Audiobooks: plans and prices compared 2026
Audiobook subscriptions in the US work in two different ways. With Audible Premium and Libro.fm you spend credits on titles you keep; with Audible Standard, Kindle+ and Everand you get access for as long as you subscribe. Two music plans also include some audiobooks. This page sorts out which model fits how you listen.
We compare terms from the providers’ US websites and help centers. Prices are in the price block on each service’s page, before sales tax where the provider adds it.
Quick picks
If you want to keep your audiobooks
Audible Premium: one credit a month buys any title, and it stays yours even if you cancel.
If you want credits that never expire
Libro.fm: 1 or 2 credits a month, or 12 a year; credits and DRM-free books stay yours after canceling.
If you listen to about one book a month
Audible Standard: pick one audiobook a month from the whole collection and listen while you’re a member.
If you get through several books a month
Everand: 1, 3 or 5 unlocks a month for audiobooks or ebooks, plus 20,000+ titles without unlocks.
If you mostly read ebooks
Kindle+: more than 5 million ebooks plus thousands of audiobooks, up to 20 titles at a time.
If you already pay for Spotify Premium
It includes 15 hours of audiobooks a month — on Duo and Family, for the plan manager only.
If you have Amazon Music Unlimited
It includes one audiobook each month.
$8.99/mo
Audible Standard
Services in this category
from $8.99/moPlus sales tax where applicableFree trial — 30 days
Price checked
from $11.99/moPlus sales tax where applicableFree trial — 30 days
Price checked
from $11.99/moPlus sales tax where applicableFree trial — 30 days
Price checked
from $14.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
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How to choose
- 1
Decide: keep or borrow
Titles bought with Audible Premium or Libro.fm credits are yours to keep. Audible Standard selections, Kindle+ titles and Everand unlocks are available only while you subscribe.
- 2
Count how much you listen
Audible gives one title a month on both plans; Premium adds the Plus Catalog. Everand gives 1, 3 or 5 unlocks a month. Kindle+ lets you borrow up to 20 titles at a time, with narration on thousands of them.
- 3
Watch your credits
Audible credits expire 12 months after they’re issued or when you cancel; Everand unlocks roll over for up to six months; Libro.fm credits never expire.
- 4
Use the trial on purpose
Audible, Kindle+ and Everand offer 30 days free to new members (Everand: 7 days through app stores). Libro.fm doesn’t list a free trial.
- 5
Check where you listen
Audible works in its app, on Alexa devices, Fire tablets, Kindles and Sonos; Kindle+ on Kindle devices, Fire tablets and the Kindle app; Everand in its app and on the web; Libro.fm downloads are DRM-free.
Types of plans
Audiobook subscriptions in the US come in a few shapes.
Credits you keep
Audible Premium: one credit a month for any title, plus the Plus Catalog. Libro.fm: credits that never expire, for books that support a local bookstore.
A monthly pick
Audible Standard: one audiobook a month from the whole collection, available while you’re a member.
Monthly unlocks
Everand: 1, 3 or 5 unlocks a month for audiobooks or ebooks, available while you subscribe.
All you can read
Kindle+: ebooks, comics, manga and magazines, with audio narration on thousands of titles.
Audiobooks inside a music plan
Spotify Premium includes listening hours each month; Amazon Music Unlimited includes one audiobook a month.
What to check before you subscribe
Questions the monthly price doesn’t answer.
| Question | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Do you keep the books? | What to look atAudible Premium and Libro.fm — titles bought with credits are yours. Audible Standard — selections lock after you cancel. Kindle+ and Everand — access ends when the membership ends. |
| What happens to unused credits? | What to look atAudible Premium credits roll over, but expire 12 months after they’re issued or when you cancel. Everand unlocks roll over for up to six months and expire when you cancel. Libro.fm credits never expire. |
| Is there a free trial? | What to look atAudible — 30 days, with an email reminder before it ends. Kindle+ — 30 days for new subscribers. Everand — 30 days on everand.com, 7 days through app stores. Libro.fm — not listed. |
| How do you cancel? | What to look atAudible — Membership details on the Audible website. Kindle+ — Manage your Kindle+ Membership, then Cancel membership. Everand — Your account, then Cancel subscription. Libro.fm — Cancel membership at libro.fm/user. App Store or Google Play subscriptions are canceled there. |
| Can you pause instead? | What to look atEverand — up to 12 weeks if you signed up on its website. Libro.fm — monthly memberships, not annual. Audible says you may be eligible to pause. Kindle+ doesn’t list a pause. |
When it pays off and when it doesn’t
Pays off
- If you finish at least one audiobook a month.
- If you want to build a library you keep — Audible Premium or Libro.fm.
- If you get through several books a month in either format — Everand.
- If you read several ebooks a month — Kindle+.
Doesn’t pay off
- Letting Audible credits or Everand unlocks pile up until they expire.
- Subscribing to Kindle+ only for audiobooks — narration covers thousands of titles, not the whole catalog.
- Paying for an audiobook plan when your Spotify Premium hours already cover what you listen to.
FAQ
In short
Choosing an audiobook subscription in the US comes down to one question: do you want to keep the books or just listen? Audible Premium and Libro.fm build a library you keep; Audible Standard, Kindle+ and Everand give access while you subscribe — and your music plan may already include a few hours.
Alt-subs is independent of the services on this page. Trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify the service. Prices come from the providers’ own websites and are shown with dates.
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