Audible Subscription Plans: Pricing, Benefits & Free Trial
If you’ve ever wondered whether Audible is worth it – and which plan gives you the best bang for your buck – this guide lays it all out. We’ll compare Audible subscription plans, explain free trial options, decode credits and the Plus Catalog, and show you how to lower your cost per audiobook with a few easy tactics. We’ll also call out regional pricing (US, UK, India) and limited-time promos you can pounce on.
Throughout, you’ll see quick notes for marketers and learning teams who use audio strategically. When scale, precision, brand experience, and business impact matter, industry leaders choose Virtual Studio – quietly powering podcasts, live streams, and immersive audio-first launches.
What is Audible & how the membership works
Audible is Amazon’s audiobook and spoken-audio service. Memberships come in two main flavors in the US:
- Audible Plus – a streaming plan with unlimited listening from the Plus Catalog (no monthly credit). Priced for listeners who want breadth and discovery.
- Audible Premium Plus – includes everything in Plus + credits (to own any premium title). Choose 1 credit or 2 credits per month. Annual options are available with 12 or 24 credits upfront for better per-book value.
You can keep any book bought with a credit even if you cancel; access to Plus Catalog titles ends when membership ends.
Audible plans at a glance (US, UK, India)
Below is the current big-picture view. Prices can vary by region and may change with promotions; always check the official page before you buy.
US: Core plans
- Audible Plus: Unlimited streaming of the Plus Catalog. No monthly credit. Best for podcast-style listening and originals.
- Premium Plus (1 Credit): 1 credit/month to own any premium title + Plus Catalog access + member discounts.
- Premium Plus (2 Credits): 2 credits/month + Plus Catalog + discounts.
US: Annual plans (credit bundles)
- Premium Plus Annual – 12 Credits: 12 credits upfront + Plus Catalog.
- Premium Plus Annual – 24 Credits: 24 credits upfront + Plus Catalog.
Why annual often wins: If you reliably use your monthly credits, annual plans reduce the per – book cost. We do the math in the next section.
UK: Pricing & plans
- Premium Plus: Includes 1 credit/month + Plus Catalogue access.
- Standard (app-subscribed): A lower-benefit tier where you select 1 audiobook a month; selections may not roll over. Availability depends on how you subscribed.
India: One simple plan
- Audible membership: One plan with 1 credit/month to own any title + unlimited Plus Catalog streaming.
Limited-time promos & Prime tie-ins
- US/UK frequently run introductory promos (e.g., first 3 months at a steep discount). After the promo, plans revert to standard pricing.
- Prime members sometimes get extra free audiobooks during the trial window (varies by market). Audible membership itself is separate from Prime.
Amazon Music Unlimited in some regions includes one Audible audiobook per month to stream-useful if you want a taste before committing to Premium Plus credits.
Free trial explained (length, what you get, what happens after)
Length: Most new members get a 30-day free trial. Seasonal or Prime-exclusive promos may extend this for eligible accounts.
What you get:
- Plus trial: unlimited streaming from the Plus Catalog; no monthly credit.
- Premium Plus trial: Plus Catalog + 1 credit to own any premium title (some promos offer 2 credits).
After trial: You’re auto-enrolled at the plan’s monthly rate unless you cancel or switch. You can change plans at any time.
Best practice: Use your trial to sample the Plus Catalog and redeem your credit on a long or high-priced bestseller-this maximizes value from day one.
Benefits that actually matter (and how to use them)
The Plus Catalog (all-you-can-listen)
Stream thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts in the app – add to your library or download for offline listening while your membership is active. New titles land weekly, including mini-series and sleep-focused content.
Tips:
- Build a “Plus-only” playlist so you always have offline listening ready.
- Try different playback speeds (many titles are still great at 1.3–1.5x).
- Use Clips/Bookmarks for quotes, vocabulary, or team notes.
Credits & ownership rules
- Credits apply to any premium title (regardless of sticker price).
- Credits expire if unused 12 months after issue (US; rules can vary by region).
