What is the best audiobook service? You're not alone if you've ever wished you could read more but can't find the time. Maybe you're commuting an hour each way to work, folding endless loads of laundry, or logging miles on the treadmill. Audiobook services solve a problem that's become all too common: wanting to consume great literature, learn new skills, or just escape into a good story, but lacking the chunks of uninterrupted time to sit down with a physical book.
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To quote Stephen King, Audiobooks believes "books are a uniquely portable magic" and exists to make listening to great stories accessible wherever life takes you. Founded in 2012, this platform has grown into a major player in the audiobook world with over 10 million app downloads and a library featuring countless titles across every genre imaginable. If you're curious about the service, you can give it a test run with a free 30-day trial that includes one free book, but be aware that if you cancel during the trial period, you'll lose access to that book.
1 credit for $14.95 plus access to catalog of free titles
Audiobooks offers a basic monthly plan that comes with one credit for $14.95. Are you the type of listener who always has an audiobook playing in their headphones? Never fear - this plan also grants you access to Audiobooks' "VIP" selection, which includes 10,000 additional free titles that refresh on the first of each month. As a member, you'll gain access to exclusive Member Deals and InstaCredit for instant additional book purchases when you run out of credits, typically at the same cost as your monthly subscription. and 10,000+ free audiobooks through the app.
Share your library with your household
For families, Audiobooks offers a Family Plan that lets you share your audiobook collection with two household members who can maintain their own bookmarks and notes without interfering with yours - perfect for those long road trips when everyone wants to listen to different books. As the primary account holder, you can control whether family members can use credits or make purchases.
A vast and growing library with something for everyone
You won't run out of things to listen to with Audiobooks' catalog. (They don't explicitly state the exact number of titles, but some estimate it to be around 450,000). You'll find everything from the latest bestsellers to timeless classics, organized into categories like "Popular on Goodreads," "Most Anticipated Audiobooks," "Staff Picks," "#OwnVoices," and "Book Club Favorites." Their curated collections like "Perfect First Listens" make discovery a breeze when you're not sure where to start. Audiobooks doesn't produce exclusive original titles or offer non-audiobook content like podcasts, which is a point in their favor from an ethical standpoint.
You're trapped in a walled garden with limited ownership rights
Easy come, easy go - we have to remove that point in Audiobooks' favor, because their DRM restrictions prevent any file conversion and firmly lock you into their ecosystem. While you can keep the audiobooks you've purchased with credits after canceling your subscription, you can only access them through Audiobooks' proprietary app on iOS or Android devices - no downloading files directly to your computer or transferring to other devices. You're essentially renting access to their platform rather than truly owning your audiobooks, which means your entire library exists at the mercy of their servers and business decisions. (Wouldn't it be nice if you could actually own what you pay for? You can, just not here.)
A capable app for iOS and Android with a few quirks in its performance
Since you'll have to listen to your audiobooks through Audiobooks' apps, it's important that they function well. Audiobooks' app is available for iOS and Android devices or through their website, and includes essential playback features like variable speed control (though some users report it can be glitchy), chapter-based bookmarks, and a sleep timer that lets you automatically pause at the end of a session. While the iOS version enjoys a higher 4.7-star rating compared to Android's 4.5, both versions have some interface inconsistencies - particularly when using external speakers, where playback doesn't always resume automatically. (Ever had to fumble for your phone while driving just to restart your audiobook? Not fun.) Offline listening is available, so you can download titles before boarding that flight or heading through your commute's notorious dead zones.
Customer service with a questionable track record
When it comes to getting help with Audiobooks, customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, but only via live chat or email - no phone support in sight. While the company claims to value your opinions, actual user experiences tell a different story. One frustrated customer reported, "I emailed them TWICE asking that they cancel my account and refund $36 to my credit card. I have received NO response!" This lack of responsiveness appears to be a pattern, contributing to their alarming "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau, which cites 24 complaints filed against the business and a failure to respond to at least one of them.
Read the fine print on returns and credit rollovers
If you're unhappy with a title, Audiobooks does offer a return option that lets members get their credit back, provided you have an active membership and are within 365 days of purchase. You'll also want to know that while your monthly credits roll over, they don't last forever - they expire after just three months. This is not as generous as some competitors (who give you a full year to use your credits), and we had to sift through the Terms of Service agreement to find out about it.
Bottom line: an okay listening experience if you stay vigilant
While Audiobooks give you a decent audiobook selection and a return policy that gives you a full year to change your mind, the platform's expiring credits (which vanish after just three months), questionable customer service (that "F" BBB rating is startling), and walled-garden approach to file ownership seriously dampen the experience. When stacked against competitors who offer longer credit lifespans and responsive support, this service falls a bit short. You might find Audiobooks worthwhile if you're a regular, consistent listener who won't forget about those time-sensitive credits and who doesn't mind not truly owning what you've paid for - but for most people, we recommend looking at the services that made the top of our list first.
