Kindle Unlimited is a service that allows you to read, choosing from millions of eBooks and thousands of audiobooks. Also supported by Amazon, Audible is another service that gives you one or two credits for listening to any audiobooks in the catalog.
So, here comes the question: Which is a better service? The choice between Audible and Kindle Unlimited comes down to Ownership vs. Access. If you want to keep audiobooks forever, Audible is your choice. If you prefer indie titles, Kindle Unlimited is better. If you still cannot decide which service is best for you, keep on reading this detailed comparison of Kindle Unlimited vs Audible to find out the answer.
Part 1. Kindle Unlimited and Audible: Quick Comparison
First, you can take a glance at the quick comparison of Audible and Kindle Unlimited. After that, skip to next parts to learn more about them.
| Feature | Audible (Premium Plus) | Kindle Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $14.95 | $11.99 |
| Primary Format | Premium audiobooks | eBooks & magazines |
| Ownership | You can own your purchased audiobooks forever. | All titles are 'borrowed'. You lose access if you cancel. |
| Library Size | 500,000+ audiobooks | 4M+ eBooks / 10,000+ audio |
| Free Frial | 30 days | 30 days |
| eBook Access | ❌ | ✅ |
| Whispersync Support | ✅ Fully integrated with Kindle for supported books | ❌ Limited to select titles |
| Best For | New releases & Bestsellers | Indie authors & niche genres |
Part 2. What's the Difference Between Kindle Unlimited and Audible?
Now, let's check the differences between Audible and Kindle Unlimited from the aspects of ownership, price, library, etc. one by one.
Amazon Audible vs Kindle Unlimited: Ownership and Access
Audible is a digital bookstore. While it allows you to stream audiobooks online in its Plus Catalog, its primary value lies in the "Credit System". Each month, you receive a credit that acts as a gold coin. You can exchange it for any book, regardless of the retail price. Once you spend that credit, that book belongs to you, even if you cancel Audible subscription, that book still stays in your library forever.
View also: How to Get Free Audible Credits
Kindle Unlimited is the "Netflix of Books". For a flat monthly fee, you can borrow up to 20 titles at a time. You can read as much as you want, but if you cancel your subscription, the books disappear from your device, and your bookmarks are gone.
The Verdict: Audible is better for collectors who want to build a permanent library. Kindle Unlimited is better for who consume books quickly and don't care about keeping them.
Though you can keep your purchased Audible audiobooks forever, they are often locked due to Audible's DRM protection. If you want to truly secure your digital library, you can turn to the AudFree Audible Converter. It allows you to download and convert your purchased books from Audible to MP3, FLAC, etc. for keeping and playing on any device offline and forever.
Besides, this smart converter is capable of preserving all metadata of audiobooks and splitting Audible books by chapters.
Audible vs Kindle Unlimited Cost
Kindle Unlimited subscription costs $11.99 per month, which lets you choose from 4 million digital books, magazines and thousands of audiobooks. Also, you can borrow up to 20 titles at a time, including audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines without due dates. It comes with a 30-day to 3 months free trial for new users so you can test it out fully before subscribing. Most Kindle Unlimited books cost from $0.99 to $4.99, so to get the benefits of this plan you'll have to make sure you can read a couple of books each month.
Audible provides mainly 2 subscription plans. The Audible Plus membership costs $7.95 per month, but it doesn't include monthly credits for new releases. The Audible Premium Plus membership costs $14.95 per month, which gives you 1 credit every month to buy any audiobook from Audible. The Audible Premium Plus Annual membership costs $149.5 per year, which is the most cost-effective way to get books. Newly registered users can get a 30-day free trial with 1 free audiobook. The number of titles you can access in Audible is at 1M+, but you'll also have access to radio programs, newspapers, and magazines that come in audio format.
View also: Audible Plus vs Premium Plus
The Verdict: Kindle Unlimited is the more affordable monthly option, but Audible's Annual plan offers better long-term value for those who specifically want high-cost audiobooks.
Besides, you can use the Whispersync for Voice to save 50%. Just borrow an eBook on Kindle Unlimited for free, go to the Audible page to look for that book. Then check for the 'Add Audible narration' price and purchase the audio for cash, which is often half of the price of an Audible credit.
Kindle Unlimited vs Audible Catalog
Audible holds the "Premier Rights" to major publishers. If you want the latest thriller from Stephen King or a celebrity memoir narrated by the author, Audible is your only choice. Until now, there are over 1 million titles in Audible library, including high-budget "Audible Originals".
