actually reading and turning pages, you can get two months of Kindle Unlimited for free on Amazon, so now is a great time to get those reading glasses fixed.

Is Audible free with Amazon Prime?

No. Unfortunately, Audible requires a separate subscription, which may sting a little if you’re already an Amazon Prime member.

However, when you consider all the extras you’re already getting with that subscription, it’s still worth keeping.

Audible, £7.99p/m after 30-day trial