Audiobook Subscription Services
There are a number of ways to purchase audiobooks, including monthly subscription services and sites that simply sell copies of audiobooks in different formats. Audiobook subscription services allow users to listen to audiobooks for a lower cost than purchasing titles a la carte, but they also lock users into purchasing or renting a title each month. Retailers that sell audiobooks on a per-title basis typically charge more per-title, but not require a monthly subscription and offer the added flexibility of being able to purchase an audiobook in multiple formats.
Digital Audiobook Subscription Services
Audible.com – Audible.com, a subsidiary of Amazon, is the largest provider of digital audiobooks on the web. The service boasts more than 85,000 titles from more than 1,000 different content providers. Audible carries a wide variety of content, including best sellers, new releases and classic titles. Audible titles can be played on more than 500 devices including iPods, iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones, Amazon Kindles, PCs, Macs, Zunes and more than 500 other devices.
The servicehas two monthly subscription plans available. The Platinum Plan, at $22.95 per month, entitles members to 2 audiobook credits each month. The Gold Plan, at $14.95 per month, gives listeners one audiobook credit each month. Both plans will entitle listeners to discounts on additional audiobook purchases.
Audible.com has had a long-standing offer of offering one free audiobook and fourteen days of free service to new listeners. New listeners can take advantage of that offer by clicking here. You can also read our full Audible.com Review.
eMusic Audiobooks – eMusic is a provider of digital music and digital audiobooks. The service aims to compete with iTunes and Amazon.com’s music services by charging a flat monthly service fee, then offering discounted prices on music and audiobooks. eMusic’s service costs $11.95 per month to join. Members of eMusic can purchase audiobook credits for $9.99 each.
CD and Tape Subscription Services
Audiotogo – Audiotogo has approximately 23,000 titles in its library and offers a CD and tape audiobook subscription service. The service provides free shipping both ways. The number of audiobooks that users can have at home varies by the tier selected (think Netflix). Prices range from $16.99 per month to have one audiobook at a time to $51.99 per month to have five audiobooks at a time. Audiotogo offers a fourteen day free trial to its service.
Simply Audiobooks – Simply Audiobooks has approximately 20,000 titles in its library and offers two different subscription services, one for CD audiobook rentals by mail and one that provides digital downloads of audiobooks.
The CD rental program provides free shipping both ways and unlimited rentals. The basic plan which allows users to have one audiobook title at home at a time starts at $17.98 per month, with discounts for prepaying for a year at a time.
Simply Audiobook’s digital audiobook download service has approximately 6,000 tiles available. This service provides users a set number of audiobook credits each month, based on the plan tier selected. Users can opt to pay $14.95 per month, $24.95 per month or $31.95 per month to receive one, two or three audiobook credits per month. Simply Audiobooks also offers discounts for prepaying for one year of service.
