How Much Does Audible Cost?
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Audible is a storytelling streaming service owned by Amazon that specializes in audiobooks, podcasts and original content. The platform’s catalog includes hundreds of thousands of titles and reaches listeners in more than 180 countries in 47 languages. Read on to learn how much Audible costs and how to fit it into your budget.
Audible subscription cost
Audible offers a variety of subscription price points, with options to select monthly and annual plans. Audible differentiates its plans based on tiered access to content.
Audible Plus: $7.95
The least expensive membership option is Audible Plus at $7.95 per month. Subscribers with this plan can listen to thousands of titles in the Plus Catalog, which Audible describes as an “all-you-can-listen service” updated weekly with new titles. There is no limit to the number of audiobooks, podcasts or original content users can listen to on or offline with this plan. However, to gain access to popular best-selling audiobooks, users will need to upgrade their membership to one that includes credits. One credit equals one title in Audible’s premium selection category.
Audible Premium Plus 1 or 2 Credits: $14.95 or $22.95
For users interested in premium selections, like the latest in best-selling audiobooks, Audible offers two Premium Plus subscription choices. Both plans come with the full library of Audible Plus, along with either one or two credits each month that can be used to redeem premium selection titles.
The premium titles purchased with credits are yours to keep. Premium plans also include access to exclusive sales not available to Audible Plus members. Premium Plus 1 Credit costs $14.95, while Premium Plus 2 Credits costs $22.95 per month.
Audible Premium Plus Annual 12 or 24 Credits: $149.50 or $229.50 per year
In addition to monthly options, Audible also provides annual subscriptions with either Premium Plus Annual 12 Credits or Premium Plus Annual 24 Credits. You get all the same perks as Premium Plus, but your account is billed annually instead of monthly. The 12-credit option costs $149.50 per year, while the 24-credit plan costs $229.50 per year.
How does Audible fit into your budget?
Streaming services like Audible are considered wants and fall into the 30% bucket of your budget using the 50/30/20 budget framework, where 50% of your income goes towards needs, 30% to wants and 20% to debt paydown and savings.
To make room in your budget for Audible, you could consider adjusting other line items in your wants category. Some common wants to consider cutting back are entertainment, travel and eating out.
You can also look for perks like rewards categories on credit cards you may already be using. Some cards offer cash back for streaming services.
Audible is also known to offer several options for free trials to members. An Audible membership is free for 30 days, allowing you a chance to try it before committing to a plan. The standard trial comes with one credit. If you are an Amazon Prime member and have not yet tried Audible, you receive two credits when enrolling in the free trial. Your membership will automatically continue at $14.95 per month after the trial ends. You can also cancel anytime without penalty.
