Kindle Unlimited vs Audible: The Most Detailed Comparison

Most book lovers have mixed opinions when it comes to selecting between Kindle Unlimited vs Audible. So, I decided to put an end to it – once and for all.

I went on to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited as well as Audible and jotted down every little thing that would matter to booklover.

Before, I get into details here’s a little brief about both of the services by Amazon.

Kindle Unlimited is a subscription-based service for readers that allows you to access unlimited eBooks and borrow up to 10 books to read at a time. On the other hand, Audible is an audiobook subscription service that sells discounted audiobooks as well as provides some free audiobooks.

On the surface, Kindle Unlimited and Audible seems to be totally different. One is for ebook lovers while the other is for audiobook listeners.

But there’s a tiny catch!

Along with its library of 1 million+ ebooks, Kindle Unlimited also boasts of more than 40k audiobooks too. That’s where it becomes a little dicey for readers to choose between Kindle Unlimited or Audible.

Don’t worry, I’ve got your back!

In the table below, you’ll find the exact details about both the services that every bibliophile must know before purchasing the subscription.

Kindle Unlimited vs Audible – Key Differences

	Kindle Unlimited	Audible
Freebies	Unlimited access to Kindle Library	2 audiobooks and 2 Audible originals
Pricing	$9.99/month	$14.95/month (Gold) $22.95/month (Platinum)
Library	1.5 million titles, 40k audiobooks, 2000 free audibles	200,000 audiobook titles
Limits	10 borrowed books at a time	No Limit
Credits	No credits	Gold: 1 credit + 2 Audible Originals Platinum: 2 credits + 2 Audible Originals
Compatibility	PC, Smartphone, Kindle, Alexa-enabled devices	PC, Smartphone, Kindle, Alexa-enabled devices
Availability	USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, India, China, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Spain	Worldwide
Cancellation Policy	Cancel Anytime. Cannot keep borrowed books.	Cancel Anytime. Keep purchased audiobooks.
Full Review	Kindle Unlimited Review	Audible Review

 

Now that you know the key differences, its time to dive a little deeper!

What is Kindle Unlimited & How It Works?

Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s subscription-based service using which you can read e-books, comics or magazines and also listen to audiobooks. Kindle Unlimited’s library has more than 1.5 million ebooks and 40k audiobooks to choose from.

You might ask why to buy Kindle Unlimited when you can buy ebooks directly.

Well, Kindle Unlimited works more like a library and not a book store. You borrow any book from the library and pay a monthly subscription charge. Similarly, Kindle Unlimited also gives you access to millions of books for a monthly subscription.

You don’t have to buy these ebooks. Just borrow, read and return. There’s no time limit or due date and you can borrow up to 10 books at a time.

All you have to do is start your free trial for Kindle Unlimited and experience the awesomeness itself.

What is Audible & How it Works?

Audible is another subscription-based service by Amazon and mainly created for audiobooks. So, you WON’T get any e-books on Amazon Audible.

Also, unlike Kindle Unlimited, Audible does not let you borrow audiobooks. You have to buy the audiobook that you want to listen to (but at a discounted price!).

Whenever you buy an audiobook on Audible, you get credits that you can further use to buy more audiobooks.

Apart from the discounted price, You’ll also get some free audiobooks when you take the Audible subscription.

To see how Kindle Unlimited and Audible are similar or different from each other, I have done a feature-wise analysis. So, let’s begin.

Kindle Unlimited vs Audible: Detailed Comparison of Features

1. Number of Books/Audiobooks Available

Kindle Unlimited

• This service grant you access to millions of titles; which includes e-books, audiobooks and magazines.
• As audiobooks are not the only part of this vast library so, the number of audiobooks is a little bit less as compared to Audible.
• You get around 2,000 free audiobooks in this service.
• You may not find the audiobooks of big five publishing houses and many famous authors.

Audible

• The total number of titles available at this service is definitely less than Kindle Unlimited because it only provides audiobooks. In addition, you also get newspapers, magazines and radio programs in audio format here.
• If we only compare the audiobook section of both the services, then this service will leave Kindle Unlimited behind without any doubt.
• You get 2,00,000 around audiobooks in this service.
• You can easily find the audiobooks of major publishers and well-known authors.

2. Free Trial and Subscription Charges

Kindle Unlimited

• First-time users get the 30-day free trial to test this service.
• You can access the whole Kindle library and can add any 10 books into your account during this trial period.
• There is only one common subscription plan which will cost you $9.99 per month.

