If you find it challenging to carve out time for reading books but still wish to immerse yourself in literature, audiobooks present an excellent solution. They enable you to enjoy captivating stories during your daily commute, while relaxing on vacation, or even while tackling mundane chores at home.

Historically, audiobooks could be quite pricey and difficult to obtain. However, the rise of digital subscription platforms has greatly simplified access. Subscribing to one of these services is one of the most effective ways to enhance your listening journey, providing you with a vast array of titles at your fingertips. While Audible, owned by Amazon, often stands out as a prominent choice, numerous other equally beneficial options are available.

In 2025, various audiobook subscription services, both paid and free, cater to avid readers. This guide will explore the top audiobook platforms currently on the market, along with introducing their respective advantages and disadvantages. So, grab your headphones and prepare for an auditory adventure!

Audible

Credit: Audible

Despite potential concerns regarding Amazon, Audible remains a top-notch audiobook service. With an extensive library boasting hundreds of thousands of titles, users can purchase, borrow, stream, or listen offline through dedicated apps available for Android, iOS, Windows, and various Amazon devices.

Audible ensures seamless continuity in your listening experience by storing your progress across all platforms—whether you’re online or in your car. This feature guarantees you can easily resume your audiobook where you left off.

New users can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, which includes one complimentary audiobook. Following this trial, the Premium Plus plan is available for $15 per month, granting one credit monthly. Even if you decide to cancel, any purchased titles remain yours. If you’re keen on unlimited listening from a selection of audiobooks, the Plus membership offers that at $8/month after the trial, although access to additional titles requires continued membership.

It’s worth noting that while you don’t need to be a member to purchase audiobooks, becoming one entitles you to a 30% discount on individual book purchases. These books remain available offline and your membership benefits extend to Amazon, where applicable.

For heavy listeners, Audible’s credit system and extensive collection present excellent value. Occasionally, purchasing the Kindle edition first can lead to discounts on accompanying audiobooks.

Pros of Audible:

• A vast selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive content

• Ownership of books even after subscription cancellation

Cons of Audible:

• Being associated with Amazon may deter some users

Sign up for Audible

Audiobooks.com

Credit: Audiobooks.com

If Audible isn’t your preference, Audiobooks.com boasts over 500,000 audiobooks. The service offers a 30-day free trial with three audiobooks included. After this period, a subscription costs $15 per month for one audiobook credit, plus an additional bonus title from the Audiobooks.com VIP program, which is available to all members. This platform also features curated lists and can accommodate multiple users through a family plan with personalized bookmarks for each listener.

Applications for iOS and Android include offline listening capabilities and a sleep timer.

Pros of Audiobooks.com:

• A free trial that allows access to three books

• A family plan for shared listening experiences

Cons of Audiobooks.com:

• VIP content access ceases upon cancellation

Sign up for Audiobooks.com

B&N Audiobooks

Credit: Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble’s audiobook service offers a similar model to Audible for $15 per month—providing one credit after an initial 30-day trial—while granting access to over 300,000 titles. However, it offers less flexibility, as there is no option to purchase additional credits, and unused credits expire after 30 days. The B&N Nook app is available on iOS and Android, integrating content purchased from B&N and syncing across devices.

Pros of B&N Audiobooks:

• The Nook app consolidates audiobooks with ebooks and other media

• Discounts available on audiobooks for subscribers

Cons of B&N Audiobooks:

• Fewer subscription alternatives compared to competitors

Sign up for B&N Audiobooks

Libro.fm

Credit: Libro.fm

Favoring local independent bookstores instead of larger corporations? Libro.fm provides access to over 500,000 titles for $15 per month, with a portion of your subscription supporting a bookstore of your choice. Subscribers receive one credit monthly and enjoy a 30% discount on individual audiobook sales. Credits remain valid indefinitely, even with a paused or canceled account.

With applications for iOS and Android, features like sleep timers and syncing across devices enhance the listening experience.

