Although some nonetheless favor the old style printed e-book, many individuals favor the comfort and portability of audiobooks.
However how do you get the audiobooks you need with out paying some huge cash? There are a variety of audiobook providers out there, however the choices may be overwhelming. Discovering the best audiobook service is a matter of discovering the best one for a way you prefer to learn.
11 Providers for Low-cost Audiobooks
Right here’s our rundown of among the finest providers the place you possibly can seize a e-book to your ears.
1. Audible
Audible is an enormous identify in audiobooks. As part of Amazon, it’s closely marketed and simply out there, but it surely has its execs and cons.
Execs
- Audible boasts one of many largest audiobook libraries on the market with greater than 500,000 titles and round 100,000 podcasts, based on an organization spokesperson. No matter you prefer to learn, you possibly can in all probability discover it on Audible.
- You get to maintain any titles you learn even in case you cancel your subscription.
- You additionally get every day offers and an additional 30% low cost on further e-book purchases.
- You may obtain the books you select and hear offline.
- You may strive Audible out with a no-cost, 30-day trial interval.
- Amazon Prime members can strive Audible free for 90 days whereas additionally receiving 2 credit (1 credit score = 1 title) per thirty days.
Cons
- Audible is a subscription service with five different subscription plans, the most affordable being $7.95 per thirty days. At that lowest tier, although, you might be unable to earn additional credit and also you received’t get reductions on premium choice titles or entry to unique gross sales.
- The opposite membership plans are expensive. They embody month-to-month subscriptions of $14.95 for one credit score per thirty days or $22.95 for 2 credit per thirty days. Annual plans are additionally out there; they value $149.50 for 12 credit per yr or $229.50 for twenty-four credit per yr.
- Unused credit expire after one yr. In addition they expire while you cancel your membership.
2. Audiobooks.com
Audiobooks.com is one other subscription service, very like Audible.
Execs
- Very giant choice with greater than 300,000 titles plus greater than 10,000 free audiobooks.
- Entry to greater than 100 million podcast episodes totally free.
- Your subscription contains one e-book per thirty days.
- You should purchase additional credit as wanted. One credit score equals one e-book.
- You get free additional VIP books every month with no further cost. VIP titles are older, much less fashionable books, however they aren’t all obscure. For instance, one e-book at present on the checklist is Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island.”
- With a free 30-day trial you get two books free and also can choose one e-book from the VIP assortment that modifications month-to-month.
- You may stream books or obtain so you possibly can hear offline.
Cons
- It’s costlier than many choices at $14.95 per thirty days.
3. Scribd
Scribd is a subscription service that means that you can entry “limitless” audiobooks and likewise affords options like ebooks, podcasts and even sheet music.
Execs
- At $11.99 it’s cheaper than Audiobooks.com and also you get to take heed to as many books as you need.
- There are plenty of extras like Kindle books, magazines and even sheet music out there together with your subscription.
- You may select from greater than 1 million ebooks, 200,000 audiobooks and 1 million journal and information articles.
- It features a 30-day free trial.
Cons
- The time period “limitless” isn’t 100% correct. Customers within the iPhone app retailer complain that after two or three fashionable books, your capability to learn new and fashionable titles turns into very restricted for the remainder of the month.
- You’re renting relatively than shopping for the books, so you can not hold them.
- The platform will not be loaded with extras like among the different providers.
4. Downpour
For $12.99, subscription service Downpour provides you one credit score (good for anyone e-book) per thirty days. You may spend them as you go or save them up. Or you possibly can merely lease or purchase books with out a subscription, however you’ll pay a bit extra for every title.
Execs
- Inexpensive than Audiobooks.com.
- You personal the books and may hold them even in case you cancel.
- You may obtain and hear offline.
- You may have the choice to purchase or lease books outdoors of the membership. Leases are inexpensive, however, in case you purchase the e-book, you’ll pay greater than you’d with a membership.
Cons
- Smaller choice with simply 80,000 titles (and counting).
- Every credit score expires after 12 months.
- Books for buy are expensive, although there’s a tab for “Daily Deals” with sections for downloads below $10, $5 and even 99 cents.