Audible

• In this service as well, first-time users get the chance to evaluate through 30-day free trial.
• You get access to any 2 audiobooks and 2 Audible originals of your choice during this trial period.
• There are two types of membership that give you different benefits.
  • Gold membership costs $14.95 per month. You get 1 credit to buy any audiobook plus you can select 2 Audible originals.
  • Platinum membership costs $22.95 per month. You get 2 credits to buy any 2 audiobooks and 2 Audible originals as well.

3. Limitations and Credits

Kindle Unlimited

• You can borrow and keep 10 books at a time in this service.
• E-books that have free audiobook versions are borrowed together and counted as two. It means you can read as well as listen to the audiobook anytime.

Audible

• You don’t borrow, but buy audiobooks in this service. You get 1 or 2 credits as per your membership plan to buy these books. In addition, you also get 2 Audible original titles every month.
• You can easily exchange the bought books if you find them uninteresting. Your monthly credits will remain valid for a year. So, you can use them as and when required.

4. Book Returning Policies

Kindle Unlimited

• You can borrow and keep 10 books at a time in this service.
• E-books that have free audiobook versions are borrowed together and counted as two. It means you can read as well as listen to the audiobook anytime.

Audible

• You don’t borrow, but buy audiobooks in this service. You get 1 or 2 credits as per your membership plan to buy these books. In addition, you also get 2 Audible original titles every month.
• You can easily exchange the bought books if you find them uninteresting. Your monthly credits will remain valid for a year. So, you can use them as and when required.

5. Devices and Apps

Kindle Unlimited

• You can return the books without any hassle through your account. There are no due dates or late fine involved. So, you can keep them as long as you want.
• But, to get the 11th book, you have to return anyone from the already added 10 books.

Audible

• Usually, we face hassle in returning purchased items. But, that’s not the case with Audible. You can not only exchange but also return any audiobook which you don’t like after purchasing.
• You just have to contact the Audible team and tell them the reason for returning a particular book. The credits which you used to buy that book will be refunded to you.

6. Geographical Availability

Kindle Unlimited

• The best services of Kindle Unlimited are available only in the United States.
• However, countries like India, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Spain, and Italy get local dedicated services of Kindle Unlimited. But, the list of titles differ in these countries and U.S.A.

Audible

• Audible is available in most of the countries of the world.
• However, the title list of the U.S.A. is most varied in this case as well. Due to license restrictions, some of these titles are not available in other countries.

7. Cancellation Policy

Kindle Unlimited

• You can cancel your subscription anytime.
• The notes and bookmarks will remain available to you even after the cancellation of services.
• But, the saved books and audiobooks will be removed from your account at the end of your subscription. The audiobooks which you bought apart from the free ones will remain with you.

Audible

• You can cancel your subscription anytime.
• The audiobooks that you have purchased using your credits will be yours even after the cancellation.
• However, your unused credits and the Audible originals which you got as a part of the subscription will be removed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Kindle Unlimited & Audible

After reading all these points of comparison, if you still have some doubts, I have answered some of the most common questions of readers below. I am sure these will clarify most of your doubts!

Can we use Kindle Unlimited on multiple devices at the same time in one subscription?

No. You can only use your Kindle Unlimited account in one device at once. however, you can use it in various devices by logging out from the former device to open in the latter.

Which type of Books are available on Kindle Unlimited?

Books from newly established authors and exclusive amazon books are available on Kindle Unlimited. You can also find tons of self-help and non-fiction books on this service.

Can I use Kindle Unlimited without downloading Kindle or Amazon app?

Yes, you can use this service directly through your browser on your phone or laptop. all you need is an Amazon account to get the membership.

How many free books I get in Audible?

You get one free audiobook when you subscribe for the first time.

On how many devices can we use Audible after taking one subscription?

You can use the Audible app on three devices at the same time through one subscription.

Where are my audiobooks stored?

Your books are stored in the cloud. From here, you can download them to get them into your device. Afterward, you can listen to them offline as well.

Which One is better Kindle Unlimited or Audible?

Now that you know everything about the two services, its time for you to choose between Kindle Unlimited and Audible as per your needs.

If you want to go with my opinion, I recommend Kindle Unlimited over Audible to those readers who are not much into audiobooks. At just $9.99 a month, you get access to the most popular e-books as well as a fair number of books with audio narration. That’s a great deal!

On the other hand, Audible is perfect for those who enjoy listening rather than reading and willing to afford a monthly expense of $14.95.

The downside of Kindle Unlimited is that even when you’re paying for the service, you do not own any of the ebooks. The moment you cancel your subscription, you are left with zero ebooks.

But, with Audible, any audiobook that you buy is totally yours and you can keep it even after canceling the subscription.

So friends, now the choice is yours. If you have any questions to ask, feel free to ask in the comments section. Enjoy reading!