Audible is an audiobook service offered by Amazon. With all its accompanying greatness for some reason or the other, you might want an alternative to the popular audible.
In this article, I will be highlighting some of the popular alternatives to audible. These selections were made based on research and popular demand.
So, without dragging it any further let’s get to know a bit more about Audible.
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What is Audible?
Audible is owned by Amazon and offers the world’s biggest selection of books and titles ranging from the popular classics to the new releases, not to forget the podcasts. This audiobook service offers its listeners the ability to download or stream their favorites with just a membership account.
On Audible, you get audiobooks that are read out by either a narrator, the author of the book or a well-known star, or an audio cast. You can also tune into various popular podcasts like Michael Caine’s podcast Heist which is about famous robberies or Alan Partridge’s podcast, From the Oasthouse, which is read by himself.
Why Do I Want An Alternative To Audible?
It should come as no surprise that Amazon’s audiobook service, Audible, is fantastic. They feature a large collection including originals and exclusives, as well as a reasonable return policy and a simple interface. Audiobooks that come with the Kindle-Whispersync add-on are frequently a bargain.
You may either buy books straight from Audible or sign up for a membership that includes one book credit each month and 30% off further audiobook purchases. If you have Kindle Unlimited, Audible has hundreds of books for you to choose from.
However, many listeners are seeking an Amazon alternative, whether it’s to support local companies or save money on their subscription fees. Most of the time, these alternatives offer cheaper subscription plans than audible or even provide them for free, which may necessitate the need for an alternative to audible.
Also, even though audible might have a broad database, it might not have that particular article, book, or title you might be looking for, in which case you might want to try out other alternatives to see if any would give you the titles that you yearn for. But for whatever reason it may be, it’s valid and that’s why I have put together this write-up.
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10 Best Alternatives To Audible
In this list, I have compiled the 10 best alternatives to Audible. Some if not most of them offer similar features but they all have a uniqueness to them which makes them stand out from the rest. Here are the top 10 best alternatives to Audible:
1. Scribd
Scribd has millions of books, reports, and more all at the tip of your fingers. It currently has one of the largest eBook collections as well as audiobooks, magazines, and lots more from sources all over the world. It holds over 60 million documents from study guides, medical reports, government reports, to fiction and non-fiction digital titles spread across categories such as politics, fantasy, biography, travel, entertainment, business, and many more in its database.
Scribd comes with an interactive user interface, customizable narration speed as well as settings for the sleep timers. You also have access to offline audiobooks downloads which you get to listen to without internet connections. You also have the ability to customize type, font, background color, and some other features.
Scribd subscription costs about $7.99 to $10.99 per month premium subscription with a 30-days free trial on registration. To start using Scribd, click here.
2. Kobo Books
Kobo Books is known for its over 5 million eBooks and audiobooks which you can get on your iPhone or Android smartphone. It is one of the top alternatives to Audible. Kobo books have a large collection that is sorted into categories and can be easily searched manually. You can also get previews of a title of choice before you start reading the book. It also offers a cheaper monthly subscription as compared to Audible.
It offers features like a sleep timer, night mode as well for nighttime listening and reading. It also offers a multi-language feature, plug and play with Car play, and can auto sync with all your devices making sure you have your favorites with you all the time. You can also share your favorite quotes and books on social media with its social media sharing option. Kobo books are free but require you to pay per book.
To start using Kobo books, click this link.
3. Apple Books
Apple Books are just similar to Google Play Books on android but it’s only available on the iOS system. Apple books offer a great selection of audiobooks that you can listen to wherever you go. It comes with a simple and unique user interface which is an easy buying process. Apple books offer you a top chart of books that might interest you from previous selections.
You can also manually search for all your favorite eBooks and audiobooks here. If you are an iOS user, then this is a great alternative to Audible. With Apple books, you can easily pair and sync all your Apple devices with an iCloud integration you never have to worry about running out of space.
It offers you limited-time offers, new releases, free samples, not to forget a great customization control, and more. It also supports the multi-language feature and auto-night mode. The app is basically free but you have to pay for each book.
To download and start using Apple Books, click here.
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4. Google Play Books
Google Play Books grants you access to over 5 million audiobooks, eBooks, and more as of 2013 with a constantly increasing number with each passing day. Personally, Google Play Books is one of the best alternatives to Audible. It recommends the best titles and authors based on your previous search and taste.
It is available on both iOS and Android devices. You can easily synchronize it with your google drive and have it accessible to all your android devices with just a click away. It offers the pay-per-book feature and doesn’t come in monthly subscriptions. You can download eBooks and audiobooks offline and listen and read even without an internet connection. It also offers nice discount offers regularly.
To get your hands on Google playbooks, use this link.