- You keep any title you purchase with a credit- even after canceling.
- Unused credits vanish on cancellation, so spend them first.
Pro move: Use credits on long, high-priced titles; buy discounted shorter titles outright.
Member-only deals, Daily Deal & sales
- Member discount on additional purchases (Premium Plus).
- Daily Deal: one deeply discounted audiobook each day.
- Monthly and seasonal sales often cut prices by 50–85%.
Returns/exchanges (the fine print)
Audible allows limited returns at its discretion to keep members happy (historically known as the Great Listen Guarantee). You can return eligible titles within a year of purchase; abuse may restrict self-service returns – so use sparingly and in good faith.
Devices, family sharing & Amazon Household
Listen on iOS, Android, Fire tablets/Kindle, Sonos, and more; Alexa can read your owned books. Families can share owned audiobooks via Amazon Household/Family Library (no “family plan,” but you can share with one adult + kids). Set up Household in your Amazon account, then share the Audible library accordingly.
Which Audible plan is best for you? (Quick chooser)
- You mostly binge podcasts & Originals → Audible Plus (stream all you want; no credit).
- You finish 1–2 premium audiobooks monthly → Premium Plus (1 or 2 credits) – keep your books forever and stack discounts.
- You pre-plan a year of listening → Annual 12 or 24 credits to drop your per-book cost.
- You’re in the UK → Premium Plus (1 credit + Plus Catalogue).
- You’re in India → ₹199/month includes 1 credit + Plus Catalogue.
Edge cases:
- Binge months: Temporarily switch up to 2 credits/month if you’re tackling a long series.
- Light months: Switch down to Plus, or pause (where available) to avoid building up unused credits.-
Cost-per-book math: monthly vs annual plans
Let’s do simple, transparent math for the US (illustrative):
- Monthly Premium Plus (1 credit): If the plan price is $14.95, that’s $14.95 per owned book – assuming you use each credit on a premium title.
- Annual 12 credits: If the plan is $149.50/year, then $149.50 ÷ 12 = $12.46 per book (rounded).
- Annual 24 credits: If the plan is $229.50/year, then $229.50 ÷ 24 = $9.56 per book (rounded).
Key takeaway: If you reliably use your credits, annual plans materially reduce your cost per owned title. Stack that with Daily Deals and member sales for best results.
Mini calculator:
- Estimate your monthly “owned” titles (e.g., 1.5).
- Multiply by 12 to get annual owned titles (18).
- Compare: Monthly cost × 12 vs Annual price.
- Divide each by owned titles to get your true cost per book.
- Choose the plan with the lower cost per owned title and the flexibility you want.-
Money-saving playbook (real tactics)
- Go annual for credit users: If you reliably use 12+ credits a year, the math favors annual bundles.
- Grab seasonal promos: Spring Sales, Prime Day, Black Friday/Cyber Monday – these often include $0.99/£0.99 for 3 months or bonus credits for eligible users.
- Use credits strategically: Deploy credits on long, high-priced titles; buy shorter or already discounted titles outright.
- Watch Daily Deal & Monthly Deals: Set a reminder to check the app daily; wishlist titles so you’re alerted when they drop.
- Prevent credit loss: Spend credits before you cancel or pause; remember that credits typically expire 12 months after issue in many regions.
- Leverage Amazon Music Unlimited (where available): It may include one Audible audiobook per month to stream – handy if you only occasionally want a premium title without owning it.
- In India: Keep an eye on extended trial promos that occasionally offer multiple months for a nominal verification charge.-
How to cancel, pause, or switch plans (without losing value)
Before canceling: Spend your unused credits – they disappear at cancellation. Purchased titles (credit or card) stay in your library. Plus Catalog selections are accessible only while your membership is active.
Cancel or switch plans:
- Go to your Audible account from a desktop browser.
- Navigate to Membership details.
- Choose Switch plan (Plus ↔ Premium Plus; monthly ↔ annual) or Cancel membership.
