With so many online audiobook services available, it can be difficult to know which ones are safe to use and which are really worth your hard-earned money. One service you may have come across is Audiobooks.com.
I listen to around 200-250 audiobooks a year and am a quite frequent user of a whole bunch of audiobook apps, including Audiobooks.com. Let me give you an overview of this audiobook subscription, my experience with whether or not Audiobooks.com is legit and safe, and who I think might find this app worth it.
**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**
Is Audiobooks.com legit? And is Audiobooks.com safe to use?
When it comes to determining whether Audiobooks.com is a legitimate service, I would like to discuss two factors with you.
First, let’s take a look at the company behind the website. Audiobooks.com has been around since 2012 and was created by RBmedia, a leading global audiobook producer and distributor. If you listen to audiobooks regularly, you might recognize its imprints Recorded Books, Tantor, or Graphic Audio.
In 2021, RBmedia sold Audiobooks.com to Storytel which is best known for its popular European digital library service of the same name.
Both companies have a good reputation and have been part of the audiobook world for a long time.
Based on this history, I would say that you can rest assured that Audiobooks.com is legit and a safe service to use.
However, there’s a reason why you have looked up this question in the first place. So, let’s take a look at the reasons why some people believe Audiobooks.com has a bad reputation.
- Negative Reviews on Trustpilot:
Complaints include unauthorized charges, unclear billing practices, and difficulties canceling subscriptions. - Mixed Reviews on Sitejabber:
Customers have expressed dissatisfaction with aspects like the free trial, customer service, and credit card issues.
Free trial practices can indeed be confusing. Audiobooks.com has a rating of 2.0 on Trustpilot. Audible, the most well-known audiobook marketplace, has a rating of 1.4. Similarly, on Sitejabber, Audible comes out with a significantly lower rating than Audiobooks.com.
If you are now curious how Audiobooks.com compares to Audible, read more here: Audiobooks.com vs Audible
This is to say, that in my experience, reviews in these communities mostly come from people who have had negative experiences. Their reviews provide valuable information though.
For example, you might want to make sure that you haven’t already used a free trial on Audiobooks.com**. That would be a possible reason (other than a company making a real mistake) why someone gets charged for what they expect to be a free trial.
You can also familiarize yourself with the website before signing up for a free trial. You can even create a free account before providing your payment information so you can take a look at the settings and find your way around more easily when it’s time to cancel.
I would also like you to be aware that most audiobook apps, Audiobooks.com included, rely on subscribers using their website for everything concerning their account settings.
Importantly, I recommend you always make sure to check the listed price for an audiobook. If it’s below the fee you pay per month, buy the book for money and save your audiobooks credit for a higher-priced book.
A credit has a value of $14.99, the price we pay per month. If I spend it on a book that is listed for $36.99, I make a steal. If I spend it on a book that’s discounted to $5.99, I lose out.
Now, to balance out the negative reviews on the aforementioned websites, I also want to point you to these factors:
- Scamadviser Assessment:
Audiobooks.com is rated as legitimate and reliable, indicating that it is not likely a scam. - Popularity:
Audiobooks.com boasts over 5,000,000 app downloads on Android with a 4.4 star rating.
While some users have had negative experiences, others find Audiobooks.com to be a legitimate platform for audiobooks. As with any service, it’s essential to read terms carefully, understand billing practices, and make informed decisions based on individual preferences.
Overall, while no service is perfect, there is no reason to believe that Audiobooks.com is a scam or not legit. The site has been around for many years, has a solid reputation in the industry, and offers a convenient and legal way to access audiobooks.
How does Audiobooks.com work?
Signing up for Audiobooks.com is a simple and straightforward process. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to the Audiobooks.com website: The first step is to go to the Audiobooks.com website. You can do this by typing “audiobooks.com” into your web browser’s address bar or by clicking on a link to the site.
- Choose a subscription plan: Once you’re on the Audiobooks.com website, you’ll need to choose a subscription plan. The site offers several plans, including a free 30-day trial, monthly subscription, and annual subscription. Choose the plan that best suits your needs.
- Create an account: After choosing your subscription plan, you’ll need to create an account. This will involve providing your name, email address, billing information, and a password.
- Download the app: Once you’ve created an account, you’ll need to download the Audiobooks.com app. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.
- Start listening: With your account and app set up, you’re ready to start listening. Browse the site’s library to spend your credit, choose a book from the monthly VIP selection, or buy something from the deals section.
Conclusion
Audiobooks.com is a service I have used regularly. Sometimes, I simply wanted to make use of a free trial offer**, sometimes I found an interesting book for a discount.
The biggest strength Audiobooks.com has for me is that it is not part of the Amazon universe and is one of the best Audible alternatives. In the last few years, I often had the impression that Amazon pressured Audible into, what I would like to call, bad decisions.
The most recent example would be how Amazon’s KDP flooded Audible with AI-narrated audiobooks.
Audiobooks.com on the other hand belongs to a company that lives and breathes audiobooks.
And they simply offer everything you’d expect from a decent audiobook service: They offer a wide range of audiobooks from various genres, a user-friendly interface, and competitive pricing and subscription plans.
Overall, if you’re in the market for an audiobook service, Audiobooks.com is a safe option worth considering.
Eline Blackman (pronouns: she/they) fell in love with books as a child – with being read to and reading herself. 10 years ago, she bought her first Audible book. It was love at first listen! An average of 250 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.