Here’s something many book lovers don’t realize: Kindle Unlimited audiobooks literally use the same app as Audible subscriptions. Same narrators, same quality, same listening experience. But that’s where the similarities end! You’re choosing between completely different libraries with totally different content focuses.
They have completely different vibes!
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Kindle Unlimited vs Audible: The Quick Answer
Bottom line: Try both free trials, your taste decides everything!
Both: Unlimited audiobooks, same Audible app, same productions
Cost: $7.95/month for Audible Plus, $11.99/month for Kindle Unlimited
KU: Better for genre readers and Whispersync enjoyers (immersive reading)
Audible Plus: Better for audio-focused content and unique audio productions
Related article: Is Audible worth it?
The “Same App” Surprise
When you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, those “read and listen for free” audiobooks literally appear in your Audible app. You’re not downloading a separate app or getting inferior quality.
It’s the exact same professional narration you’d get by buying this audiobook on Audible.
The difference? You’re not choosing between different apps or audio quality. You’re choosing between two completely different unlimited libraries that happen to share the same excellent app and make up a small part of the Audible catalog as a whole.
What You Actually Get
Kindle Unlimited – $11.99/month
✅ 5,000+ audiobooks + 3 million ebooks
✅ Traditional audiobooks (books with narration added)
✅ Amazon publishing houses
✅ Monthly new additions
❌ Books disappear when you cancel
Perfect for voracious readers who want the full bookish experience
Audible Plus – $7.95/month
✅ 30,000+ audiobooks and podcasts
✅ Audio-first productions (multiple voice actors, sound effects, audio plays, written for audio)
✅ Audible Originals and a rotating selection of traditionally and indie-published audiobooks
✅ Monthly new additions
❌ Books disappear when you cancel
Perfect for listeners who want polished audio productions
Audible Premium Plus – $14.95/month
✅ Everything in Plus + 1 credit for ANY premium audiobook
✅ Credit books are yours to keep
✅ Access to the entire Audible catalog for purchases
Best of both worlds if budget allows
Kindle Unlimited vs Audible Content
Kindle Unlimited Strengths:
- Romance, thriller, and fantasy goldmine – tons of series to binge, many still ongoing, regular new releases
- Indie author discovery – find your next favorite before they hit mainstream
- Volume for voracious readers – new content constantly added
- Bonus ebooks included – same subscription covers reading AND listening
- Immersive reading – read along while you listen through Whispersync
Audible Plus Strengths:
- Audio-first experience – stories and plays written specifically for listening
- Familiar names – narrators and authors who are well-known figures on screen or on the page
- High production values – multiple narrators, sound effects, enhanced audio
- Podcast integration – audio content beyond just books
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Kindle Unlimited If:
- You read/listen to 3+ books per month
- You love romance, thrillers, and fantasy most
- You enjoy discovering new voices and series
- You want ebooks included in your subscription
Choose Audible Plus If:
- You love an audio experience, be it enhanced audio productions or podcasts
- You listen to (at least) 1-2 audiobooks every month
- Audio quality and production values matter a lot to you
- You want the cheaper unlimited option
- As long as it’s fun to listen, you don’t care much about genre
Choose Audible Premium Plus If:
- You want to choose a specific audiobook every month
- You like to “own” your favorite audiobooks permanently
- You can afford the higher monthly cost
Related article: Tipps and Tricks for your Audible Free Trial and Membership
The Smart Move: Try Both Kindle Unlimited and Audible!
Since both services offer 30-day free trials, the smartest approach is to test them yourself. Your reading taste matters more than any comparison chart. And you will quickly see what I mean by “different content”.
Start with the one that sounds more appealing, then try the other. Many audiobook lovers end up taking turns or outright keeping both. KU for the full novel-length experience, Audible for the audio plays and excellent productions.
Ready to test drive?
Try Kindle Unlimited Free for 30 Days**
Try Audible Premium Plus Free for 30 Days** (this gives you access to the Plus catalog and a premium audiobook to keep)
Don’t get hung up on comparing features and prices, both give you unlimited audiobooks through the same excellent app. But there are profound differences in the content that quickly become apparent.
Kindle Unlimited feels like a traditional bookish experience. Audible is all about a unique audio experience.
Try both free trials and let your listening habits decide. Your perfect audiobook subscription is the one that matches your taste, not the one that looks best on paper.
Happy listening!
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.
So I have Kindle unlimited and Audible plus but since they changed from audible escapes to Audible plus the titles have become alot more limited. If I upgrade to Audible premium can I listen to as many books as I want and not keep them? I have no interest in keeping titles. Or is there a better option for me. I read and listen that is the reason for both.
Thank you for your question 🙂
If you already have Audible Plus, the only thing that you would get from upgrading to Audible Premium Plus is the monthly Audible credit. With an Audible Plus subscription, you already have access to their unlimited catalog. It’s true that there are a lot fewer Romance audiobooks in the new Plus catalog than we had in Audible Escape. However, as far as I can tell, they are adding many new titles all the time, so it is getting better (I post them every week on my Facebook page).
As for better options, please check out my article about unlimited audiobook subscriptions! The Audiobooks.com Romance club might be interesting to you (if you haven’t already listened to most of the titles yet, you should check that before signing up!).
Hope that helps!
This was a good overview of these services. I already have an Audible premium membership, but I wasn’t sure if Kindle Unlimited could replace it. I read a LOT of ebooks, but it sounds like KU doesn’t cover the audio books I usually buy (a few classics but not recent bestsellers; mostly books from polyglots on language study, some language audio courses, plus graded readers or children’s classics in those languages). But I think I’ll total up my recent purchases of Kindle ebooks to see if I could have saved money, if they’re available for Kindle Unlimited, of course.
Thank you for your help!
Thank you so much for your comment, I’m happy my Audible vs Kindle Unlimited comparison was helpful for you 🙂 I’m not sure about language books. But Kindle Unlimited has a great edition of Classics both as ebooks and audiobooks! You can find them if you look for “Amazon Classics” on the Amazon website.
Thank you for taking the time to compare each of these.
I believe I’m going to sign up for the Kindle Unlimited plan!
Thanks again!