Is Audible worth it in 2022 (and if not, what is)?

New York City, New York Jan 16, 2022 (Issuewire.com) – Is Audible worth paying for a monthly subscription? With so many choices for audiobook providers these days, it can be hard to find your perfect listening experience – which is why we’ve compiled this comprehensive overview of the service, along with a handful of alternatives, to help you discover what makes it stand out.

Audible is an American online audiobook and podcast service owned by Amazon.com Inc. that allows users to purchase and stream audiobooks and other forms of spoken word content, like podcasts. This content can be purchased individually or under a subscription model where the user receives “credits” that can be redeemed for content monthly and receive access to a curated on-demand library of content.

With 200,000+ audiobooks, including everything from classic novels to current bestsellers to works of non-fiction, Audible is the United States’ largest audiobook producer and retailer. All of the titles can be listened to on more than 200 devices, including Amazon’s own Kindle e-readers.

 

AUDIOBOOKS VS. EBOOKS: WHO WINS?

Audiobooks and ebooks are the two most common formats for digital books. They’re also both relatively new in the publishing market, with audiobooks having been around since the 1950s, and ebooks gaining popularity in the 2000s.

 

SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUDIOBOOKS AND EBOOKS?

While both ebook and audiobooks come in different forms, they are very similar in their structure and content. The structure of an ebook is an ordered list of paragraphs, each having a heading, subheadings, and content. In simple terms, the structure of an audiobook is a recorded version of an ebook. The slightly longer answer is that it’s more a matter of presentation than function. Ebooks used to be called “electronic books” because most of the files were converted into text, but now they’re called “ebooks” because they can be turned into audio files.

This means the audiobook format has a number of advantages over the traditional ebook format.

• Ease of listening. If you have trouble reading or listening to the printed word, audiobooks are perfect. They’re ideal for people who can’t read, or who have busy schedules and must listen while driving.
• Flexibility. Audiobooks can be played back using a variety of devices — smartphones, tablets, computers, and car audio systems, to name a few. Audible even offer apps that let you listen to your books even when you’re not connected to the internet.
• Convenience. Audiobooks are more portable and convenient than printed books. When the people you’re trying to reach are primarily busy people who don’t have a lot of time, audiobooks can be an excellent solution.
• Retain information. Just like people retain more information when they read or listen to something rather than reading it by ear, audiobooks are a better way to absorb information than ebooks.
• Accessibility. Audiobooks, unlike ebooks, are more accessible for people who can’t read. They’re also more accessible for younger audiences.
• Better value. Audiobooks generally cost more than ebooks because they include narration as well as text. That said, some titles are cheaper on Audible than on Amazon.

 

IS IT WORTH GETTING AN AUDIBLE SUBSCRIPTION?

The service’s massive archive of books, competitive cost, and all the cool extras make it worth $14.95 for any bookworm wanting to make the jump to audiobooks. The monthly fee drops to $13.99 per month, a 10 percent discount if you enroll in Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program. Both plans include audiobooks from Audible’s catalog, and original Audible programming, such as original audiobooks and podcasts from Audible Studios.

Audible has been around for over 25 years, and it provides 2 free audiobooks every month to new members, along with other discounts for memberships on top of that.

Many people enjoy listening to audiobooks when commuting, exercising, or cooking as it helps them focus on their tasks more intently and enjoy what they’re doing more. In addition, there’s also something about hearing someone else’s voice narrate a new book or an old favorite one.

 

AUDIBLE’S ALTERNATIVES

While Audible is the largest audiobook subscription service, there are a couple of alternatives worth mentioning: AudioBooks.Com comes at the same price of $14.95 monthly but will give you three free audiobooks upon signing up for a free trial. Kobo offers one free audiobook but is a little cheaper at $9.99 a month.

If you decide you’re not ready for a subscription service yet, but would like an alternative to Amazon to buy your audiobooks, AudiobooksNow is worth checking out as no plan is required to purchase individual audiobooks. Their Club Pricing Plan, on the other hand, gives you a 50% discount on your first audiobook each month, plus 35-40% off everything else. Like Audible, Audiobooks.Com, and Kobo, they offer a 30-day free trial to new members and a free audiobook upon signup.

 

Q’S & A’S

‘ Is Audible free for Prime members?

An Audible membership does not come free with Amazon Prime, but Prime members do get discounted pricing on Audible membership, as well as two free titles when signing up for an Audible Premium Plus trial.

‘ Is Audible Premium Plus worth the money?

An Audible Premium Plus subscription is excellent and well worth it thanks to the addition of the Plus catalog.

The company’s premium tier is for the big book lover and gives them unlimited listening to as many books as they want.

‘ Is there a limit on standard tier Audible?

Using an Audible trial for 30 days is the perfect way to get started. One free audiobook when you use your Amazon Prime account makes this a no-brainer offer.

Once you get a taste of it, you can then purchase additional audiobooks with your Audible credits every month without getting charged extra.

‘ Do you keep Audible books after cancelling?

Yes! You may listen to Audible books you bought in the past, even after cancelling your membership. Moving forward though, if you have credit when you cancel your subscription you will lose those credits and not be able to collect them.

To cancel, simply head to your Account Settings, click Subscriptions, and then click Cancel Subscription.

‘ Do I own my Audible books?

As long as you purchase your audiobooks from Audible, they’re yours to keep forever and will be available on multiple devices.

Even if you cancel your membership, your account is still active and can be reactivated at any time.

‘ What is the longest book on Audible?

“Romans: The Greatest Letter Ever Written” voiced by John Piper comes in around 154 hours and 1 minute on Audible, read by one of the most well-known narrators in the industry.

A much better-known book on Audible is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien, clocking in at a whopping 11 hours and 47 minutes long.

‘ What is the most expensive book on Audible?

Ulysses, a book by James Joyce and narrated by Jim Norton, is the most expensive book you will find on Audible. It will set you back a hefty $120.

 

STILL NOT SOLD?

” It has Whispersync For Voice

Whispersync for Voice allows users to seamlessly switch between reading a book on a Kindle and listening to the same book on Audible. This feature makes it easier for avid readers and listeners to accomplish their tasks AND to do it seamlessly switching between different devices.

You must have a subscription to both Kindle and Audible to do this, but for serious bookworms, this is a no-brainer.

 

” Don’t Like Your Audiobook? Audible Will Refund You

Yes, this is true and quite an amazing feature by the company.

Audible has a Great Listens Guarantee that will return any book you try within the past 365 days. Maybe your expectations were too high, or maybe it just didn’t work for you? Either way, they’re happy to let you replace it with another choice.

 

CONCLUSION

Audible is an excellent service that is well worth the monthly fee. It allows users to listen to their favorite books and podcasts through their mobile devices or computers and re-discover them in a whole new way.

It also enables its users to search through a massive catalog on any device or by genre preference and listen to a brand new book within minutes.

The Audible app is available on phones, tablets, and desktops. You can download Audible for both your Android and iOS devices.

Go get it and fall in love with books all over again.