Audible Alternatives
Audible is the audiobook platform owned by Amazon. And while it may be the most well-known way to listen to audiobooks, there are many other platforms. Jackie and I wanted to give you our favorite Audible alternatives.
When it comes to Audible alternatives, we’ve tried so many that I needed to give you the scoop! There are tons of people wanting to listen to audiobooks without supporting Amazon.
There are dozens of alternatives to Audible, so I tried to break them down in the most concise way to help you decide which service you would like to use. Some are free, some are paid, and there are pros and cons to each. I will discuss those below to help you find your favorite Audible alternative,
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
The Best Audible Alternative: Libro.FM
Libro.Fm – Jackie and I ADORE Libro.FM for so many reasons, but most of all because the proceeds from the audiobooks go to independent booksellers! You can also pick which store to pick as yours. Monthly subscription plans start at $14.99 a month for one credit. All other audiobooks are 30% off. You can also buy more credit bundles to supplement your plan. Just like Audible, you can preorder books that you are most excited to read. You can cancel your subscription whenever you want.
The Best Free Audible Alternative: Libby
Libby – I adore this free alternative to Audible because it supports our local library system! Anyone can open a Libby account, where you have access to any book your library offers in audiobook format. It allows you to put a hold on a book just like a normal library hold. You have an unlimited number of listens, you can make a to-read list, and the interface is very intuitive. I just found our that your favorite authors get paid for library book reads and listens.
Other Alternatives to Audible We Recommend
Hoopla – This free library app is actually Jackie’s pick for the best free alternative to Audible. But since I’m writing this post, I get to win. 😜 All you need is your library card to start listening! Unlike Libby, with Hoopla, there is no wait time, and you can listen to books immediately. You get 5 book loans a month, and they have a great selection of new and old audiobooks, but not nearly as much of a selection as your Library. I recommend that you use Hoopla to supplement your listening each month.
Google Play – Did you know that Google Play Books and Audible won’t let you buy books in-app because then a percentage of their sales needs to go to Apple or Samsung? Annoying, right? That’s why I generally don’t use this app unless a publishing house has gifted me a free audiobook version. If that hang-up doesn’t bother you, check this app out!
Apple Books – If you are all for streamlining your devices, Apple Books is built into your iOS phone and keeps all your audiobooks in one place. Each book is generally in the $14.99 – $16.99 range, but they also highlight a selection of $9.99 books each month.
Book of the Month – While Book of the Month has been around for decades, they have recently launched an audiobook option as well. It utilizes the same BOTM app that users use monthly to pick their books. BOTM works by offering a selection of 5-7 curated books each month. For $13.99 a month, you can get a credit and select one of their books in Hardback OR audiobook format. Additional books can be purchased in either format and if you are unhappy with the selections, you can simply skip the month and roll over the credit.
Audible Alternatives We Haven’t Tried
There are lots of other Audible alternatives that we haven’t yet tried, but we wanted to share them with you so you have a full idea of what is available.
Kobo – The Kobo e-reader was originally Barnes and Noble’s response to the Kindle, but after Rakuten bought the brand, the program changed. For $7.99 a month, you have access to an unlimited number of audiobooks in Kobo’s 100K title library. For $9.99 a month, you can also add unlimited e-book access.
Scribd – Scribd’s model is different from most, it’s a paid lending library. For $11.99 a month, you can listen to an unlimited amount of titles each month, though some titles have rolling availability. It has a mix of current and older books, but not every audiobook recorded is available in its catalog. So if you are looking for something specific, know you’ll need another way to listen to audiobooks.
LibriVox – LibriVox offers free public-domain audiobooks for audience consumption. You will not find the latest New York Times Bestsellers on this website, but you can find classics like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and L.M. Montgomery.
Chirp – Chirp’s audiobook model is all about sales. They offer steep discounts daily with a rotating selection of books at extremely low (think $1.99) prices, but you can get the newest audiobooks as well with only a dollar or two off the retail price. Use this one for the bargain picks!
Spotify – Spotify is dipping its toes into the audiobook game. It does not currently have a subscription model but does offer each book at a discounted price. If you want to keep your music and audiobook library in one place, this is the best option for you.
Downpour – Downpour offers a monthly audiobook credit for just $12.99. You can get started with a free first month. Its app is IOS and Android-friendly. The website is clunkier than most, giving early ’00s napster vibes. Still, it’s been an independent family-run business for over 30 years and it’s one of the leading audiobook producers.
Audiobooks.com – This site uses an app to let you listen to audiobooks from its catalog of 375,000+ books. VIP members get a free audiobook from a curated list each month. Each book is priced differently or counts as one credit. The first month is free and grants you 3 audiobooks. Each month after it’s $14.99 – which earns you one credit in addition to a free monthly VIP selection.
Expert Tip
There are so many Audible alternatives. Here are some tips to help you find your favorite.
- Do you like free books, or are you ok to pay to read the newest books as soon as they come out? This is the main division between your choices. After you have decided this, you can look at the other choices.
- If you are ok spending money on audiobooks, think about the different price points of these alternatives to Audible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Audible?
Jackie and I like Libro.FM is the best alternative to Audible. All proceeds from this platform go to independent bookstores!
Is there a cheaper alternative to Audible
There are a few less expensive Audible alternatives, like Chirp. With a program like this, you cannot always listen to the newest books and the slection alternates.
What are free alternatives to Audible
The best free alternatives to Audible are through your library. There are two apps. Libby and Hoopla. Libby has a limit on the number of people who can borrow each book. Hoopla has an unlimited number of borrows; however, the selection is more limited.
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Epilogue
What do you think is the best way to listen to audiobooks? Which of these alternatives to Audible are you interested in trying?
Just a small correction. The number of things that you can check out per month from Hoopla varies depending on your host library. I have 20 borrows per month and regularly use both Libby and Hoopla.
I had no idea! I’ll update that in the article later this week!