If you’re looking for an answer to the big question “Is Audible worth it?”, you’ve come to the right place! I’m an audiobook addict, listening to more than 200 audiobooks every year, but I’m most certainly not rich.
So let me tell you what you get with an Audible subscription and help you figure out if it’s the best audiobook service for you.
**The marked links and book covers on this page are affiliate links. If you use them to purchase something, I earn a fee at no additional cost for you. Disclosure**
What You Get with Audible
Audible is the biggest audiobook store online. If a book has an audio version, you’ll most likely find it here.
A standard Audible Premium Plus membership ($14.95/month) has two parts:
1. One Audible credit per month – Exchange it for any audiobook from Audible’s entire catalog, regardless of price. You own this audiobook, even after you cancel Audible.
2. Unlimited access to Audible Plus – A Netflix-like catalog with over 20,000 audiobooks you can borrow for free while subscribed. Fiction and nonfiction across all genres.
This means you never run out of audiobooks between credits. You can fill the time listening to Audible Plus books at no extra cost!
Whether you buy an audiobook with a credit or borrow one from Plus, it shows up in your Audible app, where you can download and listen. The app syncs across devices so you can always pick up where you left off.
Related article: How does Audible work?
So… Is Audible Worth It?
An Audible Premium Plus subscription has never been as good as it is now, thanks to the Plus catalog. Having the option to listen to as many free audiobooks as you want makes Audible Premium Plus entirely worth it, which is why I rarely cancel my subscription anymore (I used to do that a lot in the past).
But it really depends on the type of listener you are.
Worth it if you:
- Listen to 2+ audiobooks every month
- Enjoy variety across genres (Plus has a great selection)
- Want specific bestsellers or new releases (use your credit)
- Love Audible Originals (full-cast productions, exclusive content)
- Are new to audiobooks and want to explore what you enjoy (Plus is perfect for that)
Not worth it if you:
- Only listen to 1 audiobook per month (consider the cheaper Plus-only plan at $7.95)
- Listen to 100+ audiobooks yearly in one specific genre (you might exhaust the Plus selection)
- Have great free library access (Hoopla, Libby with short wait times)
Related article: Audible Plus vs Premium Plus plan comparison
Quick Tips to Get the Most out of your Free Trial
Make use of Audible Plus: Don’t dismiss it! The catalog includes over 20,000 titles, and new audiobooks are added regularly. Audible Originals are incredibly well done, many with full casts.
Know your credit value: An Audible credit equals $14.95. Only use credits for audiobooks that cost more than that. Consider buying cheaper books with money and save credits for expensive titles.
Use Whispersync deals: If you buy an ebook on Amazon, you can often add Audible narration for a reduced price. Sometimes the package deal is cheaper than one credit!
Try box sets: You can buy entire series for one credit. Search “box set” on Audible to find 30-40 hours of listening for a single credit.
Add books to your wishlist: Audible runs sales constantly. When a wishlisted book goes on sale, they’ll notify you so you can grab it for $5 or a half credit.
Want ALL the optimization tricks? Check out my full guide: How does Audible work (and how to get the most out of it)?
How to Know Before Your Free Trial Ends if Audible is Worth it
Here’s how to evaluate Audible during your 30-day trial:
Week 1: Browse the Plus catalog. Can you find 10+ audiobooks you’d actually want to listen to? If yes, the Plus access alone makes it worth keeping.
Week 2: Use your free credit on an expensive audiobook (something $20+). Calculate: Would you have bought this book anyway? If yes, you just saved money, and the Premium Plus plan is better for you than the Plus plan.
Week 3: Track how much you’re actually listening. If you’re finishing 2+ audiobooks in the trial month, the value is clear. If you’re struggling to finish even one, monthly subscriptions might not be the best fit for you.
Week 4 (decision time): Ask yourself: Will I use this enough to justify $14.95/month? If you’ll listen to your monthly credit ($14.95+ value) AND browse Plus regularly, keep it. If not, cancel before the trial ends.
Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder for day 28 of your trial. That gives you time to decide without forgetting and getting charged. If you decide it’s not for you, here’s my step-by-step guide on how to cancel Audible.
The Bottom Line
Generally speaking, Audible is almost always worth it as the most versatile audiobook service available. The combination of Plus access and monthly credits gives you flexibility that other services can’t match.
One thing to consider: Audible is owned by Amazon, which gives them enormous market power. While they offer the best all-around service, their dominance isn’t always great for authors, narrators, or the audiobook market as a whole. I always encourage readers to explore alternatives like LibroFM (supports indie bookstores) or Chirp (if subscriptions aren’t your thing) to keep the audiobook ecosystem healthy and competitive. That’s why I recommend you check out my list of the Best Audible Alternatives – competition is good for everyone, including listeners.
Ready to try it? Get your 30-day free trial of Audible Premium Plus** – you’ll get 1 credit to keep any audiobook, plus unlimited access to the Plus catalog. Use the framework above to evaluate if it’s right for you!
Happy listening!
Eline Blackman (pronouns: she/they) fell in love with books as a child – with being read to and reading herself. 11 years ago, she bought her first Audible book. It was love at first listen! An average of 200 audiobooks per year has become the new normal, and you will rarely see Eline without a wireless earbud. Romance and Fantasy are the go-to genres for this audiobook fan.
Where can I find cost of the audiobook they have stopped showing the price.
In the app: You can’t buy Audible books in the app (anymore).
In a browser: If the audiobook is included in Audible Plus and you have an active subscription, they just offer you to play it. You can simply do that and don’t have to buy it to listen. If you WANT to buy an Audible Plus book though, click on “More Options” and a menu will pop up with buttons to add the audiobook to your cart or to buy it directly (including showing the price).
Other audiobooks still show the price normally for me.
Hope that helps 🙂