Amazon's Audible has introduced a new Standard membership plan priced at $9 per month in the US, offering a monthly audiobook credit and access to a curated library. This lower-cost option aims to attract more listeners amid competition from services like Spotify and library apps. The plan is available immediately in several countries including the US, UK, and Canada.
Amazon's audiobook service Audible announced on Tuesday the launch of its Standard membership plan, a more affordable tier priced at $9 per month in the US. This plan provides subscribers with one monthly audiobook credit, allowing selection of nearly any title from Audible's catalog, including new releases. The credit-selected audiobook remains available for listening as long as the membership is active. Additionally, members gain unlimited, ad-free access to a curated library that includes Audible Originals and nearly 200 popular titles previously available through Wondery Plus.
In contrast, Audible's Premium Plus plan, starting at $15 per month, also includes a monthly credit but allows subscribers to keep purchased audiobooks in their library even after cancellation. Premium Plus users further benefit from access to sales, discounts, and an additional library of audiobooks and podcasts, similar to Kindle Unlimited for audio content.
The introduction of the Standard plan comes as audiobook services face increasing competition. Spotify's Premium plans offer 15 hours of audiobook listening per month for eligible subscribers, while apps like Libby enable free borrowing through public libraries. Audible, acquired by Amazon in 2008, has been expanding its exclusive content and experimenting with pricing to maintain its position as a leading platform.
Amazon states the new plan is "projected to bring millions of new consumers into the Audible experience over the next year." It is available immediately in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France, with testing underway in additional markets worldwide.
