Not only is Amazon the place to shop online, but it’s also well-known for an impressive array of digital content and streaming services.
Keeping in mind Amazon’s dominance in the digital world, you may be wondering what Audible is? I did some digging myself, and here’s everything I can confirm about Audible and its connection to Amazon!
What Is Audible In [currentyear]?
Audible is a U.S. digital service and Amazon subsidiary, providing a huge selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive originals in [currentyear]. Users can purchase and stream spoken word entertainment across many genres such as true crime, sci-fi, and entrepreneurship, just to name a few. Audible has been owned by Amazon since 2008 when the e-commerce giant bought it for $300 million.
If you want to learn more about Audible, including how to access this content and Amazon’s influence on the program, then keep reading for our comprehensive guide!
What Does Audible Do?
Audible allows users to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and more exciting digital content on their mobile devices, including Fire OS, Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
With an Audible membership, you can stream an extensive range of audiobooks, with everything from short stories to full-length novels.
Audible is also home to original podcasts, such as exclusive programs like American Girl, Attaboy, and The Getaway.
If you like Audible Originals, you’ll appreciate the chance to choose two of the six shorter stories for free each month.
As well, Audible offers daily deals and special packages with extra titles, making it easy to stay entertained and engaged with captivating stories.
How Does Audible Work?
Audible is owned by Amazon and offers four basic memberships, including:
- Gold Monthly – 1 credit each month
- Platinum Monthly – 2 credits a month
- Gold Annual Special – 12 yearly credits
- Platinum Annual – 24 credits a year
Subscribers pay a monthly rate for monthly plans or an upfront fee for an annual subscription, and each credit is good for one title.
Once monthly or yearly credits are all used up, members receive a 30% discount on additional titles, which can be streamed through the Audible app on iPhones, iPads, Androids, and Windows tablets or computers.
Signing up for Audible is simple, as members just need an Amazon account to register and download the Audible app.
Anyone who wants Audible but doesn’t have an existing Amazon account must make one first.
Afterward, the Audible app can be accessed on computers, tablets, cell phones, and smart home speakers.
How Much Is Audible?
When signed into Audible, available credits can be viewed in the top right corner, and the price depends on the subscription service plan, such as:
- Gold Monthly – $14.95 per monthly credit
- Platinum Monthly – 2 credits a month at $11.48 per credit or $22.95 total
- Gold Annual Special – 12 yearly credits at $9.96 per credit in the first year and $12.46 per credit after, or $119.50 for year one and $149.50 for subsequent years
- Platinum Annual – 24 credits a year at $9.57 per credit or $229.50 a year
Don’t forget the additional 30% off for non-credit purchases and the two free Audible Originals for members.
As well, Audible offers the option to exchange audiobooks you didn’t love as long as it’s within one year of the original purchase.
When you sign up at audible.com, you also get a 30-day free trial, so you can test it out before fully committing, just like with Amazon Prime.
Additionally, it’s important to note that Audible is not free with Amazon Prime, despite the common misconception.
However, you can use your Amazon Prime account to download Audible and listen to a limited selection of Audible Originals on the app.
There also are some Prime audiobooks accessible through Prime Reading, and a private library exclusive to Prime members.
What’s great about that is how Audible narration includes Whispersync technology so you can pause and pick up wherever making it easier to go from reading to listening and back again.
How Do I Browse Audible Titles?
Audible has a user-friendly design that makes it easy to browse, particularly with the main menu that includes a library, wish list, Audible Originals, and gifts, plus an option to view Inside Audible or browse.
When you hover over the browse option, a dropdown category menu will appear with over a dozen audiobook categories, ranging from mysteries to business, classics to comedy, and even more.
There’s also the option to browse lists and collections, which cover titles coming soon, new releases, and authors, just to name a few.
Another way to browse Audible is through the featured picks, such as news, Audible Theater, Audible Escape, and book club.
Kids, teens, and adult audiobooks are all available on Audible too, and whenever you find a title you’re interested in, whether it’s for you or your family, you can just add it to your cart.
How Do I Checkout on Audible?
Once a title is in your cart, Audible offers two options for checking out: paying with existing credit on your account or paying with a credit/debit card on file.
To keep the process straightforward, you’ll see step 1 in the cart, followed by step 2 checkout, and step 3 confirmation.
You can view a preview of the audiobook’s cover artwork on the left, plus the title and the author.
The price is also clearly displayed with the credit and cash option so you know exactly how much you’re spending.
Something else to keep in mind is special deals and sales, as the title may end up costing you less than the monthly or yearly credit you pay for with your subscription.
All of these details will be available during checkout and in your account.
Once you confirm your purchase, Audible sends the title directly to the app so you can listen on all your devices, whether it be a phone, computer, or smart speaker.
