The comfort and portability of audiobooks allow you to get pleasure from your love of studying on the go. However how do you get monetary savings on the audiobooks you need?
There are a variety of audiobook companies obtainable, however the choices will be overwhelming. Discovering the proper audiobook service is a matter of discovering the most effective one for a way you wish to learn.
11 Providers for Low-cost Audiobooks
Right here’s our rundown of a number of the greatest audiobook companies the place you possibly can seize a guide in your ears.
1. Audible
Audible is an enormous title in audiobooks. As part of Amazon, it’s closely marketed and simply obtainable, nevertheless it has its professionals and cons.
Execs
- Audible boasts one of many largest audiobook libraries on the market with greater than 500,000 titles and round 100,000 podcasts, in response to an organization spokesperson. No matter you wish to learn, you possibly can in all probability discover it on Audible.
- You get to maintain any titles you learn even should you cancel your subscription.
- You additionally get every day offers and an additional 30% low cost on further guide purchases.
- You’ll be able to obtain the books you select and hear offline.
- You’ll be able to strive Audible out with a no-cost, 30-day trial interval.
- Amazon Prime members can strive Audible free for 30 days whereas additionally receiving 2 credit (1 credit score = 1 title) per thirty days.
Cons
- Audible is a subscription service with five different subscription plans, the most cost effective being $7.95 per thirty days. At that lowest tier, although, you might be unable to earn further credit and also you gained’t get reductions on premium choice titles or entry to unique gross sales.
- The opposite membership plans are dear. They embrace month-to-month subscriptions of $14.95 for one credit score per thirty days or $22.95 for 2 credit per thirty days. Annual plans are additionally obtainable; they price $149.50 for 12 credit per 12 months or $229.50 for twenty-four credit per 12 months.
- Unused credit expire after one 12 months. In addition they expire whenever you cancel your membership.
2. Audiobooks.com
Audiobooks.com is one other subscription service, very like Audible.
Execs
- Very giant choice with greater than 350,000 titles plus greater than 10,000 free audiobooks.
- Entry to greater than 100 million podcast episodes free of charge.
- Your subscription contains one guide per thirty days.
- You should purchase further credit as wanted. One credit score equals one guide.
- You get free further VIP books every month with no further cost. VIP titles are older, much less widespread books, however they aren’t all obscure. For instance, one guide at the moment on the record is Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island.”
- With a free 30-day trial you get one guide free and may also choose two books from the VIP assortment that adjustments month-to-month.
- You’ll be able to stream books or obtain so you possibly can hear offline.
Cons
- It’s dearer than many choices at $14.95 per thirty days.
3. Scribd
Scribd is a subscription service that permits you to entry “limitless” audiobooks and likewise gives options like ebooks, podcasts and even sheet music.
Execs
- At $11.99 it’s cheaper than Audiobooks.com and also you get to hearken to as many books as you need.
- There are a variety of extras like Kindle books, magazines and even sheet music obtainable together with your subscription.
- You’ll be able to select from greater than 2 million ebooks, 300,000 audiobooks and 1 million journal and information articles.
- It features a 30-day free trial.
Cons
- The time period “limitless” isn’t 100% correct. Customers within the iPhone app store complain that after two or three widespread books, your potential to learn new and widespread titles turns into very restricted for the remainder of the month.
- You’re renting reasonably than shopping for the books, so you can’t maintain them.
- The platform isn’t loaded with extras like a number of the different companies.
4. Downpour
For $12.99, subscription service Downpour offers you one credit score (good for anyone guide) per thirty days. You’ll be able to spend them as you go or save them up. Or you possibly can merely hire or purchase books with no subscription, however you’ll pay a bit extra for every title.
Execs
- Inexpensive than Audiobooks.com.
- You personal the books and may maintain them even should you cancel.
- You’ll be able to obtain and hear offline.
- You might have the choice to purchase or hire books outdoors of the membership. Leases are inexpensive. However, should you purchase the guide, you’ll pay greater than you’d with a membership.
Cons
- Smaller choice with simply 80,000 titles (and counting).
- Every credit score expires after 12 months.
- Books for buy are dear, although there’s a tab for “Daily Deals” with sections for downloads underneath $10, $5 and even 99 cents.
5. Chirp
Chirp is a sister website of Bookbub, an e-book website. While you join the service, you get a every day electronic mail that includes particular offers. Lots of the offers are $3.99 or much less for every guide.
