What is Audible Amazon & How Does Audible Work?

how does audible work

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People in today’s fast-paced society are often on the go, making it challenging to find the time to curl up with a good book.

Audiobooks are the ideal solution to this problem.

Audiobooks are a flexible and easy way to enjoy your favorite stories when driving, exercising, or relaxing.

One of the most popular audiobook platforms is Audible.

Audible has something to offer everyone, from growing your vocabulary and sharpening your focus to entertaining you on the way to work.

You may have the following questions if you’re unfamiliar with Audible.

  • What is Audible?
  • How does Audible work?

I have the answers.

I wrote this guide to discuss Audible, how it works, how to sign up, how much it costs, and more.

Let’s begin.

What Is Audible?

how does audible work

Audible is a company owned by Amazon offering audiobooks, podcasts, and other spoken-word entertainment.

Audible is a platform from the giant retailing company Amazon that produces and sells audiobooks.

You can download the Audible app, get audiobooks, and listen from any device.

The audiobook service has an extensive library with all sorts of new releases still coming out regularly.

Wondering how many audiobooks are on Audible? You’ll be happy to know it has an extensive collection of over 200,000 titles, including best-sellers, exclusive material, and unique series.

Users create an account, browse and buy audiobooks from Audible’s collection, and download and listen to them on their devices. You can even sync your audiobooks between different devices.

You can access unique features like Audible Originals, early access to new publications, and the option to alternate between reading and listening.

Does Amazon own Audible? Yes. Audible belongs to Amazon.

Audible is an Amazon subsidiary and one of the most extensive audiobook and spoken-word content suppliers worldwide.

The company started independently in 1995 until Amazon bought it in 2008.

What Is an Audible Book?

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How does an Amazon audiobook work on Audible, and how can you access it? It’s straightforward.

To access the service, you must create an Audible account and buy an audiobook or a membership.

How Do Audible Audiobooks Work?

Once you’ve added an audiobook to your collection, you may listen to it on your computer’s Audible website or through the Audible app on your smartphone.

The Audible platform lets you buy and download audiobooks you can play on several gadgets, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Audible also supports cutting-edge features like synced text and adjustable narration speed.

Download and listen to an audiobook anytime after purchase. Thanks to the company’s seamless multi-device syncing capabilities, you can continue where you left off on any device.

How To Sign Up for Audible

Although many users of Audible choose to subscribe, Audible doesn’t require you to do so to utilize the service. Nothing precludes you from purchasing books separately or as add-ons to Kindle books.

However, one benefit of the subscription is that you can buy any Audible book for one credit, regardless if it costs $1 or $100. Subscribing lets you save money. Of course, you can cancel Audible anytime.

Creating an Audible account is simple.

Since Audible is an Amazon subsidiary, it logs you in and completes transactions using your Amazon account. You only need to log in with your Amazon account to look for your sample book if you already have one.

Here’s how to register for Audible if you don’t already have an Amazon account:

1 – Go to the Audible website, then click Sign In in the top right corner.

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2 – Click the Create Account button and fill out your email address and password.

3 – Fill out your name, billing address, and payment information, as well as any other personal information that is requested.

4 – Select the membership package that best meets your needs by clicking here. New users at Audible have access to a 30-day free trial and multiple monthly and yearly membership options.

5 – After registering and selecting a membership package, you can start browsing and buying audiobooks from Audible’s collections.

How Much Does Audible Cost?

Audible Plus lets you listen to any book in the library for $7.95 monthly, but you can’t keep the books.

For $14.95 monthly, Audible Premium Plus offers everything that Audible Plus does and more. You also get one Audible credit monthly to purchase any audiobook from the library.

Both subscription plans provide a 30-day free trial.

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Audible is primarily an Audiobook subscription service, meaning you’ll have to pay for a monthly or annual subscription.

Here are the two Audible membership plans you can choose from when you sign up.

Audible Plus

Audible Plus gives customers access to a vast library of audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio materials.

Subscribers to Audible Plus have access to a chosen selection of audiobooks and free audiobooks that you can listen to without using your credits.

Audible Plus customers have unlimited access to Audible Plus content. You also get one monthly Audible credit and discounts on further purchases.

You can purchase an Audible Plus subscription for $7.95 monthly, which entitles you to unrestricted access to the database of over 11,000 titles in the Audible Plus library.

You can download them to your device, stream them, or add them to your library in the app. You can even use your Alexa device to play them.

Audible Plus is accessible in many countries.

Audible Premium Plus

There is also the $14.95 monthly Audible Premium Plus subscription, which gives you access to the entire Audible Plus catalog.

You also get monthly credit that you can use to buy any audiobook that isn’t already in the Audible Plus catalog.

You also have access to member-only deals and 30% off any additional audiobooks you purchase.

You also have two options under the Audible Premium Plus annual umbrella.

  • 12 Credits ($149.50 annually) – This plan includes the Plus Catalog and another 12 credits a year for any premium selection titles.
  • 24 Credits ($229.50 annually) – This is another Audible Premium plus annual account that includes the Audible Plus catalog and 24 credits a year.

How Do I Use the Audible App?

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How does Audible work on a mobile device? The mobile app can access an extensive library of audiobooks, original content, and other audio content.

Users may use the app on various operating systems, including iOS, Android, and Windows, to listen to audiobooks while on the road.

