Audiobooks are not a thing of the past. Instead, they are becoming increasingly mainstream, enabling users to find a comfortable ground to listen to books on the go. When it comes to audiobooks, Audible is a platform that has created a name for itself. It's accessible, extremely diverse, and hosts a plethora of novels and books that aren’t mainstream.
However, Audible isn’t a free service. So if you are considering shifting from a paid service to a free or more affordable one, some alternatives are worth the time.
This guide will review some of the best alternatives to Audible that we think are worth considering.
What are the Best Alternatives to Audible?
When looking at alternatives for Audible, we wanted to explore affordable (and free) options. But, we also wanted to curate a list that introduces promising audiobook platforms that offer access to various novels, short stories, and books.
Following are our top 5 picks:
1. Audiobooks.com
When looking for the best alternative to Audible, nothing beats Audiobooks.com. This is a subscription service hosting 350,000+ novels, titles, and books. Besides the extensive library, the accessibility and UI of this platform deserve special mention.
If you are on edge about using it, Audible has a generous free trial where you can download and listen to 3 audiobooks. The unique trait of this platform stems from its Audiobook club. Users can choose from the 8 clubs and avail of 30 days of unlimited listening.
The categories of audiobooks on the platform are quite promising too. If needed, you can also sign up for their 30-day free trial. The 3 free audiobooks can be selected from the Premium and VIP sections of the available titles.
Once the free trial is over, users must pay a recurring fee of $14.95 per month. However, it is a fairly good price, given the diversity of books available.
2. Chirp
Want to save up to 95% on your favorite audiobooks? If yes, Chirp is the platform you need to look into. With Chirp, users can avail of limited-time deals on some popular audiobooks without paying a hefty price.
Unlike Audible, where you have to pay a monthly fee to avail of the audiobooks, Chirp is perfect for the occasional audiobook listener. You can buy individual audiobooks at discounted prices and make the most of the purchase.
The platform also hosts new discounted deals daily to bring you various choices. In case you don’t like any of their audiobook or their quality, Chirp has a money-back guarantee you can look into.
Users also won’t have to get into waitlists. All you need is to find the audiobook you wish to buy, get it for a reduced price, and enjoy your day listening to it.
3. Libro.fm
It's not every day that you come across an audiobook platform that supports your local bookstore. With Libro.fm, you get to make that happen. Every purchase or membership gives back to the local bookstore, keeping them in business.
Libro’s primary objective is to take away from corporations' huge profits and share them equally with the local bookstores to keep their business afloat. Therefore, it is a social purpose corporation and a more ethical choice than Audible.
You will find a lot of exclusive perks and features with Libro. They have a sense of community on the platform where you can share your excitement and passion for books with others. There are bookseller-curated playlists on the platform as well.
The app version of Libro is available on both iOS and Android and for free. So you need an active membership to the platform, and you can get started with the audiobooks.
4. Libby
An app-based audiobook platform, Libby is developed by Overdrive and allows you to borrow audiobooks using your library card. The best part about Libby is that it's 100% free. You don’t have to pay a dime to download the audiobooks from your local libraries. The only thing you need is a library card.
The app hosts a variety of audiobooks, including the NY Times bestsellers and the classic novels we have read growing up. In addition, you can browse through the different categories of novels and magazines and listen to them on the go.
Also, the app is available on iOS and Android devices, so compatibility won’t be an issue. However, there are certain limitations regarding the availability, so that’s a downside. Also, if the novel you are trying to download is already borrowed, you might have to wait a bit.
Not just for smartphones, Libby is accessible on PCs, too, if that’s something that catches your attention.
5. Scribd
Scribd is another versatile platform that hosts audiobooks, e-books, and much more. Similar to Audible, even Scribd is a subscription-based platform. You pay a monthly recurring fee and get to enjoy unlimited audiobooks.
The platform is highly popular and caters to millions of users. The library is quite organized yet diverse at the same time. However, the best part about subscribing to Scribd is their affordable subscription fee of $9.99 per month.
Although they offer unlimited access to audiobooks, e-books, etc., some titles come with exclusive restrictions. What makes Scribd different from its competitors is the difference in formats. Not just audiobooks, you also have print, which is a bonus.
The users can start with a free account with a 30-day free trial. Once that’s over, you need to upgrade to their premium version to access the library of e-books and audiobooks.
Which is the Best?
Audible is no doubt one of the best audiobook platforms on the internet. It's popular, diverse, and has an affordable subscription too. However, these are some of our top picks if you want to branch out. A studio is an excellent place to set up your audiobook and listen to them online. All of these alternatives are diverse and unique in their way. Some of these alternatives also give back to the local bookstores, libraries, and the communities attached to them, which is always a positive and not something you’d get with Audible.
Author Bio: Hi, my name is James Mann from Becomesingers.com, I’m a vocal coach. And I have been involved in singing all my life in performing on stage, joining live bands, as a backup singer for other studio singers and teaching others on how to improve their singing skills and voice based on their vocal circumstances.
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