Audiobooks are a great way to bring words on the page to life and incorporate reading into your schedule throughout the day when you’re doing things like working out, cooking, driving, and relaxing. Amazon-owned Audible is arguably the most popular audiobook app, but there are many other lesser-known options that provide a great listening experience if you’re looking to try a new app or are just starting to get into the world of audiobooks.
We’ve compiled a list of six audiobook apps that we think are worth checking out. The right app for you will likely depend on your listening preferences and budget, so the list includes a variety of apps that follow different models.
audiobooks.com
audiobooks.com It gives you access to one audiobook credit and one VIP book credit for $14.95 per month. You can use credits to purchase one of the service’s 425,000 audiobooks or join the Genre Club, which gives you unlimited access to titles in that club for a month. For example, you can join the Mystery & Thriller Club and listen to an unlimited number of titles in the club for 30 days.
If you don’t want to commit to a monthly subscription, you can purchase individual titles. Audiobooks.com offers a free 30-day trial that comes with three free audiobooks. It is worth noting that the service also contains a collection of 10,000 free audiobooks. The service is a good option if you’re already an audiobook listener and want to try a new option.
EVERAND/Scribd
Everand Scribd is a great option for users who want to read several audiobooks each month and are willing to pay a monthly fee. The app gives users access to audiobooks, e-books, and magazines for $11.99 per month. A free monthly subscription includes access to content from Everand, Scribd, and SlideShare. It’s worth noting that when you access a title on the platform, you’re streaming it like you would a movie on Netflix, which means you don’t actually own the audiobook.
Everand gives you access to a limited number of titles per month depending on where you live. The platform allows you to download titles for offline reading and listening, and allows you to access titles across four devices. The service offers a 30-day free trial if you’re not ready to commit but want to give it a try.
Libyan
Libyan It’s a great option if you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to spend money on audiobooks every month. The app lets you enjoy thousands of free audiobooks, e-books, and magazines from your local library. Libby also lets you add more than one library card to the app, opening up access to more titles.
The downside is that if you’re looking to listen to a popular audiobook, you may have to wait a while before it’s available to lend. You have up to three weeks with the audiobook before you have to return it, but the app remembers where you left off so you can always borrow it again in the future. There’s also a limit to the number of audiobooks you can borrow at one time, which isn’t really a problem when you can access the titles for free.
Hubbub
Like Libya Hubbub It gives you access to free audiobooks, e-books, and magazines as long as your library is affiliated with Hoopla. In addition to reading material, the app also offers TV shows and movies. Hoopla includes typical audiobook controls like a sleep timer, bookmarks, and the option to adjust audio speed. As with any regular library, there is a limit to the number of titles you can borrow.
It’s worth noting that your audiobook selection will likely include fewer audiobooks than a paid subscription offering like Audible or Scribd. That being said, the app is a great option if your library has a partnership with Hoopla and you don’t have the budget for a monthly subscription.
Spotify
You might be surprised that Spotify is on this list, but hear me out. Spotify has started giving Premium members 15 hours of free audiobook listening every month. Many bestsellers are under 15 hours long, which means you can enjoy a free audiobook every month. It’s worth noting that Spotify also lets you purchase audiobooks individually.
If you’re someone who’s paying for Spotify Premium and doesn’t plan to listen to many audiobooks or you’re just getting started with audiobooks, it might be a good idea to take advantage of the streaming service’s new offering before trying out a dedicated audiobook service. However, if you only plan to listen to one audiobook a month, you may not even need another service.
Libro.fm
Libro.fm It is an interesting audiobook app because it allows you to purchase audiobooks while supporting your local libraries. The service allows you to choose a local bookstore to support your purchases. Libro.fm gives you one audiobook credit for $14.99 per month, but you can also purchase audiobooks on demand. Every time you get an audiobook through Libro.fm, the service shares revenue with your chosen local library. Libro.fm currently has partnerships with over 2,500 libraries.
What makes Libro.fm unique is the fact that audiobooks purchased through Libro.fm are DRM-free, which means you don’t have to use the service’s app to listen to audiobooks. You have the option to download MP3 files and listen to audiobooks on any app or device, and you can keep them forever.