5. Storytel
Storytel has an ever-growing list of audiobooks with over 500,000 titles and much more being added up on a weekly basis. It is available in 20 global markets which give it global coverage in English and other various languages. Storytel offers you recommendations based on your search history and interests.
There are also biographies and documentaries present in its library. You can download books and save them offline which you can read at your own convenience without having a data connection. You can as well easily switch from reading to listening mode on Storytel. It comes with a sleep timer feature as well as other features like bookmarking and keeping notes.
You can easily adjust narration speed as well based on how you like to be narrated to. It has an excellent user interface and is free but costs $3.49 to 13.49 for premium. It is available on both iOS and Android.
To register and download Storytel, click here.
6. Hoopla Digital
Now, Hoopla Digital isn’t a standalone alternative for Audible but it is one of the most recommended apps to use. Hoopla digital lets you borrow and rent audiobooks, eBooks, comics, and lots more from other libraries. It isn’t a standalone application but depends on other sources to deliver.
It is one of the top recommended alternatives to Audible. It offers over 800,000 titles available to you ranging from fiction to non-fiction novels to best-sellers amongst others.
Borrowing books with Hoopla digital is instantaneous and you are at liberty to download and read or listen to these books offline. It is also pretty cost-effective in that you don’t have to pay a dime to get these books.
It isn’t as powerful or as packed as Audible but at least it’s free. It comes with an easy-to-use interface, a cost-effective rental base, and offline listening. It is also available on iOS and Android.
To get started on Hoopla Digital, click here.
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7. LibriVox
The alternatives to Audible won’t be complete without LibriVox. LibriVox offers over 50,000 audiobooks free of charge, spread throughout various categories like literature, biography, poetry, novels, fiction, and non-fiction among others. It offers over 30 languages as well as the ability to download audiobooks and listen to them offline when you have no internet connection.
Its user interface is amazing as compared to Audible but sadly it isn’t customizable. Its library is updated on a daily basis and it costs about $0.49 per month and $2.49 yearly. It is available on iOS and Android.
To download LibriVox, click here
8. eStories
eStories gives you access to over 120,000 audiobooks spread across various categories like fiction and non-fiction. There are about 10,000 audiobooks that you can listen to at no extra cost. With a powerful search engine, eStories offer you all the best and latest in history, humor, fantasy, thrillers, self-help, and others. You can set up your narration pace to fit your preferred speed and also a sleep timer. You can automatically sync with about 10 devices at the same time.
There is no doubt this is a great alternative to Audible. eStories also offers unlimited cloud storage to help you upload your audiobooks and seamlessly read and listen to them anywhere at any time.
You can also download audiobooks offline and listen to them later whenever you choose without an internet connection. eStoreies is free but costs about $5.99 to $9.99 & more to get a premium. It is only available on iOS devices.
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To get stories, click here.
9. Libby
Libby is easy to use, free, and intuitive. It offers you access to new releases, classics, and top-rated titles from all around the world. Libby has it all, from magazines to audiobooks to eBooks and lots more. It has less waiting time to add newer titles and you can easily change narration speed to suit your preference.
It also offers to skip, forwards, backward, notes, and bookmark features. Its user interface is simple and captivating with over 2 million audiobooks and eBooks in its library.
Sadly, it is region-dependent meaning that you might not have access to all the books, someone, in Usha’s access to. It also offers downloads and offline listening as well as a sleep timer. On Libby, you pay per book and it is available on both iOS and Android.
Download Libby here.
10. Downpour
On Downpour you have access to over 80,000 audiobooks. It has a massive catalog filled with your favorite classics, bestsellers, and authors like Dan Brown, James Patterson, Karin Slaughter, amongst others. Downpour is undoubtedly an amazing alternative to Audible.
On Downpour, you can change the narration speed to suit your pace and also set up your sleep timer as well. You can add notes at important points during your read, bookmarks sections, and add books to your Wishlist. Downpour is a free app but costs about $5.99 to $29.99 for premium.
To get started on Downpour, click here.
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Frequently Asked Question
Audiobooks now are the cheapest alternative to Audible.
Below are some apps that are best when it comes to audiobooks services: Audible, Audiobooks, Serial Box, Smart Audiobook Player, Google Play Books, Sirin, Spotify, Voice Audiobook Player.
Audiobooks are so expensive because of their production cost which is quite high. On average, the ‘cost per finished hour’ of an audiobook is about $300 to $400.
Conclusion
There are a few alternatives to audible based on what your needs and likes, as well as preferences, are so all you need to do is go through the above list and I really hope it helps you decide the best alternative for you.
References
- https://openfmc.org/best-audible-alternatives/
- https://www.radiotimes.com/technology/how-does-audible-work/
- Image Link: maketecheasier.com
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