Continued from above...
You're not alone if you've ever wished you could read more but can't find the time. Maybe you're commuting an hour each way to work, folding endless loads of laundry, or logging miles on the treadmill. Audiobook services solve a problem that's become all too common: wanting to consume great literature, learn new skills, or just escape into a good story, but lacking the chunks of uninterrupted time to sit down with a physical book.
Whether you're a multitasker by necessity or simply prefer listening to reading, audiobooks let you turn downtime into story time - and that's a win for anyone trying to squeeze more culture into their day. But not all audiobook services are created equal. Some operate on a subscription model, giving you a set number of credits each month to "purchase" titles you'll own forever. Others work more like Netflix, offering unlimited streaming from a catalog as long as you keep paying your monthly fee.
Then there are the pay-per-title services, which let you buy audiobooks outright without any recurring commitment. Finally, there are library-based audiobook services, where your free ticket to entry is your library card. The model you choose will depend on how many books you listen to, whether you like to revisit favorites, and how much you're willing to spend.
Subscription services tend to dominate the audiobook landscape. They're popular because they offer decent value if you're a regular listener, typically giving you one or two credits per month that you can exchange for any audiobook in their catalog, regardless of retail price. This model works well if you devour lengthy fantasy epics or non-fiction tomes that would otherwise cost $30 or more. On the flip side, unlimited streaming services appeal to binge-listeners who tear through multiple books a week and don't care about "owning" them permanently. If you're the type who rarely re-reads (or re-listens), this can be a more economical route - though you'll want to make sure the catalog is robust enough to keep you entertained.
Audiobook subscription services differ when it comes to ethical considerations, too. You'll want to think about how the service supports authors and narrators, and their impact on the publishing industry as a whole. Some platforms offer better royalty rates or direct support for independent creators, while others prioritize corporate publishers. Library-based services allow you to borrow audiobooks for free using your library card, which supports public library systems. If supporting authors and fair compensation matters to you, you'll want to research how each service shares revenue with the people who create the content you enjoy.
So what should you actually look for when shopping for an audiobook service? Here are the key considerations:
Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the audiobook services available today. We've looked at catalog depth, pricing models, app functionality, and overall user experience to help you find the service that fits your lifestyle. Whether you're a daily commuter looking to make the most of drive time or a fitness enthusiast who wants company on long runs, we hope this review helps you find the best audiobook service for you.
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So You Want to Hear About Audiobooks
If you're looking to decide if you should take the dive and get into audiobooks, you've come to the right place! We here at Top Consumer Reviews love audiobooks and have quite the extensive collection ourselves. There are plenty of reasons you may be unsure if audiobooks are right for you, but here are some ways to help you determine if this is the right step for you.
Audiobooks can often seem intimidating. It's not the same as reading, and can take a lot of time to listen to an entire book, so it's natural to be unsure if this will be the right fit for you. One way to tell if this is something to consider, is to look at your current listening time. Do you have a long commute to work? A long workout you never miss? Even long showers? If you have time now, that you spend listening to music or podcasts, then you should have time for an audiobook. It might seem like a big time commitment at first, since the book listening time can be several hours long, but just remember to listen in chunks and fit it in where you normally listen to things. Soon you'll be flying through books in no time!
Some people worry if the audiobook method will be boring. While some books may be dry, each one is different and it just depends on your tastes to see if the book is one you will like or not. Additionally, audiobooks are rather like podcasts, they can have a wide range of people for different characters that really add to the experience. Audiobooks can even be read by their own author, especially if that author is famous. You can feel closer to the likes of Nick Offerman or Amy Poehler as you hear them narrate their own books and life stories.
If that hasn't convinced you of how fun audiobooks can be, think of this: Audiobooks can be shared. You can literally have your own book club by sharing your favorite new book with whomever you want. Now you can have friends and family join in the fun as you all listen and share your favorite new book.
Another concern you might have may be about the cost. Some audiobook stores have a recurring membership. This can be good if you decide you like the audiobook world and want to continue on with a series, or listen to audiobooks often. However, you might not want to commit to a subscription right off the bat, and that's understandable. Some stores will let you buy one book at a time, if you just want to test the waters first and then that would be your best bet. A one time purchase may be the best for starting out, but chances are pretty soon you'll want that membership and all the benefits that come with it!
All in all, audiobooks are not going to be for everyone. Some people just never get into the feel of it. If you can take the first step of trying it out though, you might discover a whole new world of reading that you enjoy. We think it's well worth the risk, and you should take the plunge and start your newest adventure today!
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