How Do I Return Audible Audiobooks?
Amazon is known for its generous return policy, and Audible also makes it easy to return titles you no longer want or purchased by mistake.
If you’ve started an audiobook, but aren’t a big fan of the content or the narrator, you can return the title underneath your Audible account details.
You should see a list of membership details, including credit summary, payment, settings, purchase history, gift history, and notifications.
For returns, click on purchase history to view all the titles you bought.
There are also details of how much you paid for each title, whether it be through credit or money.
You just need to click the “return order” option to the right of the title to start the return.
Audible gives you a credit back, so you can essentially return an audiobook you aren’t a big fan of to get a new one instead, as long as it’s within 365 days.
You can read the full Audible return policy for more information on the rules around Audible returns, including the service’s right to monitor return activity for potential abuse of privileges.
How Do I Use the Audible App?
The Audible App makes it easy to browse and manage audiobooks, although you cannot buy any more titles, as purchases can only be done via the web.
Make sure you check out these features:
- The app opens on the home screen, which gives you the option to browse new titles, visit your library, or read recommendations based on audiobooks you’ve already purchased and enjoyed.
- The library has a list of purchased titles and device downloads, which have a brighter appearance than other titles. Click on an Audible title to automatically download it and start listening.
- Use the discover option to look through recommendations and popular titles.
The key thing to remember is that the Audible app is meant more for browsing and listening, while web access is best for managing your account and making changes as necessary.
What Are Audible Benefits?
If you’re on the fence about signing up for Audible, there are a few key perks to consider that may get you more excited to try it.
Here are some of the most popular Audible member benefits to put on your radar:
- Audible Originals access for exclusive podcasts and audiobooks, including two free Originals each month. Audible studios produce these titles, running from eye-opening educational lectures to romantic dramas and everything in between.
- Audible News features top news nationwide, and you can subscribe to popular publications at no additional cost.
- Audible Meditations offers guided meditation and fitness with a weekly class or complete program options to help with relaxation, running, and exercise.
- Audible Escape is a huge library of romance audiobooks, and you can add up to 10 to your Audible library for an extra $6.95 a month. Romance audiobooks included in Audible Escape are distinguished by a pink corner logo.
- Audible Latino celebrates Latino voices with hundreds of audiobooks narrated by Spanish speakers.
Also, don’t forget that Audible members get monthly or annual credits, plus an extra 30% discount on titles purchased without credit, as well as special packages for specific genres.
What Are Audible Originals?
Audible Originals can only be listened to on Audible, and they often feature popular hosts you may recognize from TV shows, music, or radio.
In fact, Audible describes itself as the largest producer of premium audio storytelling, with genre-bending Originals that cover anything and everything.
Many of the top trending podcasts are available on Audible Originals, so there’s no shortage of entertaining or educational content.
Here’s a list of some of the leading Audible Originals you can only listen to on Audible:
- My Body, My Podcast – Elizabeth Banks
- Never Said Nothing – Liz Phair
- Armored – Mark Greaney
- 15 Minutes From Home – Stephen Curry
- The Sound at the End – Kirsty Logan
- The Vanishing Negative – Aaron Mark
- Sun of a Beach – Mia Sosa
- Stronger Together – Terry Crews
- How to Date Your Dragon – Molly Harper
- Heidi’s Guide to Four Letter Words – Tara Sivec and Andi Arndt
The list of Audible Originals continues to grow, and there’s an impressive array of playlists to jazz up your morning commute or daily routine.
Editor’s picks, road trip essentials, true crime, true love, and futuristic tech are just a few Audible Originals collections to think about when signing up for this service.
There are also a lot of family-friendly Audible Originals so you can listen with young kids, which is a great alternative to watching movies or TV.
How Do I Cancel My Audible Membership?
Although Audible offers a long list of benefits, sometimes you may want to cancel for whatever reason, and it’s a pretty straightforward process.
To cancel a monthly membership, simply head to the Audible website and click on your account details in the dropdown menu beneath your name.
When you click on your membership, you should see the option to cancel.
Expect an “are you sure” you wish to cancel message, which you just need to click through until the cancellation is confirmed.
The process is the same for canceling a yearly membership, however, you can use all the remaining credit rather than receive a refund.
In that case, you just won’t be charged again when the yearly membership is up and your subscription won’t renew.
To find out more, you can also check our posts on whether or not Amazon owns Audible, if Amazon Prime includes Audible, and what is Audible Plus.
Conclusion
Audible is a popular podcast and audiobook streaming service with a convenient website and app for exclusive spoken word content.
Audible members get plenty of perks, from Audible Originals to special discounts on extra titles, not to mention access to over 200,000 audiobooks. If you like listening to books on tape or podcasts by public figures, then an Audible membership may be perfect for you.
