How to Convert Audible to Text in 2025 [5 Ways]

Part 1. Do Audible Audiobooks Come with Text?

Many users search online - especially on forums like Reddit - asking how to get subtitles in Audible or if it's possible to read along with Audible audiobooks. Unfortunately, Audible audiobooks do not come with subtitles or real-time text display by default.

Though Audible has thought about these users' troubles and planned to launch a service to solve this problem as early as 2019, it ultimately failed. Back in 2019, Audible announced an experimental feature called Audible Captions. The idea was to display AI-generated text in real-time as audiobooks played, helping users improve comprehension, vocabulary, and engagement. Features like word lookup and text highlighting were also planned.

However, the project never made it to public release. A group of major U.S. publishers filed a lawsuit against Audible, arguing that displaying text from audio infringed on eBook rights not covered in their licensing agreements. In 2020, Audible settled the case and agreed not to launch the feature without publisher approval. As a result, Audible Captions was discontinued before full rollout.

✅ The Current Alternative: Whispersync for Voice

Today, the only official way to view text while listening to an Audible book is through Whispersync for Voice. This feature works when you own both the Kindle eBook and its matching Audible audiobook. When used within the Kindle app, it enables Immersion Reading, which highlights the text in real-time as the narration plays, effectively giving users a synced read-along experience.

While not quite the same as real-time Audible subtitles, Whispersync for Voice remains the best and only native solution for pairing audio with text in 2025. In the next part, we'll show you the breakdown steps to use this official method.

Part 2. See Text on Audible Officially with Whispersync for Voice

As we mentioned above, Whispersync for Voice is the only official way to view Audible Text. It allows users to switch between listening on Audible and reading on Kindle without losing their playback position. Here's how it works:

Step 1. Check the Compatibility of Audible and Kindle
Go to Audible.com and find the book you want to listen to. Please click the 'Whispersync for Voice' option to filter on the left.

Note: Not all audiobooks have the Whispersync for Voice option. If your favorite audiobook is not on the list after enabling the filter, it doesn't support this method.

Step 2. Purchase the Same Book on Kindle
Go to the Kindle Store, search for the same book and purchase it.

Note: Make sure you're using the same account for both Audible and Kindle. If the book is included in Kindle Unlimited, you don't need to buy it.

Step 3. Enable Whispersync Setting
Go to the setting web of Amazon, and turn on the setting under Preferences > Sync Settings.

Step 4. Enjoy Your Audible with Text
Now you can listen to your audiobook on Audible or read with highlights on Kindle, seamlessly switching between the two.

✅ Pros

• High accuracy (original eBook text)
• Seamless sync between devices
• Built-in with Kindle and Audible ecosystem

❌ Cons

• Not all books support Whispersync
• Requires both audiobook and eBook purchases
• Not suitable for converting audio to plain text or exporting it elsewhere

Part 3. Convert Audible to Text with Free Transcription Workarounds

If you don't want to purchase both the audiobook and eBook, several free transcription methods can help convert Audible audio into readable text. These tools use speech recognition to generate real-time or recorded transcriptions.

Method 1. Convert Audible to Text Free Using Google Docs Voice Typing

Google Docs serves as a free Audible-to-text converter, which has an online version and an app. It is designed as a free web-based software by Google to process words, allowing users to create and edit documents online while collaborating with others in real time. Besides, it's able to transcribe an audiobook to text when you play the audiobook on your device. You can check the details below to explore this tool.

Step 1. Go to the Google Docs webpage or install its app from the Google Play Store.

Step 2. On the website of Google Docs, tap on the 'Get started with Google Docs' option and load to a new webpage.

Step 3. Create a blank document under the 'Start a new document' section.

Step 4. From the top toolbar, tap on the 'Tools' option and then choose 'Voice typing' from the list.

Step 5. Then you can see a microphone icon in the top-right corner of the document. Choose a language for your converted text.

Step 6. Play an audiobook from the Audible app on your device and click the microphone icon to start the transcribing process. Later, you will get Audible clips to text for free.

Method 2. Download Audible to Text Using Microsoft Word's Dictate/Transcribe

If you're a Microsoft 365 subscriber, Word includes two helpful functions: Dictate for live voice input and Transcribe for uploading and converting pre-recorded audio files like MP3. Both are excellent free alternatives to generate rough text from audiobook narration. Here take Dictate for a example:

Step 1. Visit Microsoft 365 and sign in to your Premium account, and then open Word.