Pros of Libro.fm:

• Subscription encourages support for independent bookstores

• Exclusive playlists and recommendations from booksellers

Cons of Libro.fm:

• No free trial available (initial complimentary audiobook provided with signup)

Sign up for Libro.fm

Everand

Credit: Everand

Everand, the audiobook service from Scribd, delivers a variety of offerings including audiobooks, ebooks, podcasts, magazines, and articles at a budget-friendly price of $12 per month after a 30-day free trial. A premium Plus plan option at $17 per month provides three credit audiobooks.

Everand’s applications for iOS, Android, and Amazon devices facilitate effortless searching and offline downloading. Features like sleep timers guarantee you can drift off while listening without staying up too late.

While Everand’s audiobook offerings may not match the breadth of Audible’s, you gain access to a host of other multimedia services, ideal for those who enjoy balancing audiobooks with magazine content.

Pros of Everand:

• Multiple content types bundled in one monthly fee

• Useful features such as sleep timers and offline access

Cons of Everand:

• Monthly reading limits can apply

Sign up for Everand

Spotify

Credit: Spotify

Spotify now offers audiobooks for purchase within its platform. Premium users benefit from 15 hours of free listening every month across more than 250,000 audiobook titles. Once the limit is reached, users can either buy the book or add another 10 hours (keeping in mind that unused hours do not carry over to the following month).

Spotify Premium is priced at $12 monthly after a two-month complimentary trial ($17/month for Duo plans and $20/month for Family plans). Notably, only the primary account holder can utilize the audiobook feature on Duo and Family plans. While this feature enhances your subscription, opting for Spotify solely for audiobooks might not be the most worthwhile decision.

There’s also an Audiobooks Access plan available for non-subscribers, offering 15 hours for $10 monthly.

Pros of Spotify:

• Unified access to music, podcasts, and audiobooks within a single application

Cons of Spotify:

• Listening time is limited; not based on number of books

• Service not available for duo and family plan members

Sign up for Spotify Premium

Libby

Credit: Libby

An impressive 90% of libraries in North America participate in OverDrive, which simplifies borrowing audiobooks and ebooks at no cost directly from your mobile device. All you need is a library card from a participating library. The Libby app serves as the gateway to this service and is available on iOS, Android, and Amazon devices, as well as on the web.

With this free service, titles may vary based on your local library’s selection. Still, OverDrive’s website permits you to check other nearby libraries for accessible books. You can enjoy both audiobooks and ebooks offline, with your listening progress, bookmarks, and notes all synced across devices. The loan limits and borrowing periods are dictated by your local library; hence, popular titles might entail wait times.

Pros of Libby:

• Completely free to access

• Offline capabilities and device synchronization

Cons of Libby:

• Title selection is contingent on local libraries

• Possible waitlists for high-demand books

Hoopla

Credit: Hoopla

Similar to OverDrive, Hoopla allows users to borrow an array of media from select libraries. This includes not only audiobooks and ebooks but also music, movies, and television shows. By verifying your library membership through your card number, you can access your selected library’s digital offerings.

Content can be accessed via Hoopla’s website or through its apps for iOS, Android, and Amazon devices. As with regular libraries, content allowances apply, but returning items when finished is intuitive—whether manually or once the borrowing period concludes, mimicking traditional library practices.

Hoopla’s free access stands out as a significant advantage, with its online reader providing customization features that enhance user experience. However, availability is restricted to the offerings of your library, encouraging patrons to explore various library memberships for broader access.

Pros of Hoopla:

• Free service

• Diverse media categories available, including audiobooks

Cons of Hoopla:

• Availability is restricted by your library’s collection

• Items must be returned at the end of the borrowing period

Chirp

Credit: Chirp

Chirp distinguishes itself as an audiobook marketplace, offering numerous titles at discounted rates. Instead of a subscription model, Chirp provides limited-time offers of select titles for under $5, along with personalized recommendations and the opportunity to purchase popular titles at retail prices. This flexible approach means users are committed only upon purchasing their desired audiobooks, aligning well with those who seek deals without monthly obligations.

Chirp apps for iOS and Android come with user-friendly features like sleep timers, bookmarking, and offline listening.

Pros of Chirp:

• No long-term commitments

• Substantial discounts on selected titles

Cons of Chirp:

• Popular titles typically come at a higher price than subscription credits from other platforms

Sign up for Chirp