My craze for listening to audiobooks has made me try almost every platform that helped me listen to audiobooks. I mostly use Audible to listen to audiobooks, but it is not always imperative to listen to all types of audiobooks from Audible.
You may always need Audible to access audiobooks. You always need a platform like Audible to download and listen to audiobooks. Many other platforms are also available that you can use instead of Audible to listen to your audiobooks.
Although various platforms are available to use instead of using Audible to listen to audiobooks, but it is vital to understand that most of the audiobooks support only Audible.
Therefore, I will deep dive into the application of Audible and its alternative so that you can easily pick and use the best option for listening to your audiobooks.
Let’s get started!
Audible to Listen to Audiobooks
Audible is the best option to listen to audiobooks because it supports all audiobooks available on bigger marketplaces like Amazon. It is a big digital platform where you can buy and listen to almost every kind of book.
Audible is a popular platform for listening to audiobooks, but it is not the only option. Several other platforms and services are available that allow you to purchase and listen to audiobooks.
Different features and their relative benefits make Audible a significant choice for audiobook lovers.
Significance of the Audible Platform
Audible is a digital platform owned by Amazon that specializes in producing, distributing, and selling audiobooks. It offers a vast library of audiobooks and original audio shows, which can be purchased, downloaded, and listened to on a variety of devices.
It is important to note that it’s not only about the audio listening capability, but the storage and availability of a variety of books is the number one reason why Audible is the most chosen platform.
Here are some important features and benefits of using Audible for listening to audiobooks.
- Vast Library: Audible offers a vast library of audiobooks and other audio content, including bestsellers, classics, and exclusive material.
- Convenience: Audible allows users to listen to audiobooks anytime on a variety of devices which makes it a convenient option for people.
- Originality: Audible produces original audio content, including podcasts, dramas, and documentaries, providing a unique listening experience.
- Subscription Service: Audible offers a subscription-based service, Audible Plus, which gives users unlimited access to a rotating selection of audiobooks and podcasts.
- Whispersync: Audible’s Whispersync technology allows users to seamlessly switch between reading an eBook and listening to the audiobook version, without losing their place in the story.
- Sync across devices: Audible syncs a user’s listening progress across all their devices, allowing them to pick up where they left off, no matter which device they are using.
Alternatives to the Audible for Listening to Audiobooks
Hundreds of alternatives to Audible are available to listen to audiobooks, each with its own features and benefits. These platforms not only help people listen to audiobooks, but they also offer a variety of books and audio to listen to.
Here, I have listed some of the best options being widely used as an alternative to the Audible platform.
Scribd: A subscription-based service that offers unlimited access to eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and beyond.
Bookmate: A subscription-based service that offers access to a large library of audiobooks and eBooks in multiple languages.
Google Play Books: A platform that allows users to purchase and listen to audiobooks on their Android devices or the Google Play Books website.
Apple Books: An app that allows users to purchase and listen to audiobooks on their Apple devices.
Libby: A free app that allows users to borrow eBooks and audiobooks from their local library.
Audiobooks.com: A subscription-based service that offers access to a large library of audiobooks and exclusive content.
Kobo Audiobooks: A platform that allows users to purchase and listen to audiobooks on their Kobo eReader or mobile device.
Downpour: A platform that offers a large selection of audiobooks for purchase and download, with no subscription required.
Hoopla: A free app that allows users to borrow audiobooks, eBooks, comics, and more from their local library.
AudiobooksNow: A platform that allows users to purchase and download audiobooks, with no subscription required.
Audible VS Other Platforms – Features & Benefits
|
Platform |
Original Content |
Subscription Service |
Other Features |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Audible |
Yes |
Yes |
Whispersync, Sync across devices |
|
Scribd |
No |
Yes |
Access to eBooks, magazines, and more |
|
Libby |
No |
N/A |
Borrow eBooks and audiobooks from local library |
|
Google Play Books |
No |
No |
Purchase individual titles |
|
Apple Books |
No |
No |
Purchase individual titles |
|
Audiobooks.com |
Yes |
Yes |
Personalized recommendations |
|
Kobo Audiobooks |
No |
No |
Purchase individual titles |
|
Downpour |
No |
No |
Purchase individual titles |
|
Hoopla |
No |
N/A |
Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and more from a local library |
|
Bookmate |
No |
Yes |
Access to eBooks, personalized recommendations |
What is Audible and how does it work?
Audible is primarily a subscription-based audiobook service owned by Amazon. Users can purchase audiobooks and access them through the Audible app or compatible devices.
Audible provides a large selection of audiobooks that can be downloaded and listened to through the Audible app or compatible devices. It is known for its original and large variety of audiobooks to access and listen to at one point.
To use Audible, you need to sign up for a membership and choose a plan that suits your needs. With a membership, you get access to a credit system, which you can use to purchase and download audiobooks. The number of credits you receive each month depends on the plan you choose.
