Trying to figure out which audiobook service is worth paying for? The answer isn’t the same for everyone! It depends on how many books you listen to per month.
I’ve tested the major services and broken down the best option for 1, 2, or 3+ audiobooks monthly, including cost breakdowns and why each recommendation makes sense. Here’s exactly which service to get based on your monthly listening.
**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**
Quick Guide: Find Your Match
- 1 audiobook/month → LibroFM (support indie bookstores, DRM-free)
- 2 audiobooks/month → Audiobooks.com (1 premium audiobook credit + VIP borrows)
- 3+ audiobooks/month → Audible Premium Plus (unlimited Plus catalog listening) and Hoopla (free with library card)
What matters when picking an audiobook service?
Different services work for different listening habits. Here’s what I consider crucial:
- Price – Free library apps, paid subscriptions, or pay-per-book models all work differently depending on how much you listen.
- Ownership – Some services let you borrow (you lose access when your subscription ends), others let you keep audiobooks.
- Selection – A service is only worth it if it actually has the books you want to listen to.
- App quality – You’ll use this for many hours, so speed controls, bookmarks, sleep timer, and stability matter.
- Benefits – Unlimited catalogs and member sales sound great, but benefits are only benefits if you’ll actually use them.
The right service depends on how many audiobooks you listen to per month. Let’s find your match!
You listen to 1 audiobook a month…
Best audiobook service: Libro.fm
Similar to Audible, Libro.fm offers a membership plan with one audiobook credit per month for an audiobook of your choice. But unlike Audible, your money benefits a local bookstore of your choice instead of Amazon.
You get to support independent bookstores and your local community with digital audiobook purchases!
Why Libro.fm Works for Light Listeners:
It’s affordable! Monthly membership costs $14.99 per month. Or create a free account and only buy audiobook credit bundles** when you need them. Credits cost $15 each from credit bundles, giving you flexibility without a subscription commitment.
Libro.fm also has regular sales with DRM-free bestselling audiobooks for under $5.
Check out current Deals on Libro.fm**!
You support local bookstores! When you purchase from Libro.fm, you choose which independent bookstore to support, and a portion goes directly to that store. Your local community and favorite authors benefit more, as Libro.fm also pays higher royalties to creators.
Large audiobook selection with over 325,000 audiobook titles across all genres! That means you can buy exactly the audiobook you want for that month. The Libro.fm editors also create excellent book lists to help you navigate the catalog. Their recommendations are a wonderful source of inspiration, and I often find new favorites here.
High-quality audio and reliable app with very crisp audio and two listening options: Download audiobooks as MP3 to listen on any device or app you choose, or use the free Libro.fm app directly. The app is user-friendly, available on iOS and Android, and one of the most stable audiobook apps I’ve used.
Easy to cancel or pause! If you’re someone who listens to one audiobook a month and sometimes less, you may want to pause or cancel your membership from time to time. With Libro.fm, you can do so easily through your account settings. Unused credits never expire, and you keep all purchased audiobooks forever.
Try out Libro.fm**
Libro.fm is the most ethical audiobook service while remaining affordable and convenient, and I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a fantastic option for quality audiobook experiences!
For more details, check out my comparison of Libro FM vs Audible.
You listen to 2 audiobooks per month…
Best audiobook service: Audiobooks.com
Audiobooks.com gives you 1 credit per month for a premium audiobook of your choice, plus you can borrow an additional audiobook monthly from their VIP selection of bestsellers.
Why Audiobooks.com Works for Moderate Listeners:
Large audiobook catalog! Over 500,000 audiobooks to choose from, including most traditionally published titles and indie authors. The VIP selection rotates monthly and includes quality bestsellers and popular titles.
Better author support than Audible! Audiobooks.com pays authors higher royalties than Audible, supporting a more sustainable audiobook ecosystem while giving you the same listening experience.
Sales open to everyone! Unlike Audible’s member-exclusive deals, Audiobooks.com sales are open to non-members, too – a great way to try the service.
Check out current Deals of Audiobooks.com**
Flexible and easy to use! This user-friendly platform is accessible on phone, tablet, or computer. Pause or cancel anytime. If you end your membership, you keep access to borrowed VIP books until the end of your billing period.
Try out Audiobooks.com in a 30-day free trial**
If you like to listen to 2 audiobooks a month, Audiobooks.com offers excellent value and exactly what you need!
Read more in my comparison of Audible vs Audiobooks.com.
You listen to 3+ audiobooks per month…
Best audiobook services: Audible Premium Plus + Hoopla
To keep things affordable for us heavy listeners, I recommend the combination of a paid subscription with unlimited access plus free library resources.
Part 1: Audible Premium Plus – $14.95/month
What you get:
- 1 credit monthly for any premium audiobook (yours to keep)
- Unlimited access to 30,000+ human-narrated audiobooks in the Audible Plus catalog
- Audible Originals and exclusive productions
- Member-only sales and deals
Why it works for heavy listeners: The Plus catalog gives you unlimited listening beyond your monthly credit. While the selection focuses on Audible Originals and productions, it provides genuine variety for binge listeners. You’ll find popular authors and quality narrations, plus the ability to listen widely without spending credits.
The catch: Plus catalog books are borrowed, so they disappear if you cancel. But for heavy listeners who maintain subscriptions, this provides excellent value.
Try out Audible in a 30-day free trial**
Part 2: Hoopla (Free with Library Card)
Hoopla is a library app that gives you a set number of monthly borrows (usually 5-10, depending on your library). Unlike Libby, there are no wait lists. If it’s in the catalog, you can borrow it immediately.
Why Hoopla is perfect for heavy listeners:
- Instant access, no holds
- Recent releases and bestsellers
- Traditionally and indie-published audiobooks
- Much better sound quality than Libby
- Perfectly complements any paid service
How to maximize Hoopla: Check if your local library offers it. Many libraries allow non-resident cards for $25-50 annually. That’s still cheaper than most subscriptions and worth it for instant access to quality audiobooks.
The Winning Combination
Heavy listeners do best by combining resources:
- Hoopla for traditionally published books and instant access
- Audible Premium Plus for unlimited browsing and one premium monthly credit
- Libby as backup for titles not available on Hoopla
This approach gives you maximum listening without breaking your budget.
Read more in my comparison of Audible Plus vs Premium Plus and What is Hoopla? (with a list of libraries with non-resident services).
Finding Your Best Audiobook Service
Many websites claim one single “best audiobook service,” but which audiobook service is worth it for you depends on how many books you listen to, your monthly budget, and your specific needs.
I hope this guide helps you find a subscription that really matches what you need so you can listen exactly the way you want!
More audiobook service comparisons:
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.