How Much Does Audible Cost?
By Kay FleuryUpdated on August 19, 2024
Now that we’ve introduced you to Audible, what it is, and how it works, it’s time to talk about how much Audible costs. After all, it is basically an online bookstore (though for audiobooks, not for actual paper books), so you’re going to have to pay to use it. How much you have to pay, however, depends on how often you plan on using it. We’ll explain further in this lesson.
Is Audible free?
Audible itself is free to use, but the books that are available for listening on Audible are not free. You must purchase each audiobook that you wish to listen to from Audible before you can listen to it. You can also purchase a membership to Audible, but this is not necessary in order to use Audible.
How much is Audible?
Audible costs $14.95 US per month for the least expensive membership fee, though you can get a 30-day free trial of it. The prices of audiobooks on Audible depend on several factors, such as the length of the book and the seller’s decisions. Some can be as low as $2.99, while others cost $20 or more.
However, being an Audible member gives you certain perks, like the ability to purchase one free book per month, as well as to take 30% off of the price of any other book that you purchase on Audible. You can also get complimentary subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.
What are Audible credits, and how do they work?
Audible credits are basically vouchers for free books on Audible. They allow you to purchase books on Audible without paying money. You receive a certain number of credits per month or per year if you purchase an Audible membership, some of which you can save if you wish to use them at a later time.
You can only store a certain number of unused credits across each billing period. In addition, some books have multiple parts and may cost you more than one credit. However, you can purchase additional credits as long as you meet three criteria:
- You must have been enrolled in your current Audible membership for at least three months. This time resets if you cancel your membership, or switch the type of membership that you have.
- You must have no more than one credit in your account.
- If you are enrolled in an annual membership, you must be at least 30 days away from your membership renewal date.
The cost of an extra 3-credit pack differs depending on what type of membership you have to Audible.
How to buy Audible credits
1. Go to www.audible.com in your web browser and log in.
2. Beside where it says “[X] Credits Available” in the top-right corner of the screen, click Buy 3 Extra Credits.
Source: Audible
3. On the next screen, click Buy Now.
Source: Audible
Your account will be charged immediately, and your credits will become available as soon as you refresh the page.
Full breakdown of Audible pricing
Gold Monthly
COST: $14.95 monthly ($179.40 per year)
BOOK CREDITS: 1 per month
CREDITS ROLLOVER: maximum of 6 per billing period
EXTRA CREDIT COST: $35.88 ($11.96 per credit)
Gold Annually
COST: $149.50 annually ($12.46 per month)
BOOK CREDITS: 12 per year
CREDITS ROLLOVER: maximum of 6 per billing period
EXTRA CREDIT COST: $29.90 ($9.97 per credit)
Platinum Monthly
COST: $22.95 monthly ($275.40 per year)
BOOK CREDITS: 2 per month
CREDITS ROLLOVER: maximum of 12 per billing period
EXTRA CREDIT COST: $34.41 ($11.47 per credit)
Platinum Annually
COST: $229.50 annually ($19.13 per month)
BOOK CREDITS: 24 per year
CREDITS ROLLOVER: maximum of 6 per billing period
EXTRA CREDIT COST: $28.68 ($9.56 per credit)
That’s about all that we can tell you about how much Audible costs, including how its credits system works!