Once you have downloaded an audiobook, you can listen to it on your preferred devices, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The Audible app also allows you to customize your listening experience by adjusting playback speed, setting bookmarks, and creating custom playlists.
What is needed to listen to audiobooks?
Audiobooks are just an extension of the same eBooks with added audio. Anyone can listen to audiobooks, instead of reading them, within a platform containing those audiobooks.
A device to store audiobooks and software or app to run audios of these audiobooks are always required to listen to audiobooks. Many platforms like Audible and Scribd provide such integration between books and devices to download and listen to these audiobooks.
Devices like smartphones, tablets, or computer store these audiobooks in their memory that can be played with software or app that a platform provides.
Can I listen to audiobooks for free?
Audiobooks are accessible through third-party platforms like Audible, Scribd, and Google Play Books. Therefore, it always depends on whether these platforms provide free access or not.
There are various ways to access free audiobooks, such as through public libraries, online platforms that offer free audiobooks, or through free trials of audiobook subscription services.
How do I listen to audiobooks on my iPhone without Audible?
Though audiobooks always require a platform like Audible, but there are many other alternatives available on iPhone. You choose any of the platforms to access and listen to audiobooks on your iPhone instead of using Audible.
iPhone provides many audiobook platforms like Apple Books, Libby, or OverDrive to listen to audiobooks. You can choose and use any of these platforms where you can access unlimited audiobooks.
Is there a free version of Audible?
Audible does not offer a completely free version of its service, but it does offer a 30-day free trial for new users. The free trial allows you to download and listen to one audiobook for free, and you can cancel your subscription before the trial period ends to avoid being charged.
Additionally, Audible has occasional promotions and sales where selective audiobooks are available for free or at a lower rate. No trial or membership is essential to try Audible. You can easily sign up and start your free trial of downloading and listening to audiobooks.
Can I listen to Audible audiobooks on multiple devices?
Audible is a service platform provided by Amazon to listen to audiobooks. It doesn’t matter on which device you want to access Audible to listen to audiobooks.
You can listen to Audible audiobooks on multiple devices once you get a subscription from this platform. You can download the Audible app on multiple devices and use your account to sign in and access your audiobooks.
Your progress in the audiobook will be synced across all devices, so you can start listening on one device and continue from where you left off on another.
Additionally, Audible provides a “Whispersync for Voice” feature, which allows you to switch between reading an e-book and listening to the corresponding audiobook on compatible devices.
Can I cancel my Audible subscription at any time?
There is no restriction on when you cancel your subscription from Audible. You can cancel your Audible subscription at any time you want, but you may lose access to the Audible Plus catalog and the monthly credits you earn.
If you cancel your subscription, you will still have access to your audiobooks in your library, and you can continue to listen to them even after your subscription has ended.
However, there are some exceptions to this policy. If you have received any promotional or free credits from Audible, these credits will expire once you cancel your subscription, and you will not be able to use them after cancellation.
It’s also worth noticing that some Audible memberships, such as the Audible Premium Plus Annual membership, require a one-year commitment. So, canceling the membership before the commitment period ends may result in a penalty or early termination fee.
So it’s a good idea to use up any credits before canceling. Additionally, if you cancel your subscription during a free trial period, you will not be charged for the subscription.
How do I download and listen to audiobooks on Audible?
You can download audiobooks in your Audible Plus and Audible Premium Plus dashboards. You can also download and listen to the desired part of your audiobook just by tapping the desired part of the audiobook you want to listen to.
Here is a step-by-step guide to downloading and listening to audiobooks on Audible:
- Sign up for an Audible account if you haven’t already done so. You can do this on the Audible website or through the Audible app.
- Once you have an account, log in to the Audible app on your mobile device or computer.
- Browse the selection of audiobooks available on Audible and choose the one you want to download.
- Click on the audiobook you want to download and select the “Buy Now” option. If you are an Audible member, you can use your credits to download the audiobook for free.
- Wait for the audiobook to download to your device. The download time may vary depending on the length of the audiobook and the speed of your internet connection.
- Once the audiobook is downloaded, you can start listening to it by opening the Audible app and selecting the audiobook from your library.
- Customize your listening experience by adjusting playback speed, setting bookmarks, and creating custom playlists.
- When you are finished listening to the audiobook, you can remove it from your device to free up storage space. However, you can still access the audiobook in your Audible library and re-download it in the future if you want to listen to it again.
Conclusion
You always need a device to download and store and a platform where you can access audiobooks to listen to them. Audible is one of the known audiobooks service provided by Amazon where you can access original books. It provides you with subscription-based services of Audible Plus and Audible Premium to purchase and listen to your desired audiobooks by using your credits within the platform.
There are also many other platforms available to use instead of Audible. From Scribd to Bookmate and Google Play Books to Apple Books, everyone provides their own audiobook service. However, not all platform provides you with subscription-based services like Audible offers to its users.
Therefore, Audible is the best option for most people who want to benefit from features, originality, and large storage of audiobooks.