Execs
- No subscription wanted, so that you solely pay for what you purchase.
- You purchase reasonably than hire the books, so that they’re yours to maintain.
- You should buy from a big selection of books at common value.
- There’s a “my wishlist” part the place you possibly can record out the books you wish to hearken to and get alerts in the event that they go on sale.
Cons
- The featured deals are random and aren’t catered to your style, so chances are you’ll or might not see books on sale that you just really wish to learn.
6. Apple Books
Apple Books is a retailer for Apple customers to buy audiobooks. It’s not a subscription website, only a pay-for-what-you-want retailer.
Execs
- New and widespread books can be found, in addition to classics.
- Apple editors curate common lists to assist readers discover new books.
- You retain your audiobooks proper in your telephone or iPad.
- You’ll be able to obtain books and hearken to them out of your Apple Watch when you exercise.
- No strain to obtain books to justify a month-to-month expense.
Cons
- Particular person books will be costly.
7. Google Play Books
Google Play Books is very like Apple Books, however for Android and PC customers, and with a couple of extra perks.
Execs
- No subscription, simply purchase what you want.
- Take heed to previews earlier than committing.
- Good gross sales and costs total.
- Can be utilized on iPhones and Macs.
- Massive number of audiobooks.
- Presents some free books.
Cons
- Some customers complain that the app is clunky.
8. Libro.fm
Libro.fm is the impartial bookstore of audiobook companies — the anti-Audible if you’ll.
Execs
- Libro.fm donates a portion of each buy you make to the regionally owned bookstore of your selection.
- No membership required.
- Nevertheless, you could have an choice to turn into a member for $14.99 per thirty days, which supplies you two audiobook credit initially, then one per thirty days after and 30% off particular person purchases.
- Greater than 275,000 audiobooks can be found, together with 99% of all New York Occasions bestsellers.
- You personal the books you purchase, which means you retain them should you ever cancel your membership.
- Presents free iOS and Android listening apps.
Cons
- Equally priced plans by Audible and Audiobooks.com provide a bigger catalog of books to select from.
9. Blinkist
Blinkist is a singular service in that it gives condensed variations of widespread nonfiction books for individuals who don’t really feel like they’ve time to hearken to total books.
Execs
- It’s pretty cheap at solely $8.34 per thirty days.
- You’ll be able to strive the service out free of charge for seven days.
- Consists of entry to greater than 5,500 nonfiction books in dozens of classes.
- Most audiobooks will be listened to in quarter-hour or much less.
- Subscription contains limitless entry to all books.
- In the event you just like the condensed guide, you possibly can improve to the complete model.
Cons
- Nonfiction solely.
- Good for a fast overview however not for in-depth data.
10. Librivox
The Librivox audiobooks web site declares “acoustical liberation of books within the public area.” So what does that imply? Principally, it’s a free library of audiobooks which are sufficiently old to have outlasted their copyright. They’re learn by volunteers.
Execs
- Utterly free to make use of.
- Plenty of nice classics like “Moby Dick,” “Frankenstein” and “The Life and Occasions of Frederick Douglas.”
- Out there within the Apple app store.
Cons
- Restricted choice (40,000) with no current titles.
- No extras, reminiscent of podcasts.
11. Your Public Library System
To seek out free audiobooks, you possibly can all the time go to your native library and take a look at audiobooks on CD, however that’s so 2005. As of late most library programs are connected with apps like OverDrive or Hoopla so you possibly can try audiobooks digitally in your telephone, pill or reader.
Execs
- With a library card, it’s utterly free.
- Not restricted to your native library however linked to a big community of libraries, so there are numerous titles obtainable.
- You’ll be able to place holds on titles you need if they don’t seem to be at the moment obtainable.
Cons
- Chances are you’ll not discover each guide you need.
- Books are checked out identical to non-digital copies, so they’re restricted and you’ll have to attend for sure books.
- New and widespread books incessantly have a really lengthy ready record.
- You don’t maintain the titles, simply borrow.
Public libraries lend a lot greater than books, audiobooks and flicks. Relying on the library, you possibly can borrow museum passes, instruments, puzzles, cake pans, video games and extra
Tyler Omoth is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder. Robert Bruce, a senior author with The Penny Hoarder, additionally labored on this story.
