Audiobook services · Prices checked November 6, 2026
Best Audiobook Services Compared
Audible is the default, but it is not the right choice for everyone. I compare the audiobook services worth considering by price, catalog and whether you keep your books, and tell you which one I would pick for each kind of listener.
By Peter Clemens · Originally published February 2024 · Updated November 2026
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you. Read my affiliate disclosure.
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The short answer
These five cover nearly everyone. If you are not sure where to start, begin with your library on Libby and add one paid service.
Audiobook services compared
Price, cost per book and whether you keep your books. The amber edge marks the services I recommend most.
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Service | Price | Cost per book | Keep your books? | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audible Premium | $14.95/mo | $14.95 (about $12.46 on the annual plan) | Yes | 1 credit a month that rolls over, plus the Plus Catalog and member prices |
| Audible Standard | $8.99/mo | $8.99 | No, locked if you cancel | 1 audiobook selection a month plus a curated set of included titles |
| Audiobooks.com | $14.95/mo | $14.95 | Yes | 1 credit a month plus monthly VIP picks |
| Libro.fm | From $14.99/mo | About $12 to $15 | Yes, DRM-free | 1 credit that never expires, 30% off extra books, 2-credit and annual plans |
| Chirp | Pay per book | Often $1 to $6 on sale | Yes | Daily discounted audiobooks, no subscription |
| Libby and Hoopla | Free | $0 | No, loans only | Audiobooks lent by your library |
| Everand | From $11.99/mo | About $5.66 to $11.99 | No | 1, 3 or 5 unlocks a month plus a rotating library of audiobooks, ebooks and more |
| Spotify Premium | Included with Premium | Included | No | 15 hours of audiobooks a month |
| Kobo Plus | Check Kobo | Varies | No | Audiobook and read-and-listen plans, plus single purchases |
US dollars. Prices checked on each service’s own site on November 6, 2026, and introductory offers change often, so confirm the price when you sign up. Cost per book is the plan price divided by the books it includes, before sale prices. A credit buys any single title, including audiobooks that list for $30 or more. Everand’s figure divides its monthly price by its unlocks and does not count its free-to-listen library.
Best overall
Audible
I have listened on Audible since 2008, and it is still the service I recommend first. It has the biggest catalog, the most exclusives (like Audible Originals) and apps for nearly every device, including Alexa and Kindle. Audible is owned by Amazon.
There are two main plans. Premium gives you one credit a month that you keep, credits that roll over for up to a year, the Plus Catalog of included titles and member sale prices, and annual plans lower the cost per book. Standard is the lower-priced plan, with one audiobook selection a month plus a curated set of included titles, but you can only listen to your selections while you are a member.
My advice: choose Premium if you want to build a library, and Standard only if you are happy to treat audiobooks as a rental. New members often get an introductory price, so check the best audiobook deals before you sign up. Audible also has an easy return policy if a book is not for you.
Pros
- The largest audiobook catalog and the most exclusives
- Credits you keep, and they roll over (Premium)
- Easy returns and a polished app on almost every device
- Member sale prices and included titles
Cons
- Costs more per book than some alternatives
- Standard selections are locked if you cancel
- Audible books play only in Audible apps (DRM)
- Owned by Amazon, which some listeners avoid
Best Audible alternative
Audiobooks.com
Audiobooks.com works much like Audible: you pay a monthly fee, get a credit to spend on any title, and listen in a well-rated app for iPhone and Android. Members also get a monthly VIP pick and a library of about 10,000 always-free titles. It is not an Amazon company, which matters to some listeners.
New members can try it with a free trial that includes three audiobooks: one from the full library and two from the VIP selection. Check the site for current terms and offers. If you want a straight swap for Audible, this is the one I would try first.
Pros
- A credit plan that works like Audible but is not Amazon
- A highly rated app with offline listening
- Generous trial with three audiobooks
- Curated booklists make it easy to find a listen
Cons
- No big exclusives like Audible
- VIP picks will not always interest you
- Pricier per book than library or deal options
Best for owning your books
Libro.fm
Libro.fm sells audiobooks through independent bookstores. You choose one of more than 2,000 stores, and Libro.fm splits the profit from your purchases with it. Its audiobooks are DRM-free, so you can play them in any app and keep them for good.
Memberships include a credit that never expires, there are two-credit and annual plans, and extra audiobooks are 30% off. New monthly members who use my code AUDIOBOOKADDICTS get a bonus audiobook (details here). Libro.fm also offers single purchases, including to international listeners.