5. Chirp
Chirp is a sister website of Bookbub, an e-book website. While you join the service, you get a every day electronic mail that includes particular offers. Lots of the offers are $3.99 or much less for every e-book.
Execs
- No subscription wanted, so that you solely pay for what you purchase.
- You purchase relatively than lease the books, in order that they’re yours to maintain.
- You should purchase from a big selection of books at common worth.
- There’s a “my wishlist” part the place you possibly can checklist out the books you need to take heed to and get alerts in the event that they go on sale.
Cons
- The featured deals are random and aren’t catered to your style, so you could or could not see books on sale that you just really need to learn.
6. Apple Books
Apple Books is a retailer for Apple customers to buy audiobooks. It’s not a subscription website, only a pay-for-what-you-want retailer.
Execs
- New and fashionable books can be found, in addition to classics.
- Apple editors curate basic lists to assist readers discover new books.
- You retain your audiobooks proper in your telephone.
- You may obtain books and take heed to them out of your Apple Watch whilst you exercise.
- No stress to obtain books to justify a month-to-month expense.
Cons
- Particular person books may be costly.
7. Google Play Books
Google Play Books is very like Apple Books, however for Android and PC customers, and with a couple of extra perks.
Execs
- No subscription, simply purchase what you want.
- Hearken to previews earlier than committing.
- Good gross sales and costs total.
- Can be utilized on iPhones and Macs.
- Giant number of audiobooks.
- Affords some free books.
Cons
- Some customers complain that the app is clunky.
8. Libro.fm
Libro.fm is the unbiased bookstore of audiobook providers — the anti-Audible if you’ll.
Execs
- Libro.fm donates a portion of each buy you make to the regionally owned bookstore of your alternative.
- No membership required.
- Nevertheless, you have got an choice to turn into a member for $14.99 per thirty days, which provides you one audiobook credit score per thirty days and 30% off particular person purchases.
- Greater than 250,000 audiobooks can be found.
- You personal the books you purchase, which means you retain them in case you ever cancel your membership.
- Affords free iOS and Android listening apps.
Cons
- Equally priced plans by way of Audible and Audiobooks.com supply a bigger catalog of books to select from.
9. Blinkist
Blinkist is a singular service in that it affords condensed variations of fashionable nonfiction books for individuals who don’t really feel like they’ve time to take heed to complete books.
Execs
- It’s pretty cheap at solely $8.34 per thirty days.
- You may strive the service out totally free for seven days.
- Contains entry to greater than 5,000 nonfiction books in dozens of classes.
- Most audiobooks may be listened to in 20 minutes or much less.
- Subscription contains limitless entry to all books.
- When you just like the condensed e-book, you possibly can improve to the complete model.
Cons
- Nonfiction solely.
- Good for a fast overview however not for in-depth information.
10. Librivox
The Librivox audiobooks web site declares “acoustical liberation of books within the public area.” So what does that imply? Mainly, it’s a free library of audiobooks which might be sufficiently old to have outlasted their copyright. They’re learn by volunteers.
Execs
- Utterly free to make use of.
- Plenty of nice classics like “Moby Dick,” “Frankenstein” and “The Life and Occasions of Frederick Douglas.”
- Obtainable within the Apple app store.
Cons
- Restricted choice (50,000) with no latest titles.
- No extras, akin to podcasts.
11. Your Public Library System
After all, you possibly can go to your native library and take a look at audiobooks on CD, however that’s so 2005. Today most library methods are connected with apps like OverDrive or Hoopla so you possibly can take a look at audiobooks digitally in your telephone, pill or reader.
Execs
- With a library card, it’s fully free.
- Not restricted to your native library however linked to a big community of libraries, so there are numerous titles out there.
- You may place holds on titles you need if they don’t seem to be at present out there.
Cons
- You might not discover each e-book you need.
- Books are checked out similar to non-digital copies, so they’re restricted and you will have to attend for sure books.
- New and fashionable books incessantly have a really lengthy ready checklist.
- You don’t hold the titles, simply borrow.
Public libraries lend a lot greater than books, audiobooks and films. Relying on the library, you possibly can borrow museum passes, instruments, puzzles, cake pans, video games and extra
Tyler Omoth is a contributor to The PNW. Robert Bruce, a senior author with The PNW, additionally labored on this story.