Scribd Review for March 2021 - Audiobook Store Reviews

Item: Scribd Review
Rating: 1

Monday, March 8th

2021 Audiobook Store Reviews

Scribd

Cost: $8.99/month

Scribd seems to have all the makings of a 5-star audiobook streaming service on the outside. There are thousands of new books to choose from that are downloadable on just about any device. Scribd's website is clean, their membership pricing is straightforward, and they advertise unlimited monthly audiobooks. However, many third-party sites are full of customer complaints and warnings that their platform is not as it seems.

30 day trial

A free 30-day trial is offered before customers decide to buy into a membership for $8.99/month. The Better Business Bureau has given Scribd an F rating because of the complaints from customers about being charged even when they have cancelled after their 30-day free trial. Some are charged more than once in a month, while others have ongoing charges that they are not able to contact anyone about to get fixed.

When unlimited isn't really unlimited

Another frequent complaint from customers is that the unlimited plan is not actually unlimited. When selecting new titles, they are often locked until your account is charged again for the next month. Scribd specifies on their website in the terms of use that books become more limited to customers who consume "unusually high volumes" of content. However, they do not clarify what constitutes high volume. They also mention that they cannot guarantee the timing and availability of specific titles.

Nonrefundable

All fees and charges through Scribd are nonrefundable. If you are having issues with charges to your account or any other aspect of the audiobook site, the only ways to contact Scribd are through social media, handwritten correspondence, or through a request form on the website that customers often claim gets ignored.

Negative feedback

As far as Scribd's platform goes, it is sleek and easy to navigate. Much like the other sites we have reviewed, you can search through the thousands of audiobooks by category, play a sample of any given book, see the duration, and read listener reviews. We wish Scribd had a better reputation and would honor their pricing plan and unlimited audiobook advertisement because they have a lot going for them. Due to the negative feedback Scribd has received, we suggest going with a higher-rated online audiobook store.

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More Audiobook Store Reviews

The 7 Best Audiobook Stores

Where Is the Best Place to Find Audiobooks?

Within the last few years, the audiobook industry has exploded. With the increased use of tablets, smartphones, and iPods, the practice of listening to books rather than reading them has almost become the standard. The convenience of listening to a book in the car, while exercising, or even while cleaning the kitchen means listeners are able to digest the knowledge of so many more books than they would have time to otherwise.

Not only are audiobooks convenient, but they open listeners up to an endless amount of book titles. Seeking out books in a store or at the library limits you to the selection they have in stock and takes time to browse through the inventory. With online audiobook stores, you can search for books by title, genre, ratings, and more. Books you wouldn't have found on a shelf are now at your fingertips in the form of an audiobook.

Continue reading below

Audiobook Store FAQ

What is an audiobook?

It's exactly what you'd think: an audio recording of a narrator reading a novel, biography, or any other printed work. Some audiobooks are strictly narration, while others incorporate sound effects and other engineering to enrich the listening experience.

What makes audiobooks so popular?

It's hard to multitask with a printed book in your hand, but listening to an audiobook gives people more freedom. Driving while listening to a self-help book, enjoying a thriller while on the treadmill, or relaxing outdoors while having a favorite narrator read the latest bestseller are just a few ways book-lovers can essentially have their cake and eat it too. Plus, for anyone who struggles to read print - because of dyslexia, vision impairment, and so on - audiobooks are a must.

What kinds of titles can I get as an audiobook?

A better question might be "what titles can't you get" ! From classic stories like Pollyanna and Dracula to the top 10 books on the NYT Best Sellers list, the possibilities are nearly endless. History buffs, sci-fi fanatics, autobiography lovers, romance addicts, and every other type of reader can find what they're looking for when it comes to audiobooks.

Do I have to subscribe to a service? Or can I buy one title at a time?

You can do either one - or both! Some audiobook services are subscription-based, giving you access to a certain number of titles for your monthly fee. Others provide titles a la carte, so you buy only what you want, when you want. There are even audiobook providers that let you rent what you read!

Are audiobooks expensive?

Not really. You can expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $30 for a single title, comparable to what you'd pay for the book itself. If you choose a membership service, fees usually range from $10 to $30 per month, depending on how many titles you'd like to have at any given time.

Do I need an internet connection to listen to the titles I select?

Not usually. You can stream titles if you prefer, but most audiobook platforms allow you to download the title to your phone or computer for offline listening. Of course, you'll need to be connected to the internet to select your book and download it, but you're free to disconnect once you have the title saved to your device.

Are there any tools that can enhance my listening experience?

That depends, both on the audiobook service you select and the app or platform you use for listening (and sometimes those two aspects are integrated). Some listeners appreciate being able to listen to titles at twice the speed (even though it comes out a little like a chipmunk!). You can also find services that let you sync up an audiobook with the print title, letting you essentially follow along in the book while it's read to you.

Isn't it better to actually read a book instead of listening to a narration?

This is a hotly-debated topic! Some people say that audiobooks are a "lazy" way of reading - or that they don't even count as "reading" a book because you don't use your eyes on a page. Others fiercely advocate for audiobooks as an effective method of letting all people love books, even if the actual act of reading the words isn't part of the process. At the end of the day, if you enjoy audiobooks as a part of your life, we say "keep listening!"

Continued from above...

Services that provide audiobooks used to be expensive and much more limited than they are now. Some services come in the form of monthly subscriptions, while others let you purchase audiobooks individually. Other online book stores allow you to rent audiobooks and return or exchange them rather than having to purchase each one individually. However, the online service works, you'll find that the audiobooks are quite affordable and there are more title options than you'd ever be able to get through in a lifetime.

When searching for the best audiobook options, consider the following things to ensure you get the most bang for your buck:

Cost. Are you paying for each audiobook individually? Or do you get multiple books for one set price each month? If you're renting, make sure it is significantly cheaper than purchasing the book outright.
Selection. Listening to audiobooks allows for multitasking, so you can potentially get through more content this way than taking time to sit and read a physical book. You'll want to have a vast selection of listening material from whatever online store you choose so that you don't run out of audiobooks you enjoy.
Available formats. Is the book downloadable on your phone? Tablet? Laptop? Some audiobooks even come in the form of a CD, though most services have instant downloads and streaming services. You'll want to ensure that whatever formats are offered, they will make book listening convenient for you.

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best audiobook stores available today. We hope these reviews help you find the audiobook service that provides you with a great experience!

Compare Audiobook Stores

Select any 2 Audiobook Stores to compare them head to head

best-audiobook-stores

Audible

Book Lender

Barnes & Noble

Simply Audiobooks

Audiobooks

Audiobooks Now

Scribd

Audible vs Book Lender Audible vs Barnes & Noble Audible vs Simply Audiobooks Audible vs Audiobooks Audible vs Audiobooks Now Audible vs Scribd Book Lender vs Barnes & Noble Book Lender vs Simply Audiobooks Book Lender vs Audiobooks Book Lender vs Audiobooks Now Book Lender vs Scribd Barnes & Noble vs Simply Audiobooks Barnes & Noble vs Audiobooks Barnes & Noble vs Audiobooks Now Barnes & Noble vs Scribd Simply Audiobooks vs Audiobooks Simply Audiobooks vs Audiobooks Now Simply Audiobooks vs Scribd Audiobooks vs Audiobooks Now Audiobooks vs Scribd Audiobooks Now vs Scribd

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