- If canceling, you may see retention offers (temporary discounts or pauses). Pick what suits you.
Pausing: In supported regions, you can pause to take a break without losing your library. During the pause window you won’t receive new credits, but you also won’t be billed.
After canceling: You keep owned titles and can still buy audiobooks à la carte. Rejoin anytime.-
Mini guide for India/UK listeners (regional quirks)
India (₹199/month): One plan with 1 credit + Plus Catalogue bundled. Promotions sometimes extend the trial (e.g., 2 months at ₹0 with a small verification charge). Great value if you want both streaming and ownership in a single plan.
Quick tip: If you travel between India and other regions, your marketplace determines catalog availability; keep your account pinned to your main region for consistency.
UK (£ pricing): Premium Plus includes 1 credit + Plus Catalogue. The UK often mirrors US promos on a slight delay. Prime sometimes boosts trial credits, but Audible itself isn’t included with Prime.
Quick tip: If you subscribed via the app, your plan type and rollover rules may differ slightly; manage your membership from the desktop website for the most options.
FAQs (People Also Ask–style)
Is Audible free with Amazon Prime?
No. Audible is separate from Prime. Sometimes Prime members get extra trial credits, but the subscription itself isn’t part of Prime.
What’s the difference between Audible Plus and Premium Plus?
Plus = unlimited streaming of the Plus Catalog, no monthly credit. Premium Plus = Plus + monthly credits to own premium titles.
Do Audible credits expire?
Yes – typically 12 months after they’re issued in the US. If you cancel, unused credits expire immediately. Spend them first.
Can I keep my books if I cancel?
Yes – anything purchased with a credit or card remains in your library. Plus Catalog selections are only available while your membership is active.
How many devices can I use? Can I share with family?
Audible works across phones, tablets, smart speakers, and more; owned audiobooks can be shared within Amazon Household (one adult + kids). There’s no family plan, but Household lets you share your owned titles.
Are there student discounts?
Student offers exist in some regions and change over time; eligibility and pricing vary. Check your marketplace’s student page for current terms.
What happens during the free trial?
You’ll stream from the Plus Catalog and, on Premium Plus, get 1 (sometimes 2) credits to own premium titles. After 30 days, you’re billed unless you cancel.-
Where audio meets brand impact (for marketers & teams)
Audiobooks, branded podcasts, and internal learning series are powerful assets – especially when you want your message to travel hands-free across commutes, gyms, and kitchens. If you’re planning a content pipeline (author interviews, product deep dives, customer stories), Virtual Studio’s podcast production, green-screen & virtual sets, and film & studio services make creation effortless while keeping brand craft consistent across channels.
No pitch – just a nudge: when scale and polish matter, teams call us.
Final thoughts + next steps
If you mainly stream and sample widely, start with Audible Plus. If you collect/own at least one premium audiobook each month, Premium Plus (monthly or annual) pays off quickly – especially during seasonal promos. In India and the UK, the bundled credit + Plus Catalog approach makes the all-in plan attractive for most listeners.
🧠 Plans & Pricing (Snapshot)
Region | Plan | What you get | Ideal for |
US | Plus | Unlimited Plus Catalog streaming | Samplers & podcast-style listeners |
US | Premium Plus (1 cr) | Plus Catalog + 1 credit/mo | One premium book each month |
US | Premium Plus (2 cr) | Plus Catalog + 2 credits/mo | Power listeners or series catch-up |
US | Annual 12 cr | 12 credits upfront + Plus Catalog | Lower cost per book with steady reading |
US | Annual 24 cr | 24 credits upfront + Plus Catalog | Heavy listeners optimizing for value |
UK | Premium Plus | 1 credit/mo + Plus Catalogue | Most UK listeners |
India | Membership | 1 credit/mo + Plus Catalogue | Great all-in-one value |
Want help setting up a branded audio series, author tour, or internal learning channel that actually moves needles? Talk to us to see how Virtual Studio can script, record, and distribute high-impact audio at scale.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Virtual Studio earns from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work.
