Audible
An app that plays narrated audiobooks from a huge catalog.
What Audible does
Audible is Amazon's audiobook service and one of the best-known names in narrated books. You pay a monthly membership for books (and a rotating catalog on the top plan), then listen in the app on your phone, tablet, Apple Watch, in the car or on Alexa speakers.
If you searched for an app that reads books to you, Audible is the one most people already know. Most books are recorded by professional narrators, not computer voices, and the catalog is huge.
In 2026 there are two main plans. Standard ($8.99 a month) gives you one audiobook a month from a large selection, which you can listen to as long as you stay a member. Premium Plus ($14.95 a month) gives you one credit a month for any book that's yours to keep, plus unlimited listening from the Plus catalog. Both start with a 30-day free trial.
The app does the basics well: downloads for offline listening, speed control, a sleep timer, CarPlay, Apple Watch and Alexa. The downside is cost if you go through a lot of books, and the files are locked to Audible. If you want to support a local bookstore or own DRM-free files, look at the alternatives below.
Alternatives to Audible
Who it's for
Skip it if: Anyone who wants to read their own PDFs aloud. People who want to own DRM-free audio files.
Pricing
30-day free trialYou get a 30-day free trial. Standard costs $8.99 a month and includes one audiobook a month. Premium Plus costs $14.95 a month and includes one credit for any book you keep, plus the Plus catalog. Signing up inside the iPhone app costs a bit more.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Huge catalog of narrated books
- Polished app with offline listening
- Cheaper Standard plan launched in 2026
- 30-day free trial
Watch out for
- Costs add up if you listen to many books
- Books are locked to Audible's app
- In-app prices on iPhone are higher than on the web
Want listening to feel more social? Build your own.
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Try this idea: “an app where our book club logs what we're each listening to, shares favorite moments with timestamps, and votes on next month's book”
Questions people ask
Is Audible free?
The app is free, and new members get a 30-day free trial. After that you need a membership.
How much is Audible a month?
Standard is $8.99 a month and Premium Plus is $14.95 a month on the web, as of 2026.
Can Audible read my own PDFs or ebooks?
No. Audible plays audiobooks recorded by narrators. For your own files, use a text to speech reader.
Can I listen offline?
Yes. You can download books and listen without a connection.