Compare
Audiobook services compared
The cheapest plan isn’t always the best value. Ask two questions: do you want to keep what you listen to, and does it need to play on your Kindle?
| Service | Price (US) | Model | Keep titles? | On Kindle? | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audible Amazon | From $8.99/mo | Monthly membership: pick-a-title (Standard) or credits you keep (Premium) | Premium: yes (credit purchases). Standard: only while subscribed. | Yes (Bluetooth) | Standard titles lock if you cancel. Premium annual pricing appeared inconsistent on Audible’s plans page at verification. |
| Kindle+ Amazon | $11.99/mo | All-you-can-read subscription (formerly Kindle Unlimited) | No — borrowed titles return when you cancel. Notes and progress stay in your account. | Ebooks yes; audiobook playback on Kindle not confirmed by Amazon | Many major-publisher bestsellers are not in the catalog. The expanded audiobook selection is US-only. |
| Spotify Premium audiobooks Spotify | 15 hrs/mo with Premium Individual ($12.99/mo) | Listening hours bundled with music | No — you rent listening time, not titles. | No | Premium Student is not eligible. On Duo/Family only the plan manager gets hours. Not playable on Kindle. |
| Libro.fm Libro.fm | From $14.99/mo | Credits that never expire; supports independent bookstores | Yes — DRM-free downloads you keep. | No | Not playable natively on Kindle. |
| Everand Scribd Inc. | From $11.99/mo | Monthly unlocks across ebooks and audiobooks | Access while subscribed. | No | Higher-tier prices were not confirmed on Everand’s own site at verification. |
| Libby OverDrive | Free with a library card | Free library borrowing | No — loans expire. | Ebooks (US) yes; audiobooks no | Popular titles have holds. Library audiobooks play in the Libby app, not on Kindle. |
| Kobo Plus Rakuten Kobo | Pricing not verified at source | All-you-can-read / listen for Kobo devices and apps | No — access while subscribed. | No | Not available on Kindle. |
Prices and plan details verified 2026-11-09 on each service’s official pages unless noted. Subscription prices change; confirm before subscribing.
Own your library
Audible Premium (credits, keep titles) or Libro.fm (credits never expire, DRM-free).
Listen on a Kindle
Audible is the only major service that plays natively on Kindle e-readers (via Bluetooth).
Spend nothing
Libby with a library card — expect wait lists for popular titles.