Pros
- Your purchases support a local bookstore
- Credits never expire and the files are DRM-free
- Thoughtful bookseller picks and playlists
- 30% off extra audiobooks
Cons
- Smaller catalog than Audible, with no Originals
- No free trial
- No customer reviews on titles
Best for bargains
Chirp
Chirp is a deal-based audiobook store from the team behind BookBub. It is free to join, there is no monthly fee, and you pick the genres you like so it can email you discounted audiobooks every day. The books are yours to keep.
It works best alongside a subscription, since a book you want is only cheap when it happens to be on sale. If you use my link, you get 30% off your first purchase with code CHIRPAA30.
Pros
- No subscription or credit system to manage
- Big discounts on popular titles
- Books are yours to keep
Cons
- Only discounted titles are cheap; others cost full price
- US and Canada only
- Smaller selection than the big services
Best free option
Libby and Hoopla
If you have a library card, you can borrow audiobooks for free through Libby, which works on Android and iOS and in your browser at libbyapp.com. Availability depends on your library, and new releases and bestsellers often have a waiting list. Loans also expire after a set period.
Hoopla is another library app and lets you borrow instantly, with a monthly limit set by your library. I would not run my whole listening life on a library, but it is a great first stop and a good companion to one paid service.
More audiobook services worth knowing
These are not my first picks, but each is the right answer for some listeners.
Best for variety
Everand
Everand, formerly Scribd, is the closest thing to a Netflix for books: one subscription covers audiobooks, ebooks, magazines and sheet music. Unlocks are for the newest premium titles, and a large library of titles is available to listen to without using one. It suits people who like to sample widely. It is less suited to chasing one specific new release, because the catalog rotates and you do not own what you unlock.
Best if you already have Spotify
Spotify Premium
Spotify Premium Individual, and the plan managers on Duo and Family plans, include 15 hours of audiobook listening a month in the US. That is enough for one long book or two or three shorter ones. Unused hours do not roll over. It is the cheapest route to audiobooks if you already pay for Spotify, as long as you pick books marked Included in Premium.
Best for Kobo e-reader owners
Kobo
Kobo sells audiobooks individually and offers Kobo Plus subscriptions, including audiobook-only and read-and-listen plans. Audiobooks play in the Kobo app and on Kobo e-readers with Bluetooth, so you can switch between reading and listening on one device. These are Kobo-store audiobooks, not Audible ones. Check Kobo for current plans and pricing in your country.
Outside North America
This guide leans on US prices, but several of these services work elsewhere. Audible runs local stores in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and France, and has its own membership pricing in each. BookBeat operates across Europe, and it started at 5.99 pounds a month for 20 hours of listening when I reviewed the UK service. Storytel has an English-language international site with more than 400,000 audiobooks and a free trial, though plans and availability vary by country. Kobo covers several countries, and Libro.fm sells single audiobooks to international listeners. Nextory is another European service I have not tested yet.
Not quite audiobook services
These do not fit the comparison above, but you may come across them.
Amazon Music Unlimited. A subscription includes one Audible audiobook a month at no extra cost (Amazon launched it in the US, UK and Canada). You can keep listening to your pick until you choose another, but you do not own it, and it is separate from an Audible membership.
Kindle+. This is what Amazon renamed Kindle Unlimited on October 22, 2026. It costs $11.99 a month in the US and now adds thousands of audiobooks to its ebook library, for the moment in the US only. Some titles use AI narration, and it is not Audible, so I would treat it as a bonus for readers rather than a replacement for an audiobook service.
Blinkist. Blinkist turns nonfiction bestsellers into short summaries you can read or listen to in about 15 minutes. It is a handy way to decide whether a book is worth your time, but it is not a replacement for the full audiobook.
How to choose an audiobook service
- Decide whether you want to own your books. With Audible Premium, Audiobooks.com, Libro.fm and Chirp, the books you buy stay yours. Audible Standard, Everand, Spotify and library apps are access only.
- Match the plan to how much you listen. A typical audiobook runs around 10 to 12 hours. One book a month suits a credit plan. If you finish several a month, a library or an unlock plan can cost far less per book.
- Check that your book is there. Catalogs overlap but are not identical, and Audible has exclusives like its Audible Originals. Look up the book and narrator before you join.
- Think about devices. Audible works on almost everything, Libro.fm’s DRM-free files play in any app, and Kobo suits Kobo e-readers.
- Consider more than price. Some listeners want to avoid Amazon and others want to support independent bookstores, which is a good reason to pick Audiobooks.com or Libro.fm.
New to audiobooks? My list of great first audiobooks is a good place to start.