View also: How to Download Audible Originals
Kindle Unlimited is the home of the indie revolution. It is exceptionally strong in Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy (especially LitRPG), and niche self-help. While it has 4 million eBooks, its "narrated" audiobook library is much smaller, hovering around 6,000 to 10,000 titles.
The Verdict: Choose Audible for "Quality" (Bestsellers and AAA productions). Choose Kindle Unlimited for "Quantity" (Indie series and endless reading material).
Amazon Audible vs Kindle Unlimited: User Experience and Device Compatibility
Kindle Unlimited works across all Kindle e-readers and the Kindle app. With the free Kindle app available on iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows PC, you can download Kindle Unlimited books anytime, anywhere. While it syncs audio, the interface is text-first. If you use a Kindle Paperwhite or Scribe, the KU experience is unbeatable. Besides that or you can enjoy the audiobooks separately on Kindle Fire tablets, iOS, or Android devices with the free Audible app.
As for Audible, it comes with wider compatibility. You can listen to your purchased Audible titles in the Audible app available in the App Store, Google Play Store, and Microsoft Store, or on Fire TV, Apple Watch, Sonos speakers, using iTunes on a computer, etc. If you want, you can even use voice commands to play Audible on Alexa-enabled devices.
The Verdict: Audible wins for commuters and athletes who listen via wearable tech. Kindle Unlimited wins for traditional readers who use E-ink devices.
Kindle Unlimited vs Audible: Global Availability
Kindle Unlimited is currently only available to residents of specific countries where Amazon has negotiated local lending rights. Users from some other countries, such as US, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Spain, India, Mexico, Australia and Brazil, can sign up with their local services but the accessible titles may be different. Besides, you generally cannot subscribe to Kindle Unlimited if your Amazon account is registered in an unsupported country.
On the contrary, Audible is available in most countries in the world. Similarly, the catalog of audiobook titles in different countries may differ due to the licensing restrictions. If you live in a country without a dedicated Audible store (like Norway or Singapore), you can still subscribe to the Audible.com (US) store. While you may be subject to some "region-locked" titles based on publishing rights, you can generally access the service from anywhere in the world.
View also: How to Fix Audible Region Lock
The Verdict: Audible is the winner for international travelers and expats. If you live outside the major Amazon hubs, Kindle Unlimited may not even be an option for you.
Part 3. Audible vs Kindle Unlimited: Pros & Cons
To give you a clearer idea of each service's benefits and drawbacks, we have listed their Pros & Cons respectively.
Audible Pros and Cons:
Keep the Audible books forever after membership expires;
Friendly return and exchange policy;
Larger audiobook collection
Highest monthly cost;
Unused credits will expire after 12 months or if you cancel;
You won't get the eBook text
Kindle Unlimited Pros and Cons:
Borrow up to 20 titles at a time with no monthly limit on total reads;
Comes with a variety of media options: eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines;
Cheaper than Audible Premium Plus membership
Once your subscription ends, all the titles you are reading or have read are removed;
Most latest and popular titles are not included in the catalog;
Can only borrow 20 books at once
Part 4. FAQs about Audible vs Kindle Unlimited?
Is Audible Free with Kindle Unlimited?
No, Audible is not free with Kindle Unlimited. They are two distinct services with separate monthly fees.
Can You Listen to Kindle Unlimited Books on the Audible App?
Yes, you can listen to Kindle Unlimited audiobooks on the Audible app. If a book you borrowed via Kindle Unlimited includes "Audible Narration", it will automatically appear in your Audible library. Besides, you don't need an active Audible membership to listen to these specific borrowed titles.
Can I Use Audible Credits on Kindle Unlimited Books?
No, you can't. But you can use an Audible credit to buy the standalone version of any book on KU if you want to own the audiobook version permanently.
Part 5. Conclusion: Which to Choose, Audible or Kindle Unlimited?
Coming back to the subject of this article: Which is a better service, Kindle Unlimited or Audible?
If you are an avid reader and prefer reading text or you enjoy discovering new indie authors and genres, Kindle Unlimited is clearly a better option for you.
If you want to own your books forever and want the latest bestsellers and celebrity narrations, then Audible with a larger library of audiobooks wins the game.
Ivan Scott
Staff Editor
