Audible is arguably the most well-known audiobook service online, especially being backed by Amazon. However, numerous Audible alternatives have popped up to offer you even more variety, and often, much cheaper ways to listen to new and favorite books.
1. OverDrive/Libby
Price: Free with library card
Did you know that you can borrow audiobooks from your local library? For anyone with a library card hanging around, OverDrive and its companion app, Libby, are great ways to listen to popular audiobooks for free. The app works much like a library with limited “copies” available. I’ve personally never had to wait more than a few weeks to check out a new title. The other caveat is that your local library has to have the book as part of its collection.
It’s available in over 40 countries and offers both audiobooks and ebooks for all ages. I enjoy checking out the monthly collections for new recommendations. Please note that some libraries may limit how many titles you can check out per month, while others have no limits.
2. Everand
Price: $11.99/month
Everand, formerly Scribd, offers a growing collection of audiobooks, ebooks, sheet music, magazines, and more. While I couldn’t find a set total, you get access to an unlimited collection of over 20,000 titles. (This includes all types of content.) There’s also a premium collection of over 1.5 million titles, and you get one to three premium titles with your subscription each month.
Don’t worry, though. Many bestsellers and indie audiobooks are included in the unlimited catalog. I actually prefer indie authors and smaller publishers, so everything I read is in the unlimited collection. It’s one of the better Audible alternatives for more voracious listeners/readers.
Some publishers do limit how many titles you can listen to/read per month, but Everand never discloses this number. I tend to listen to three to five audiobooks each month and haven’t reached a limit yet.
3. Hoopla
Price: Free
Similar to OverDrive, Hoopla enables you to check out audiobooks from different libraries. Upon authentication of your library membership (using a library card), you get complete access to the service’s audiobook collection. There’s no charge for the service, and you can listen to them on iOS, Android, Amazon devices, Roku, etc. The interface is easy to navigate and breaks down its collections into Popular, Featured, New York Times bestsellers and more.
If you’re a parent, you’ll love the kids collection. You’ll always find age-appropriate titles for your little ones. My only complaint is that many libraries do limit how many titles you can check out per month, but it’s free, so I can’t complain too much.
4. Apple Books
Price: Books priced individually
Platforms: macOS, iOS
If you’re already deep into the Apple ecosystem, it makes a ton of sense to look at their audiobook options. The Apple Books app isn’t a subscription service. However, it’s one of the better alternatives to Audible if you just want to buy audiobooks without subscription fees. Plus, the app itself is clean and easy to use.
But, my favorite part is the surprising number of free audiobooks available. I’m not just talking about public domain titles, either. Get many series starters completely free. Plus, there are often limited-time offers, giving you huge discounts. You even get personalized recommendations to help you find new titles based on your past reading habits.
5. Google Play Books
Price: Books priced individually
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Similar to Apple, Google also offers its own bookstore experience, Google Play Books. There are numerous similarities between the two competitors, including recommendations based on previous reading habits. Google’s offering isn’t as friendly to navigate as Apple, but it’s still easy to use. I do wish the free books were easier to find, though.
Scroll through to see a variety of categories for self help, business and investing, science and technology, science fiction, comedy and more. The introduction of specific categories is great and helps even new users properly navigate Google’s store. Best of all, each category starts with deals and price cuts to help attract impulse purchases. Like Apple, any Google Play audiobooks you purchase through Google is a one-time fee, and you own the book indefinitely.
6. LibriVox
Price: Free
Adding more than 50,000 audiobooks to the mix, LibriVox is one of the best Audible alternatives for public domain titles. The good news is that part of the 50,000 book volume are fantastic reads across older bestsellers, history, biographies, poetry, and short stories. What it lacks in new bestsellers, it makes up with some of the greatest novels available in audiobook format.
Discovering audiobooks is easily done through the search tool at the top of the page, or you can jump directly into the catalog for more specific search functions. Additionally, the site lists all of the latest releases, so you can quickly see what’s new and of interest. I’d also recommend checking out LibriVox.app, which is a better way to navigate the platform.
7. Kindle Unlimited
Price: $11.99/month
While you don’t need Kindle Unlimited to buy audiobooks from Amazon, the subscription service is one of my favorite Audible alternatives. At the time of writing, Amazon lists over 10,000 audiobook titles (bestsellers, indie publishers, and public domain titles) included with your subscription. And, you get to listen to as many as you want with a monthly subscription. You’re only limited to 20 titles checked out at once.
Kindle Unlimited works much like a library. You don’t own the titles, but you’re free to buy any titles you want to keep. If you’re already a Prime member, try Prime Reading (included with your membership) instead. There are fewer titles, but the rotating library is great for more casual listeners/readers.
8. Audiobooks.com
Price: $14.99/month or purchase titles individually
Audiobooks.com is the most similar alternative to Audible on this list. However, I’ve found far more discounts here than on Audible and like the layout of the app better. With over half a million audiobooks to choose from, you’ll always find something new to listen to. There are over 10,000 free titles on audiobook platforms.
The subscription works much like Audible. You get one credit to “buy” an audiobook each month to keep. But Audiobooks.com also gives you a free title from the curated VIP collection each month as well. VIP titles are only available as long as you’re a member. My favorite part is the monthly discounts, though, such as BOGO and sales up to 75% off.
I didn’t give Spotify its own section, but Spotify does offer audiobooks now. The problem is, you only get 15 hours of listening a month, and that just seems too limited. If you’re not sure which service is the best Audible alternative for you, take advantage of free trials to see what’s offered and what apps you like best.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Crystal Crowder.