How I put this guide together
I have been listening to audiobooks since 2008 and running Audiobook Addicts since 2010. I have used Audible for most of that time and have written full reviews of Audiobooks.com, Libro.fm, Chirp, Libby and Everand, which are linked above. For services I have not reviewed in depth, such as Spotify and Kobo, I rely on the services’ own pages and say so. Prices, plans and what each plan includes were checked on November 6, 2026.
Some links are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you sign up, at no cost to you. That does not decide the picks: Libby and Spotify earn me nothing, and they are here because they are the right answer for many people. I update this guide whenever a service changes its plans.
Audiobook services: common questions
What is the best audiobook service overall?
Audible is the best for most listeners because it has the largest catalog, the most exclusives and apps on nearly every device. If you would rather not use an Amazon company, Audiobooks.com works much the same way. If owning your books and supporting a local bookstore matter most, choose Libro.fm.
What is the best audiobook subscription?
For most people, Audible Premium: one credit a month that you keep, credits that roll over, and the biggest catalog. Audiobooks.com is the closest alternative, and Libro.fm is the best if you want credits that never expire and DRM-free files. If you read a lot and care more about variety than ownership, Everand is worth a look.
Is there an unlimited audiobook subscription?
No service gives you unlimited access to every audiobook, but a few come close. Everand lets you listen to a large library of titles without using an unlock, although its newest premium titles need one. Audible Premium includes the Plus Catalog of titles you can stream, and Audiobooks.com includes about 10,000 free titles you can listen to without limit. Libby is free but limited by what your library owns. The comparison table above shows how each plan works.
What is the cheapest way to listen to audiobooks?
Free is cheapest: most libraries lend audiobooks through Libby and Hoopla. For paid listening, Chirp sells discounted audiobooks with no subscription, and Audible Standard is the lowest-priced Audible plan. The table above shows the cost per book for each. See the best audiobook deals for what is on offer right now.
Can I keep my audiobooks if I cancel?
It depends on the service. Books you buy with an Audible Premium credit, an Audiobooks.com credit, a Libro.fm credit or a Chirp purchase stay yours. Audible Standard selections are locked when you cancel, and anything you listen to through Everand, Spotify or a library loan is access only.
What is the difference between Audible Standard and Premium?
Standard gives you one audiobook selection a month from the full catalog plus a curated set of included titles, and you can listen to your selections only while you are a member. Premium gives you a credit each month that you keep, credits that roll over, and access to the Plus Catalog. I compare them in my Audible plans guide.
Which audiobook service has the biggest catalog?
Audible has the largest catalog and holds many exclusives, including Audible Originals. Audiobooks.com and Libro.fm both list more than 700,000 titles, which is enough for nearly any book you want. Check the exact edition and narrator you want on a service before you join, because catalogs are not identical.
Are there audiobook services without a subscription?
Yes. Chirp is built around single-book deals, Libro.fm and Audiobooks.com let you buy individual audiobooks, and Libby and Hoopla are free with a library card. Audible also sells single audiobooks without a membership, though members get better prices.
What service curates daily recommendations for mystery audiobooks?
Chirp is the closest match: you pick the genres you like, such as mystery and thriller, and it emails you discounted audiobooks every day. Audiobooks.com has curated booklists, and Libro.fm has playlists and picks from booksellers. My lists of the best thriller audiobooks on Audible are another place to start.
What is the best audiobook app?
Each service has its own app, so choose the service first. The Audible, Audiobooks.com, Libro.fm and Libby apps all let you download books for offline listening. Libro.fm’s DRM-free files are the exception, because they also play in third-party apps.
Can I listen to audiobooks offline?
Yes. Audible, Audiobooks.com, Libro.fm and Libby all let you download books to your phone and listen without a connection. Check the app’s download settings before a flight or a road trip.
Is Spotify a good way to listen to audiobooks?
It is good value if you already pay for Spotify Premium: you get 15 hours of audiobooks a month at no extra cost, and I list the best fits in my guide to audiobooks on Spotify under 15 hours. Unused hours do not roll over, and you do not own the books.
What is the best audiobook service outside the United States?
Audible runs local stores in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and France. In Europe, BookBeat and Storytel are popular subscription services, and Kobo sells audiobooks in several countries. Libro.fm offers single purchases to international listeners. Availability and prices vary by country, so check what applies where you live.
Can I use more than one audiobook service?
Yes, and many listeners do. A common mix is a library app for patient picks, one subscription for the books you want to keep, and Chirp for bargains.
Never run out of audiobooks to listen to
One email a week: the best current audiobook deals and one editor’s pick.
Scribd is excellent but around the middle of the month the full library disappears and is not available until the end of the month.