The Use of Audible. Is It Worth It?

Want to pick up a book and start reading, but don't have time? If this is the case, then Audible might be for you.  

Audiobooks have grown enormously in popularity over the last few years, and with thousands of titles to pick from you'll be spoilt for choice. But before you jump into a subscription, it’s worth considering whether it is the right format for you.  

The first thing you need to know is that an Audible subscription is different from Spotify because you don't have unlimited access to audiobooks. Instead, you receive credits that you can redeem for any book on their platform. For a monthly fee of $14.95 (price as of December 2021), you are awarded a credit that you can redeem to buy an audiobook from Audible's library. 

Pros 
Unlike most streaming services, if you cancel your subscription you can keep the books you have purchased using Audible’s credits. When you sign up, you also get a 30-day free trial that lets you download two free audiobooks that you can keep forever (even if you decide not to continue with the subscription!). 
Lastly, an Audible membership allows you to benefit from a 30% discount on any book you want to buy after you have exceeded the monthly credit available. 

Cons 
This may sound obvious but bear in mind that when your membership expires or if you decide to terminate it, you will automatically lose any credits you still have to spend, so if you’re considering cancelling, it’s best to use all of them in one go. 
Books on Audible are known to be more expensive than their paper or eBook versions. Take for example Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The Kindle version is $8.16, the hardcover is $13.49, and the audiobook is $31.19. The high price of audiobooks is due to production costs. In addition to hiring a narrator, there are recording engineers, audiobook editors and other figures working on the book that drive up costs. 

Lastly, it’s not possible to refund or exchange a book once you’ve purchased it. Be sure you’re happy with your choice before paying for it as you won’t be able to exchange it for another one. 

Verdict 
If you don't have a lot of time to read books or eBooks, but you would like to read more, then a subscription to Audible might be for you. In addition, you can benefit from the many offers available on the platform to get the most out of it. If, on the other hand, you don't listen to at least one audiobook a month, then Audible is probably not the right thing for you. Still unsure? It’s worth utilising their 30-day free trial and seeing how many books you get through. If it’s less than one a month, you might want to stick a more traditional reading platform, like a paperback or an eBook.