Audiobooks are a practical way to enjoy books while commuting, exercising, doing household tasks, or taking a break from screens. In an audiobooks review, choosing an audiobook service involves more than browsing its catalog. Subscription costs, credit rules, free content, and cancellation terms can all affect the value you get.
In this audiobooks review of Audiobooks.com, we examine the service’s pricing, free trial, listening options, VIP Rewards program, and key limitations to help you decide whether it fits your reading habits and budget.
What Is Audiobooks.com?
Audiobooks.com is an audiobook platform that lets listeners discover, purchase, and listen to spoken-word books through its website and mobile apps. Its catalog covers genres such as fiction, mystery, romance, business, biographies, personal development, and more.
The service combines a paid subscription with additional listening options, including a selection of free audiobooks and member offers. This gives users more than one way to explore its catalog, although access to premium titles depends on the purchase or membership arrangement.
Audiobooks.com may suit people who prefer listening to books during activities when reading a printed or digital page is inconvenient. Whether it represents good value depends largely on how often you listen and which titles you want to hear.
Audiobooks.com Pricing and Subscription Plans
The standard one-credit monthly subscription is listed at $14.95 per month, plus applicable taxes. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled.
A subscription credit can be redeemed for one eligible audiobook from the service’s catalog. Members also receive access to VIP Rewards selections and member deals, subject to the program’s terms.
The practical value of the plan depends on the titles you choose. A credit can be useful when you want a premium audiobook, but the monthly fee may be harder to justify if you listen infrequently or mainly use free titles.
Before subscribing, review the current pricing page for any alternative plans, prepaid options, or promotional offers available to you. Prices and promotions can change, and the terms shown during checkout should take priority over older descriptions.
Does Audiobooks.com Offer a Free Trial?
Audiobooks.com advertises a 30-day free trial for eligible new customers. Its standard promotional offer includes one premium audiobook and two additional titles from the VIP Rewards selection.
The exact offer can vary by promotion, so check the offer displayed when you register. Do not assume every advertisement or sign-up page includes identical benefits.
The trial is designed to let new subscribers explore the service before paying. However, it is not automatically a no-cost subscription beyond the trial period.
According to the service’s terms, the subscription automatically renews after the trial unless you cancel in time. The standard monthly fee is then charged to the payment method associated with the account.
Before starting the trial:
- Confirm the trial length and the titles included in the offer.
- Check the date when paid billing begins.
- Read the cancellation instructions.
- Set a reminder if you only want to try the service without continuing.
These steps help avoid an unexpected subscription charge.
Key Features of Audiobooks.com
1. A Large Audiobook Catalog
Audiobooks.com promotes a broad selection of premium audiobooks, including bestsellers, new releases, classics, fiction, nonfiction, and personal development titles. Its official pages advertise a catalog of more than 700,000 titles, although promotional pages may display different catalog figures.
The size of a catalog is only one consideration. The more important question is whether it contains the authors, genres, and specific books you want. Search for a few titles that interest you before committing to a paid membership.
2. Monthly Audiobook Credits
The standard monthly plan provides one subscription credit that can be exchanged for one eligible audiobook. This can make the cost easier to understand than buying individual titles without a subscription.
However, a credit is not the same as unlimited access to every premium audiobook. The monthly allowance is limited, and listeners who regularly want several premium titles may need to consider additional purchases or other available offers.
3. VIP Rewards
VIP Rewards provides eligible members with an additional selection of audiobooks. The service advertises a VIP selection during the free trial and continued VIP benefits for subscribers.
These selections should not be confused with books purchased using a subscription credit or bought separately. The terms for VIP Rewards content differ from the terms for purchased content, particularly when a subscription ends.
4. Free Audiobooks
Audiobooks.com advertises access to more than 10,000 free audiobooks. This is an important benefit for people who want to explore spoken-word content without using a premium subscription credit for every title.
The free catalog is separate from the premium catalog, and a particular book’s availability may differ. Browse the free selection to see whether it includes enough material for your interests before deciding whether to pay for a membership.
5. Member Deals and Additional Purchases
The service offers member deals and promotions that can provide additional ways to obtain audiobooks. Depending on the offer, a deal may make selected titles available at a lower price or provide more than one audiobook for a credit.
These offers can improve the value of a subscription, but they should not be treated as guaranteed discounts on every title. Check the details of each deal, including eligibility and how credits are applied.
6. Mobile Listening and Offline Playback
Audiobooks.com offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, along with listening through its website. The service supports streaming and downloading audiobooks for offline listening, making it possible to listen when a reliable internet connection is unavailable.
Offline playback can be especially useful while traveling or when trying to limit mobile data use. Availability and specific app features may vary by device and current app version, so check the relevant app listing for the latest details.
Audiobooks.com Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free trial: Eligible new customers can explore the service before a paid subscription begins.
- Monthly premium audiobook: A credit can be redeemed for one eligible premium title.
- VIP Rewards: Members receive access to an additional selection of audiobooks.
- Free catalog: The service advertises more than 10,000 free audiobooks.
- Flexible listening: Web and mobile access, with streaming and offline playback options.
- Member deals: Promotions may offer additional value on selected titles.