Subscribers also get a monthly credit that they can use on Audible’s library on additional purchases.

Users may access their purchased audiobooks through the app’s user-friendly design, browse and find new audiobooks, and keep track of their listening progress.

The Audible app is a practical and adaptable method to listen to audiobooks because it includes features like adjustable playback speed, sleep timers, and background playback.

Do I Need the Audible App? No.

You don’t need the app to access audiobooks through your Amazon Prime subscription, but it does offer a more practical and user-friendly experience.

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You can download and listen to audiobooks on the go using the Audible app, which is free to download on iOS and Android devices.

The Audible free app provides functions that improve the listening experience, such as bookmarking, sleep mode, and customizable narration pace.

How does the Audible App work? You must create an account, buy an audiobook, or pay for an Audible membership to use the app.

When an audiobook is in your library, you can download it to your device and listen to it while offline.

The app’s user-friendly layout allows you to swipe to control playback easily. Other features significantly improve the listening experience, like bookmarking, sleep mode, and configurable narrative speed.

You can also only access Audible audiobooks if you keep your account active. You will lose access to audiobooks, sleep tracks, and meditation programs when you cancel your membership.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Do You Have To Pay for Books on Audible?

Yes, Audible requires payment for books. To use Audible, you must enroll in a monthly membership plan.

As soon as you sign up for an Audible membership, you will receive one monthly credit to purchase any audiobook in your selection, regardless of price.

You also receive savings on all the audiobooks you purchase and access to a complimentary audiobook library. You’ll also continue to access these as long as you have an active Audible subscription.

However, you must pay for a subscription or buy individual audiobooks using your monthly credit or at a discounted price to access audiobooks and other audio content on Audible.

Note: If you’re a student, you may be entitled to the Audible student discount.

How Does an Audible Membership Work?

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You have instant access to the audiobook, original audio content via Audible Originals, and other audio items in the Audible catalog once you sign up for a membership. You get one credit each month that you can use to buy any audiobook in their collection.

You also receive discounts on all subsequent purchases and have access to a free audiobook library that changes frequently.

You may listen to audiobooks on the go if you use the Audible app, which works with many devices.

Your subscription automatically renews every month, but you can revoke it anytime. Even if you discontinue your membership, once you’ve downloaded an audiobook, you own it and can keep it.

How Can I Get Free Books on Audible?

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You will get one free audiobook to get you started when you sign up for a free 30-day membership with Audible.

On top of one free audiobook of choice, you will earn recurring credits you can use to purchase titles of your choice if you keep your membership active on one of Audible’s plans.

You’ll also have the chance to get more audible credits in the future too if you’d like to access more content.

You are entitled to one audiobook with one token, regardless of its cost, without paying any other fees. If you cannot spend one credit monthly, you can contact Audible customer support and ask Audible to temporarily freeze your account.

Freezing your account lets you catch up and utilize your remaining credits without paying more, becoming overextended, or canceling Audible altogether.

How Do Audible Credits Work?

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An Audible subscriber can buy audiobooks using Audible credits, a currency utilized on the Audible website. Once you sign up, Audible gives you one credit monthly as part of your Audible subscription service.

You can use each credit to purchase any audiobook from the Audible library regardless of price.

You can use the remaining funds in your Audible account or a credit card to cover the price difference if an audiobook you want to buy requires more than one credit.

Your monthly credit rolls over to the next month if you don’t use them, but only up to 12 unused credits.

If you want to buy more audiobooks, you may also purchase extra credits at any moment.

So where can I buy Audible credits? You can buy Audible credits straight from the Audible website or the Audible app.

Simply log into your Audible account and go to the Audible Credits area to purchase credits.

You can select the number of credits you want to buy in this section and complete the transaction using your preferred payment method.

There is no expiration date on Audible credits, which you can use to buy any audiobook in the Audible collection.

Remember that audiobooks can range in price and that you might need to use several credits to get one.

How Does Audible Work with Amazon Prime?

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An Amazon Prime member can access particular Audible advantages as part of their membership.

Prime members will get access to Audible’s ever-growing library of Audible original titles without extra cost.

You can still use your credits to access these selected audiobooks if you want free books from their more premium titles.

However, they are not entitled to the Audible subscription’s monthly credit or savings on additional purchases.

Prime users must purchase an Audible membership in addition to their Prime membership to receive the full range of Audible advantages, including monthly credit and savings.

Can I Return an Audiobook if I Don’t Like It?

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You can return an audiobook on Audible if you aren’t enjoying it. Audible will then give you Audible credit back so that you can check out other titles.

To return an audiobook, head to the Audible website and click on Account Details. From there, go to Purchase History, and choose the audiobook you want to return.

To the side, you’ll see a button that says Return Order. Click on that, and you should get Audible credit back.

The Bottom Line

Audible is a terrific option for many people who enjoy listening to audiobooks and other audio entertainment.

The platform offers a sizable selection of high-quality audiobooks, a monthly credit for any audiobook, savings on future purchases, and several valuable features, including customizable playback speed, sleep timers, and background playback.

What’s excellent about Audible is that you can use the service to make money. If you’re an Audible subscriber and want additional income, you should learn how to make money on Audible.

Written by: Omar Deryan

Founder of OJ Digital Solutions

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