Step 2. On the Home section, locate the 'Dictate' section at the top menu bar and click on the down arrow icon. Then select the 'Dictate' option from the list.

Step 3. Play your Audible audiobooks at the same time.

Step 4. Once done, click on the 'Add all to document' button to save the Audible text in the Word document and rename it. Now you've get the file from Audible to text for free.

Note: The Dictate feature is ideal for live playback, while Transcribe is better for pre-recorded files. If you've downloaded the audiobook into MP3 first, you can upload it to Microsoft Word and convert it to text via Transcribe, which is faster than Dictate. You can skip to Part 4 to learn more.

Method 3. Save Audible to Text Using Your Phone's Built-in Live Caption Features

Many modern smartphones come with accessibility features that can transcribe audio in real-time. These are helpful if you want to follow along with an Audible audiobook without needing extra software.

Let's break down how to use these live captioning features on both Android and iPhone devices.

On Android:

Step 1. Open Settings on your Android device.

Step 2. Go to Accessibility > Live Caption (location may vary by brand). Or you can search Live Caption through the search bar.

Step 3. Toggle Live Caption to On.

Step 4. Now, start playing your Audible audiobook through the Audible app. And caption box will appear on your screen showing live transcribed text.

On iPhone:

Step 1. Open Settings on your iPhone device.

Step 2. Under the Settings, click Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning, and toggle Live Captions to On. This works similarly to Android's Live Caption, transcribing any spoken content on the device.

Step 3. Play your audiobook on your Audible. The system will display real-time transcribed speech on the screen.

Step 4. Now, start playing your Audible audiobook through the Audible app. And caption box will appear on your screen showing live transcribed text.

Bonus Tip: You can also access Live Caption quickly via your iPhone's volume control menu or Siri shortcuts.

Note: No matter Android device or iPhone device, Live Caption supports English only and works best with clear narration. It doesn't save or export the text - it's for real-time viewing only.

✅ Pros

• No app downloads required
• 100% free
• Easy setup using built-in features
• Works with Audible and other media

❌ Cons

• No ability to export or save the text
• Accuracy varies by audio clarity and device
• Only supports real-time (no batch transcription)

Part 4. Convert Audible to Text with Online Converter Tools

For those looking for high-quality conversion from Audible AAX/AA files to text, combining a powerful Audible converter with an online transcription tool is the most versatile method.

To make it clear, we will briefly introduce the AudFree Audible Book Converter. This powerful tool works to download and convert all Audible audiobooks to various common formats such as MP3, FLAC, M4A, etc. Moreover, equipped with advanced decode technology, AudFree Audible Converter is capable of preserving the lossless audio quality and original metadata (like ID3 tags) after conversion. So, you needn't fret about the Audible sound quality and raw information. Then you can upload Audible books to Zamzar or Converter App, two online converters to transcribe DRM-free Audible to text.

Phrase 1. Download Audible to MP3/M4A/WAV Format via AudFree Audible Converter

With this tool, it is possible to listen to Audible books on any other device and player offline whenever you like. Besides, you can keep the Audible downloads as local files permanently, even though you cancel the Audible subscription.

How to Convert Audible Books to MP3 and Other Formats for Getting Text

AudFree Audible Book Converter is compatible with both Mac and PC. By clicking the above green 'Download' button, you can install it on your computer. You can follow the detailed user guide to convert your Audible books.

Step 1Launch AudFree Audible Converter

Install AudFree Audible Converter on your computer, and launch it. You need to activate this app via a purchased license on the top right.

Step 2Personalize Audible Books Output Formats and Parameters

At the top-right corner, tap the 'Menu' button > 'Preferences' > 'Conversion' tab to adjust your audiobooks' output format, like MP3, M4A, or WAV. Apart from this, it enables you to edit other parameters, including the bit rate, sample rate, and audio channel for higher quality.

This way, the downloaded AA files from Audible will be exported as MP3 or others and the AAX files can be converted as unprotected M4A or others.

Step 3Put Audible Books on AudFree Audible Converter

After that, find your favorite audiobooks and add them to the Conversion List by clicking '+'. Here you can also split your audiobooks into segments by chapters, time duration or split them evenly.

