As an audiobook app, “Audible” is the gold standard in the seemingly crowded market. With over 400,000 audio programs from well-known publishers, broadcasters, and entertainers, the world’s largest producer of downloadable audiobooks is a one-stop-platform for bibliophiles. While almost everything about this app is good, the expensive price tag that stands at $14.95/monthly makes it a bit too costly for normal users. Moreover, as compared to some of the noted rivals, its user interface is a bit confusing. So, whether you are looking for a reasonably good audiobook app at a much lower price or looking for a totally free service, we have dished out the 15 best Audible alternatives in 2020.
It’s always better to take a close look at needs before exploring options:
Let’s put it straight, the choice of your favorite audiobook app entirely depends on two main aspects: your reading taste and budget. If you are a bibliophile, look for the apps that have both a massive library and offer books in a wide range of genres.
Audiobooks work just like any podcasts. I mean, you can stream them online or download your favorite audiobooks to listen offline. Most audiobook apps offer you the flexibility to add your favorites to wishlist and even create a solid library of all the audiobooks that appeal to you.
With a massive collection of audiobooks at the disposal, you can explore the entire library and select your favorites. After that, you can listen to them as and when you want. Depending on your preference, you will be able to fine-tune volume, adjust speed, and even set a sleep timer to embrace sleep with complete peace of mind.
1. Kobo Books
“Kobo Books” is the sort of app that has always been one of my top picks (and a personal favorite) for many reasons. First and foremost, the app has a good enough audiobook library which always seems to have exciting items waiting for your attention.
Lastly, Kobo Books offer a cheaper price than Audible. At just $9.99/month, it is considerably cheaper than the latter. Also, Kobo Books lets you buy additional credits which means you can buy more audiobooks at the cheap price of $9.99 which is just awesome.
Cons:
- Recommendations aren’t up to the mark
- Doesn’t offer much original content as Audible
Platform Availability: iOS and Android
If you are a student or a valid member of a supported library, then Overdrive can help you listen to your favorite audiobooks for free. Over 30,000 libraries worldwide use Overdrive to provide their users with an easier book lending platform.
- The audiobook library is not that extensive
- Popular books have a long waiting period
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Chromebook, Kindle Fire HD, and Chrome Web Store
No matter what suits your taste better, keeping “Google Play Books” out of sight when you want to have the best Audible alternatives would be nothing but blunder. The app always had arguably the largest collection of ebooks (as of 2013, over 5 million), the tech giant has now slowly and steadily compiled a colossal library of audiobooks.
- Better user interface (less clutter)
- No subscription pricing
- Books are always under heavy discounts
Cons:
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Chrome, and Web
Boasting an ever-growing collection (one million titles) of e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and more, “Scribd” has always been one of the best audiobook apps in the market. So, you shouldn’t be surprised to see it in this coveted lineup. Whether you have a penchant for science fiction or love to explore travel, the app offers bestselling and popular audiobooks in a wide range of genres just like Audible.
Scribd also has a pretty impressive user-interface that offers plenty of customization. Therefore, you can ideally personalize this audiobook app to suit your taste better. Based on your convenience, you can also customize the narration speed. And if you have a habit of listening to your favorite books at night, do not forget to set a sleep timer so that the app automatically stops playing audiobooks at the set time.
Pros:
Platform Availability: Android, iOS, and Web
5. Audiobooks.com
If your priority lies with nothing but top-notch audiobooks, you shouldn’t miss out on this audiobook app that has long been a strong competitor to Audible. Having a pretty solid library of over 150,000 titles, the app has got both the high quantity and quality to win you over.
As for price, both Audible and Audiobooks are neck and neck. Though the high price slightly puts it at a disadvantage position and also away from the reach of the mainstream.
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When it comes to offering a compelling price-to-value proposition, “AudiobooksNow” can outshine many of its opponents including the much-vaunted Audible. So, don’t forget to try it out if you want to have the best of both worlds: great collection of audiobooks (over 120,000 titles) and a much lower price.
You can also combine different books and club them to buy them at a discounted price. While Audiobooks Now call it a simpler pricing system, I find the Audible’s pricing easier to understand.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Nook, Kindle Fire, and Web
Pricing: 30-day free trial, $4.99/month
If you are deep into the Apple ecosystem and are looking for a reasonably good audiobook app that can rival Audible on most fronts, look no further than Apple Books. The app is not only feature-packed but also robust enough to cater to your audiobook listening or book reading needs.
