There are a number of audiobook providers out there, but the choices can feel overwhelming. Picking the right audiobook service comes down to matching it with how you like to consume books. Below, we compare 11 places where you can score inexpensive audiobooks.
Pay For Your Audiobook Subscriptions With These Easy Ways to Make Money
A subscription to an audiobook service can introduce you to authors, genres and titles you might never have found otherwise. But will it fit within your budget? If you need a little extra cash to cover audiobook memberships, here are some simple ways to earn money quickly.
11 Services for Cheap Audiobooks
Here’s a quick guide to several audiobook platforms where you can pick up a book for your ears without breaking the bank.
1. Audible
Audible is one of the most recognizable names in audiobooks. As part of Amazon, it’s widely promoted and easy to access, but it comes with both benefits and drawbacks.
Pros
- Audible offers one of the biggest audiobook collections available with over 760,000 titles. No matter what you enjoy, you’ll likely find it there.
- Any titles you redeem are yours to keep even if you cancel your membership.
- Members get daily deals and an additional 30% discount on extra purchases.
- Selected titles can be downloaded for offline listening.
- There’s a free 30-day trial so you can test it out.
- Amazon Prime members can try Audible free for 30 days and receive 2 credits (1 credit = 1 title) per month.
Cons
- Audible is subscription-based with two membership tiers, the least expensive starting at $7.95 monthly. With the Audible Plus plan you won’t earn credits or receive discounts on premium selections or exclusive sales.
- The Premium Plus option is $14.95 per month, including the full Plus catalog plus one premium title monthly (12 credits annually). Unused credits expire after a year and are forfeited if you cancel.
2. Audiobooks.com
Audiobooks.com is another membership-based platform similar to Audible.
Pros
- Huge catalog with over 450,000 titles plus more than 10,000 free audiobooks.
- Access to over 100 million podcast episodes at no extra charge.
- Your plan includes one audiobook each month.
- Extra credits are available for purchase; one credit equals one book.
- Subscribers get complimentary VIP books monthly — usually older or less popular titles, but occasionally notable ones like “A Touch of Darkness.”
- A 30-day free trial gives you one free book and two selections from the rotating VIP list.
- Stream books or download them to listen offline.
Cons
- It’s pricier than many rivals at $14.95 per month.
3. Scribd
Scribd is a subscription platform that touts “unlimited” audiobooks and also includes ebooks, podcasts and even sheet music.
Pros
- At $11.99 per month, it’s cheaper than Audiobooks.com and lets you listen to as many titles as you want.
- Extras like Kindle books, magazines and sheet music are included with the subscription.
- Choose from more than 2 million ebooks, 300,000 audiobooks and 1 million magazine and news pieces via partners like Everand.
- Includes a 30-day free trial.
Cons
- The “unlimited” claim isn’t always accurate — users report that after a few popular books, access to other current titles may be limited for the remainder of the month.
- With Scribd you’re renting access rather than owning the books, so you can’t keep them.
- The platform lacks some of the additional features found on other services.
4. Downpour
Subscription site Downpour charges $12.99 per month for one credit (good for any title). You can use credits as you go or bank them. Alternatively, you can rent or purchase audiobooks without subscribing, though single purchases tend to cost more.
Pros
- Less costly than Audiobooks.com.
- You own purchased titles, so they remain yours even if you cancel.
- Download books for offline listening.
- Option to rent or buy without a membership; rentals are cheaper, purchases are pricier than with a subscription.
Cons
- Smaller catalog with about 80,000 titles (and growing).
- Credits expire after 12 months.
- Purchased books can be expensive, though there are Daily Deals sections with downloads under $10, $5 and even 99 cents.
5. Chirp
Chirp is a sister site to BookBub, known for ebook deals. After signing up, you’ll receive daily emails highlighting special audiobook bargains, many priced at $5 or less.
Pros
- No subscription required — you only pay for the titles you purchase.
- Purchased books are yours to keep.
- Large selection available at regular prices as well as discounted deals.
- A “my wishlist” feature lets you save titles and get alerts when they drop in price.
Cons
- The daily deals are randomized and not tailored to your tastes, so you might not see discounts on books you actually want.
6. Apple Books
Apple Books is a marketplace for Apple users to buy audiobooks. It’s not a subscription model — you pay per title.
Pros
- Offers new releases, popular titles and classics.
- Apple editors curate lists to help you discover new books.
- Your audiobooks are stored on your iPhone or iPad.
- Downloadable and playable from your Apple Watch for workouts.
- No monthly obligation to justify downloads.
Cons
- Individual audiobooks can be pricey.
7. Google Play Books
Google Play Books resembles Apple Books but caters to Android and PC users and includes a few extra perks.
Pros
- No subscription — buy only what you want.
- Listen to previews before purchasing.
- Competitive sales and reasonable prices overall.
- Accessible on iPhones and Macs too.
- Large audiobook catalog.
- Some free titles are available.
Cons
- Some users find the app a bit clunky.
8. Libro.fm
Libro.fm positions itself as the indie bookstore-friendly alternative to Audible.
Pros
- Part of each purchase supports a locally owned bookstore of your choice.
- No membership is required to buy books.
- A membership option is available for $14.99 per month, which gives you an initial credit and then one credit per month plus 30% off individual purchases.
- Offers more than 450,000 audiobooks, including most current New York Times bestsellers.
- Purchased titles are yours to keep if you cancel membership.
- Free listening apps available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- Comparable plans from Audible and Audiobooks.com provide access to a larger overall catalog.
9. Blinkist
Blinkist is a distinct option that delivers condensed summaries of popular nonfiction for people who don’t have time to listen to full-length books.
Pros
- Reasonably priced: the Blinkist Yearly plan runs $99.99 per year (about $8.34 monthly), while the Monthly plan is $15.99 per month.
- A free seven-day trial is available with the yearly subscription.
- Access to over 6,500 bestselling nonfiction titles across numerous categories.
- Most audiobook summaries can be consumed in 30 minutes or less.
- Unlimited access to the condensed library with a subscription.
- If a summary intrigues you, you can opt to upgrade to the full-length book.
Cons
- Only nonfiction is covered.
- Great for quick overviews but not for deep, comprehensive study.
10. LibriVox
LibriVox describes itself as providing “acoustical liberation of books in the public domain.” In short, it’s a free collection of audiobooks whose copyrights have expired, recorded by volunteers.
Pros
- Entirely free to use.
- Contains many classic works like “Moby-Dick,” “Frankenstein” and “The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.”
- Available via the Apple app store and the Google Play store.
Cons
- Selection is limited (around 19,310 titles) and lacks recent releases.
- No extra features like podcasts or modern content.
11. Your Public Library System
Your local library is still a fantastic source for free audiobooks — and it’s much easier than borrowing CDs. Many library systems connect to apps like OverDrive, Libby or Hoopla, allowing you to check out audiobooks digitally on your phone, tablet or e-reader.
Pros
- Totally free with a library card.
- Often linked to a wider network of libraries, increasing the number of available titles.
- You can place holds on titles if they’re currently checked out.
Cons
- You might not find every book you want.
- Digital loans are still limited like physical copies, so you may have to wait for high-demand books.
- Popular new releases often have long wait lists.
- You borrow rather than own the titles.
If you’re pressed for time but still want to enjoy books, consider exploring love to read but short on time 11 places to find cheap audiobooks for more ways to find affordable listening options.
Jordan Fields is a contributor to Savinly. Another editor from Savinly Readers helped refine this piece.