Step 4Convert Audible Books to MP3 Losslessly

To kick off the converting process, please press the 'Convert' button in the bottom-right corner of the software. Then the added Audible files will be downloaded at more than 100X faster speed. Click the top-right 'Converted' button to find the downloaded Audible files. Here you can edit the ID3 tag of downloaded Audible audiobooks. You can use those converted Audible audiobooks anywhere and anytime personally.

See also: How to Download the Audiobooks from Audible

Phrase 2. Transcribe MP3/M4A/WAV to Text Using Online Services

Once you've successfully converted your Audible books to MP3, M4A, or WAV using AudFree Audible Converter, the next step is to extract the text using an online transcription service. These tools accept audio file uploads and transcribe the spoken content into readable text - ideal for those who want to convert Audible MP3 to text without installing additional software.

Two commonly used and beginner-friendly platforms for this purpose are Zamzar and Converter App. While both offer similar functionality, each has unique strengths and interfaces. Below, we'll guide you through how to transcribe Audible audio to text using these services.

Step 1. Visit the Zamzar Audio to Text or Converter App Audio to Text page.

Step 2. Click 'Choose Files' to upload your converted Audible MP3, M4A, or WAV file, waiting for a while when the tool processes your file.

Step 3. Download your transcribed text file once the conversion is complete.

Note: For longer files or professional-level accuracy, you might consider advanced transcription platforms like Otter.ai, Sonix.ai, or Happy Scribe after conversion. Though they're not for free, they provide enhanced formatting, timestamps, speaker labels, and better punctuation for users.

✅ Pros

• Preserves audio quality and metadata
• Editable and exportable output
• Permanent ownership of files
• High compatibility
• No manual typing required

❌ Cons

• Requires multiple steps
• Not entirely free
• Transcription accuracy may vary

Part 5. Audible to Text: Full Comparison of All Methods

With several methods available to convert Audible to text in 2025, it's helpful to compare them side by side based on criteria like accuracy, cost, ease of use, and output flexibility. Below is a comprehensive comparison table summarizing all the major approaches discussed:

Method	Accuracy	Cost	Format Output	Supports Full Book	Save/Export File	Best For
Whispersync for Voice	★★★★☆	Medium	Kindle eBook	✅	❌ (Read-only)	Immersive reading with sync
Google Docs Voice Typing	★★★☆☆	Free	DOCX	✅	✅	Free and quick transcription
Microsoft Word Transcribe	★★★☆☆	Free/Paid	DOCX	✅	✅	MS 365 users with recorded audio
Phone Live Captions (Android/iOS)	★★☆☆☆	Free	❌ On-screen only	❌	❌	Reading along in real time
AudFree + Zamzar/Converter App	★★★★★	Medium	TXT, DOCX	✅	✅	High-quality editable output

Part 6. FAQs about Audible to Text

Q1: How to See Text in Audible?

A: The Immersion Reading feature of Audible allows you to listen to an audiobook while simultaneously reading the text version of the book on either a Kindle e-reader or a Kindle app. It will highlight the portion of the text while listening at the same time.

Q2: How to Convert Audible Text to Speech/Voice?

A: Resemble the way to convert Audible to text, you can also resort to a third-party tool. For instance, the online NaturalReader Text-to-Speech tool can convert all written texts to spoken words.

Also, if you are using a Mac, the built-in Dictation & Speech software empowers you to convert your text to voice. Just activate the program in advance. Next, go to the 'Word' section near the Apple icon at the top navigation bar of Mac's screen. Then choose 'Services' > 'Add to iTunes as a Spoken Track'. You can opt to use the female or male's voice and various languages to read your text.

Q3: Why Converting Audible to Text?

A: By converting Audible audiobook to text, it is easy to review and highlight specific parts of the book in the future. Besides, it is effective and easier for you to study and understand from the book.

Q4: What's the Most Accurate Audible to Text Method?

A: Using Whispersync for Voice provides the most accurate, word-perfect result since it's the official eBook. However, combining AudFree + Zamzar/Converter App offers a highly editable, versatile alternative.

In Summary

Converting Audible to text in 2025 is easier than ever with a mix of official services, built-in phone tools, and reliable online converters. Whether you prefer the official Whispersync feature or want more control with tools like AudFree Audible Converter and transcription platforms, there's a method to fit every need and budget.