If you love books but struggle to find time to sit down and read, audiobooks may be the perfect solution for you. These audio versions of your favorite reads can be enjoyed while you’re working out, cooking, driving, or simply unwinding after a long day. While Audible, owned by Amazon, is a widely known and popular option, there are many other audiobook apps available that offer a great listening experience for those looking to try something new or just starting to explore the world of audiobooks.
To help you find the perfect app for your needs and preferences, we’ve compiled a list of six audiobook apps that are worth checking out. Each app offers a unique listening experience and follows a different model, so there’s something for everyone.
Audiobooks.com
“You can join the mystery and thriller club and listen to unlimited titles in the club for 30 days.”
Audiobooks.com offers one audiobook credit and one VIP book credit each month for $14.95. With this credit, you can choose from over 425,000 audiobooks or join a genre club that gives you unlimited access to titles in that specific genre for a month. For example, you could join the mystery and thriller club and listen to as many titles as you’d like within the club for 30 days.
If you prefer not to commit to a monthly subscription, you can also purchase individual titles. Audiobooks.com offers a 30-day free trial that includes three free audiobooks, plus a collection of 10,000 free titles. This app is a great option for those who are already avid audiobook listeners and want to try out a new platform.
Everand/Scribd
For those who love to read several books each month and are willing to pay a monthly fee, Everand from Scribd is a fantastic option. This app gives users access to not only audiobooks, but also ebooks and magazines for $11.99 per month. This fee includes content from Everand, Scribd, and SlideShare.
One thing to note is that when you access a title on this platform, you’re streaming it like you would a movie on Netflix. This means you don’t own the audiobook, but rather have access to it as long as you’re a subscriber. You can download titles for offline listening, and can access your titles on up to four devices. If you’re not quite ready to commit to a subscription, Everand offers a 30-day free trial for new users.
Libby
If you’re on a budget and not looking to spend money on audiobooks every month, Libby is a fantastic option. This app allows you to enjoy thousands of free audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines from your local library. You can also add more than one library card to the app, which gives you access to even more titles.
One downside of this app is that popular titles may have a wait list, but you have up to three weeks with the audiobook before you have to return it. Libby also conveniently remembers where you left off in the book, so you can always borrow it again in the future. Additionally, there is a limit on how many titles you can borrow at a time, but for free access to so many great titles, this isn’t a major concern.
Hoopla
Similar to Libby, Hoopla gives you access to a wide selection of free audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines through your local library. This app also offers movies and TV shows. With standard audiobook features like a sleep timer, bookmarking, and audio speed control, Hoopla is a great option for library users.
It’s important to note that the audiobook selection on Hoopla may be more limited than paid subscription services like Audible and Scribd. However, for those on a budget or with access to a Hoopla-affiliated library, this app is a fantastic option.
Spotify
“You may be surprised to find Spotify on this list, but hear me out.”
Yes, you read that right – Spotify. This music streaming service has recently started offering 15 hours of free audiobook listening to their Premium members. Many popular titles fall within this 15 hour limit, meaning you can enjoy a free audiobook every month. Additionally, you can also purchase audiobooks individually through Spotify.
If you’re already a Spotify Premium member and don’t plan on listening to multiple audiobooks each month, this may be a great option for you. However, if you only plan on listening to one audiobook per month, you may not need a separate audiobook service at all.
Libro.fm
The final app on our list, Libro.fm, offers a unique audiobook experience. Not only does this app allow you to purchase audiobooks, but it also supports local bookstores each time you make a purchase. When you sign up for Libro.fm, you can choose a local bookstore to support with your purchases, and the service shares profits with that bookstore each time you buy an audiobook.
Libro.fm offers one audiobook credit for $14.99 per month, or you can purchase titles individually. The unique aspect of this app is that all audiobooks are DRM-free. This means you have the option to download MP3 files and listen to your audiobooks on any device or app, and you get to keep the files forever.
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