To help you easily keep track of the books that are trending, the app has a Top Charts section where you can access all the popular books and audiobooks. As someone who always likes to have plenty of customization, I must say that Apple’s offering seems to be up to the mark as compared to Audible.
- Restricted to Apple ecosystem
- No original content as Audible Originals
Platform Availability: iOS and macOS
For a seamless audiobook listening experience, you can’t go wrong with “Downpour”. Just like most of its counterparts including Audible, it has also got an appreciable library of over 80,000 titles which promises to have something unique for everyone.
- Don’t have as big a library as some of its noted rivals
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, and Web
Well, if you have loved OverDrive, chances are pretty high that you may also like “Libby” which is from the same company. Just like its sibling, it is also blessed with a mammoth collection of ebooks and audiobooks.
- Must need a valid library card
- The audiobook library is smaller
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, and Windows
As someone who has an insatiable penchant for fiction, “eStories” has looked really impressive to me. So, if you are also charmed by fiction, I would recommend you to keep it in mind. The app lets you choose from more than 110,000 fiction and non-fiction audiobooks which have got both variety and quality to compete with Audible on many fronts.
As most audiobooks are DRM-free, you have the option to download books and play them on any MP3 players – which is yet another plus from a flexibility point of view. It also adds several new releases weekly so that your queue always looks rich.
Pricing: 30-day free trial, $11.99/month
Though nowhere near as versatile or popular as Audible, “LibriVox” is worth checking out, especially when you want to have a fairly good library of audiobooks at your disposal without spending any bucks.
As compared to Audible’s interface, LibriVox looks a bit less appealing. Besides, it also doesn’t seem to offer much customization. As for the quality of audiobooks, they aren’t always great. However, you are guaranteed to get them all for free due mainly to thousands of volunteers who produce books with a lot of passion.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, and Windows
Pricing: Free, in-app purchases available
Frankly speaking, I have specifically chosen “storytel” for Indian users who are in quest of an affordable Audible alternative. The app has a solid library of thousands of audiobooks and ebooks in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali & Urdu.
There is a “Kids Mode” so that children can explore the entire collection and pick out their favorites. Moreover, it also offers offline functionality to make sure seamless audiobook listening continues even when there is no internet connection.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Windows, and web
Don’t get me wrong! Hoopla can’t be your full-fledged substitute for Audible, so why should you consider it? Well, it’s a well-known digital service that allows you to borrow audiobooks from others’ libraries. And that’s what makes it so helpful for people who don’t want to pay the high price tag for just a handful of audiobooks that may appeal to their taste.
Taking everything into account, Hoopla is a cost-effective substitute for Audible, aimed at for the folks who want to listen to appreciable audiobooks without having to spend plenty of bucks.
Barnes and Noble’s Nook Audiobooks is fully capable of enhance your audiobook listening experience. What makes it one of the better competitors of Audible is the ability to tick off most of the must-have boxes.
With a huge library of audiobooks on offer, you can browse through the entire categories and pick the one that seems to gel along with your preference. For a more personalized listening experience, you can also craft a wishlist of all of your audiobooks and use the organizing tools to keep your audiobooks library in sync.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, and web
If all you want is a simple audiobook app that can let you access a plenty of audiobooks for free, Spotify is the one I would recommend you to try out. Even though the app is more known as the world’s best music-streaming service, it has compiled a solid library of audiobooks.
Platform Availability: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cheaper alternative to Audible?
Yes. Scribd and Kobo Books are cheaper alternatives to Audible.
There are quite a few audiobook apps such as Kobo Books, AudiobooksNow, Downpour which you can use instead of Audible.
Yes. There are quite a few apps like Kobo Books, OverDrive, and Scribd that are considered to be better competitors to Audible.
Hopefully, your long hunt for a similar app like Audible has finally come to an end – on a good note. With so many impressive options at the disposal, choosing the right one for your great audiobook listening experience shouldn’t be a big deal. Now that the deal is done, let me know your pick and the things that you have found adorable in it.