Best Audiobook Services for 2023

Last Updated: January 28, 2023

Audiobooks are one of the simplest ways to cultivate a consistent reading habit. They help you get rid of some of the mundane tasks of your life and absorb valuable knowledge while being active. A hectic working routine makes it difficult to find time for book reading. Here audiobooks come in handy. You can listen to these books anywhere you want.

Listening to audiobooks can improve your mental fitness and update your knowledge. It can help language learners build fluency in another language. Listening to audiobooks is straightforward, as you need to subscribe to an audiobook platform that can give access to the best audiobooks.

You can find numerous audiobook services, making it time-consuming to find a reliable one. To help you find a convenient audiobook service, here we will review some of the best audiobook platforms. We will review these platforms based on several parameters, such as:

• Advantages
• Subscription plans
• Free trial
• App features
• Genres available
• Library size

Best Audiobook Services for 2023

1. Audible

Audible is the leader in audiobook services. This platform has the most extensive audiobook library owned by Amazon, packing up to 425,000 titles. Audible enables you to purchase and stream a wide range of audiobooks and other spoken word content. It is the most recognizable audiobook service worldwide for its unique features and celebrity narrators.

Audible is the best audiobook app for iOS and Android devices. A perfect mix of added functionality and simplicity of Audible can take the overall experience of listening to audiobooks to the next level.

Advantages of Audible

• A 30-day free trial, including access to the Audible Plus catalog and one premium title
• Handy sleep timer and speed options
• A convenient car mode for enabling you to avoid distractions while driving and listening to the audiobook
• Option to exchange or return a title, if you’re unhappy with the content
• Unlimited access to your purchased copy, even if you’re a free trial user
• Opportunity to send audiobooks to your family and friends for free
• Kindle and Alexa integrations

With an array of exclusive features, Audible offers different incentives for Amazon Prime members. for example, you can get free audiobooks when signing up. You can also avail of regular discounted membership deals.

Pricing Plans

Audible subscription plans are a little costlier than the industry average. It lets you choose between the following:

Audible Plus: $7.95 per month

Audible Premium Plus: $14.95 per month

Both subscription plans include a free trial of 30 days.

2. Kobo

Kobo is a digital reading platform that sells ebooks, audiobooks, and tablet computers. Like other audiobook services, Kobo also allows you to buy an audiobook individually or under a subscription model. You will get one credit per month, which is what most audiobook services cost. You need to purchase additional credit if you want to listen to more books throughout the year. One of the best things about Kobo is that it does not expire your credits and allows you to stack them for vacations and holidays.

Kobo has an extensive audiobook library, including both fiction and non-fiction titles. Remember that all Kobo titles are not available to users in some countries. Along with responsive iOS and Android apps, Kobo also features a desktop app available for both Mac and Windows. You can find your favorite audiobooks on your PC before buying them.

Advantages of Kobo

• A 30-day free trial that includes one free audiobook
• Opportunity to earn Kobo Super Points
• Integrations for Kobo readers
• Affordable monthly subscription plans

Pricing Plans

The monthly subscription plan of Kobo starts at $9.99, which makes Kobo one of the cheapest audiobook service providers. In addition, if you cancel your Kobo subscription, the credits you have will remain in your account for the next six months. You can also purchase additional audiobook credits in a pack of 3.

3. Audiobooks.com

Audiobooks.com is also a well-reputed audiobook service, comparable with Audible. At first glance, you will observe no difference between Audible and Audiobook.com. The credit-based system used by Audiobooks.com meets the criteria of industry standards. It also offers two audiobook credits in the basic subscription plan.

All the credits of Audiobooks.com are not identical. For example, one credit can access an audiobook from the service’s library. In comparison, other credits may only work with the titles from the VIP section. You can access a free library on audiobook.com consisting of more than 8,000 niche books and laser titles. This audiobook platform also features 350,000+ titles covering a range of exciting topics.

Audibooks.com has a responsive app available for both Android and iOS devices. With its audio players, the platform meets all the industry standards regarding user experience, layout, and design. The handy fast-forward and reverse buttons of Audiobooks.com make it more convenient for readers.

Advantages of Audiobooks.com

• com membership includes one premium title each month
• An Audiobook Club for unlimited listening
• Enable you to access audio magazines, audio news, and audio sleep & meditation content
• Sales and discounts for members
• An extensive library with 350,000+ titles
• A 30-day free trial with three free audiobooks (1 premium and 2 VIP titles)

Pricing Plans

The monthly membership plan of Audiobooks.com starts at $14.95. With this plan, you can get access to two books per month. The membership plan of Audiobooks.com delivers more value compared to other audiobook services.

4. Scribd

Scribd is one audiobook service that offers unlimited access to millions of audiobooks, comics, magazines, and ebooks. The platform does not use a credit-based system, where you can pick only a few titles. When you signup for this audiobook service, you can consume as much content as you wish.

The service library of Scribd is immensely satisfying. Here you can find both modern and classic releases to listen to. Scribd only lacks bestsellers, which is natural for a platform offering unlimited access to audiobooks.

With a standard audio player and easy-to-use interface, Scribd looks nice. Scribd’s “Sleep Time” function ensures convenient listening to audiobooks. You can also increase playback speed up to 2x with Scribd. This audiobook works well on both iOS and Android devices.

Advantages of Scribd

• An extensive library of audiobooks containing 200,000+ titles
• Opportunity to access other digital media, such as sheet music, comics, magazines, and ebooks
• A 30-day free trial

Pricing Plans

Scribd’s monthly subscription option is excellent for accessing a variety of audiobooks without worrying about budget constraints. Only at $8.99 per month you can play all the titles available on the platform. With a 30-day free trial, you can also ensure the reliability of this audiobook service. If you don’t cancel your free subscription after 30 days, you will be charged for the next month.

5. Blinkist

Blinkist is a reliable audiobook summary service. This platform tailors its content towards self-development and acquiring knowledge. Although Blinkist lacks top-selling novels, it features a vast collection of audiobooks belonging to non-fiction.

20-minute shortened audiobooks are the greatest feature of Blinkist. It takes the main idea of each audiobook available in the library and condenses it into small, easy-to-consume pieces. Blinkist filter out all the fluff audiobook and present you with the central concept of each book. This approach is highly beneficial for consuming important information while saving time.

Blinkist is the best audiobook streaming service for finding the content of your interest. It offers audiobooks in 27 different categories ranging from economics to parenting. Many Blinkist users claim that the platform helped them turn their lives in the right direction.

The Blinkist app is also available for both iOS and Android devices. This app is famous among users due to its simplest layout and design. Blinkist app has three tabs: one for users setting, one for accessing a personal selection of titles, and the last for exploring the service’s library. The app does not have any cluttered sidebars or fancy buttons. The minimalist design of Blinkist is ideal for acquiring new skills. This audiobook service has its standard audio player.

Advantages of Blinkist

• 20% free discount on your first year’s subscription and a 7-day free trial
• Availability of 5,000+ titles
• Kindle integrations
• Free Daily Pick

Pricing Plans

With paid subscription plans, Blinkist enables you to listen to audiobooks for free. With its Free Blink feature, you can check the random Daily Picks and get access to an exciting audiobook for free. The subscription plan of Blinkist is available at $5.99 per month and $71.99 per year.

The Bottom Line

When finding a reliable audiobook service for listening to an audiobook, you need to consider numerous factors, such as pricing plans, deployment, genres, library size, and app features. No matter what type of audiobook you want to listen to, the right audiobook app will help you acquire new knowledge and improve your mental fitness simultaneously. You can pick any audiobook service; we have reviewed above to enjoy convenient audiobook streaming.