Cons
- Recurring subscription cost: The standard plan costs $14.95 per month plus applicable taxes.
- Automatic renewal: You must cancel before the trial ends if you do not want the paid subscription to begin.
- Limited monthly credit: The standard plan provides one premium audiobook credit per month, rather than unlimited access to the premium catalog.
- Credit expiration rules: Unused credits do not necessarily remain available indefinitely.
- Different cancellation rules: Purchased books, VIP Rewards titles, and trial-credit books are treated differently when a subscription ends.
Audiobooks.com Credit Expiration Rules
Credit expiration is worth checking before you subscribe, especially if you do not listen to a new audiobook every month.
Under the service’s published terms, unused monthly subscription credits can roll over, but they expire three months after they are issued. Additional credits purchased directly through Audiobooks.com also expire three months after purchase.
Credits purchased through Apple or Google payment systems are listed as an exception and do not expire under the current terms.
If you accumulate credits, plan to use them before their expiration dates. The precise rules that apply to your account and payment method should always be checked in the current terms.
What Happens If You Cancel Audiobooks.com?
Cancellation affects different types of content differently, so it is important to understand the distinction before signing up.
According to Audiobooks.com’s published terms:
- Purchased audiobooks: Purchased content generally remains in your My Books library after cancellation. However, the terms note that content may sometimes become unavailable because of licensing restrictions.
- VIP Rewards books: These are removed from the account when the subscription is canceled.
- Books obtained with a free-trial credit: If you cancel during the free trial, books acquired with a trial credit are removed. Unused trial credits are also removed.
- Reactivation: The service’s terms describe circumstances in which removed trial content or unused trial credits may be reinstated if you reactivate, subject to the stated conditions and expiration rules.
The key point is that VIP Rewards titles and trial benefits should not be treated as permanent purchases. If you want to keep access to a particular audiobook after ending your subscription, check the purchase method and applicable terms before relying on continued access.
Audiobooks.com says subscriptions can be canceled through the account area of its website or by contacting customer service. Follow the current cancellation instructions and make sure you receive confirmation.
Is Audiobooks.com Worth It?
Audiobooks.com may be worth considering if you listen to audiobooks regularly, want a monthly premium title, and expect to make use of the VIP Rewards program or member deals.
It may be less attractive if you only listen occasionally, prefer to buy individual books without a recurring fee, or mainly want access to titles in the free catalog. In those cases, compare the subscription cost with your actual listening habits before committing.
The free trial can help eligible new customers explore the service, but its automatic renewal and content-removal rules deserve attention. The best way to assess its value is to check whether the catalog contains the books you want and whether you are likely to use the monthly credit consistently.
Our verdict: Audiobooks.com offers a combination of premium audiobooks, VIP Rewards, free listening options, and mobile playback. Its value depends on how frequently you listen and how well the available titles match your interests. Review the current offer, credit expiration policy, and cancellation terms before starting a subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Audiobooks.com cost?
The standard one-credit monthly subscription is listed at $14.95 per month, plus applicable taxes. Other plans or promotions may be available, so check the official pricing page before subscribing.
Does Audiobooks.com have a free trial?
Yes. Audiobooks.com advertises a 30-day free trial for eligible new customers. The standard offer includes one premium audiobook and two VIP Rewards audiobooks, but the exact offer can vary.
Does Audiobooks.com have free audiobooks?
Yes. The service advertises a selection of more than 10,000 free audiobooks. Availability varies by title, and the free catalog is separate from the premium catalog.
Do I keep my audiobooks if I cancel?
Purchased audiobooks generally remain in your library after cancellation, subject to the service’s terms and possible licensing restrictions. VIP Rewards books are removed, and books obtained with a free-trial credit are removed if you cancel during the trial.
Do Audiobooks.com credits expire?
Yes, under the published terms, monthly subscription credits and additional credits purchased directly from Audiobooks.com expire three months after issuance or purchase. Credits purchased through Apple and Google payment systems are listed as non-expiring.
Can I listen offline?
Audiobooks.com supports downloading audiobooks for offline listening through its mobile service. Check the current app information for device-specific details.
Is Audiobooks.com better than buying audiobooks individually?
That depends on how often you listen and which titles you want. A subscription may offer value to regular listeners who use their monthly credit and member benefits. Occasional listeners may prefer to compare individual purchase prices and free options before subscribing.
Final Thoughts
Audiobooks.com combines a premium audiobook subscription with VIP Rewards, member offers, and a sizable free catalog. It provides useful options for people who want to listen across devices, including offline playback.
The main considerations are the recurring monthly cost, the limited number of premium credits in the standard plan, credit expiration, and the different rules that apply to purchased, VIP Rewards, and trial titles.
Before joining, review the latest offer and confirm that the service has the books you want. If its catalog and membership structure fit your listening habits, it may be a useful addition to your audiobook routine.
Editorial Disclosure: This review is based on publicly available information from Audiobooks.com, including its pricing pages, FAQs, and terms of use. Features, prices, promotions, and policies may change. StackReviewers.com may earn a commission if readers sign up through qualifying affiliate links, at no additional cost to them.
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