Audiobook Purchase Plans

[tubemonkey]

Audiobook Purchase Plans -- updated 21 Mar 2022


There are two types of subscription plans for audiobooks -- Purchase Plans where you own the audiobooks and Rental Plans where you borrow the audiobooks.

Note: even though an offer says it's for new members only and you've previously had a free trial, try it anyway. Sometimes you'll be able to get it again.


Audiobook Purchase Plans

• $14.95 -- Audible (363,000+ titles) --> details
  
• $14.95 -- Audiobooks.com (100,000+ titles) --> details
  
• $14.95 -- christianaudio (7,000+ titles) --> details
  
• $12.99 -- Downpour (51,000+ titles) --> details
  
• $11.99 -- eStories (80,000+ titles) --> details
  
• $9.99 ---- Kobo Audio (??? titles) --> details
  
• $14.99 -- Libro.fm (70,000+ titles) --> details

.

[tubemonkey]

Audible US -- updated 09 Sep 2020

Blog | Facebook | reddit | Twitter --- Deals | DRM yes | Help | Redeem | App

• Plans ------> see below | Credits: 1 credit/audiobook
  
• Benefits -->
  
• Catalog ---> 180,000+ titles | Returns: within 30 days
  
  
• Format ---> Audio Formats | DRM: AA/AAX/Web
  
• Devices --> Amazon | Android | iOS | Windows --- Desktop | iTunes
  
• other -----> MP3 Players --- Apple | In the Car | other Devices
  
  
• Help ------> Prem Plus | Aud Plus | Amz Alexa | Kin Unlim | Prime Read
  
• Offline ---> offline listening allowed

Subscription Plans

• Trial Plans ------ see Audiobook Deals
  
  
• Premium Plus -- $14.95/mo (1 credit) -- $22.95/mo (2 credits)
  
• Premium Plus -- $149.50/yr (12 credits) -- $229.50/yr (24 credits)
  
  
• Silver Plan ------ $14.00/2 mo -- 1 credit/2 mo -- $14.00/credit
  
• Audible Light --- $9.95/yr -- no credits -- some sales

Rental Plans

• FREE -- Free on Alexa ---- Echo/Alexa -- streaming only
  
• FREE -- Original Stories -- KU/Prime only
  
• FREE -- Prime Reading --- KU/Prime only
  
  
• PAID -- Amazon Kids+
  
• PAID -- Audible Plus ------- $7.95/mo (anyone) | FREE (Prem Plus members)
  
• PAID -- Kindle Unlimited -- $9.99/mo (anyone)

Audible Inc is a seller and producer of spoken audio entertainment, information, and educational programming on the Internet. Audible sells digital audiobooks, radio and TV programs, and audio versions of magazines and newspapers. Through its production arm, Audible Studios, Audible has also become the world's largest producer of downloadable audiobooks. Audible's content is only accessible through special proprietary closed software, including unauthorized-playback prevention by means of an Audible user name and password.

On January 31, 2008 Amazon.com announced it would buy Audible for about $300 million. The deal closed in March 2008 and Audible became a subsidiary of Amazon. The company is based in Newark, New Jersey's One Washington Park. and is expanding its presence in the city with the creation of new technology center. Audible is the United States' largest audio book producer and retailer.

.

[tubemonkey]

Audiobooks.com --> Blog | Facebook | Twitter --- Format | Help

• Plans ----> $14.95/mo = 1 credit = 1 audiobook
  
• Credits --> buy additional credits anytime
  
  
• Catalog ------> 100,000+ titles
  
• Free Books --> 4,500+ titles -- mostly LibriVox --> details --> Android & iOS only
  
• Returns ------>
  
  
• Format --> DRM - Android | iOS | Web
  
• Offline ---> yes -- Android & iOS only

Trial Offers

• FREE -- Free 1 Mo Trial -- 2 free books --> details / details (Code: HOP2)
  
• FREE -- Free 1 Mo Trial -- 1 free book

With an Audiobooks.com membership you can ...

• Choose from over 100,000 premium titles
• Access our 4,500 free audiobook library
• Listen anywhere on your iOS or Android devices with our free app
• Enjoy exclusive sales on adult and children's content
• Connect to your car with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Cancel any time, penalty free

.

[tubemonkey]

christianaudio (7,000+ titles)

• $14.95 -- Membership Plan -- 1 book per month

Trial Offers

• FREE -- Free 30 Day Trial -- 1 free book

.

[tubemonkey]

Downpour (73,000+ titles)

• $12.99 -- Membership Plan --> 1 book per month
  
  
• FREE ---- Free 1 Mo Trial -- 1 free book --> details --> no longer available
  
  
• Format -- DRM-Free MP3 & M4B --> see below

Knowledge Base --> General Questions --> What is DRM?

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a copyright protection for digital media. While much of Downpour’s content is DRM free, and allows for usage across platforms, select products on Downpour are required by publishers to have DRM protected files. These products will be playable exclusively on the Downpour.com apps, available for iOS and Android devices.

Knowledge Base --> Download / Sync / Transfer -->

How do I switch my download preference between .mp3 and .m4b formats?

When viewing “My Library,” there is a hyperlink near the top that says “Change Preferences.” Clicking on this will open a pop-up window allowing you to choose your preferred default file format to download your purchased audiobooks. Once you choose your preferred format click on “Save & Continue” to return to your library page.

Honda Road Readers has come to an end

Spoiler:

Honda Road Readers - exp 31 Oct 2016

1 Free additional title

Downpor.com is offering 1 additional title from our collection of 60K+ titles to all who participated in the program.

Login to Downpour with your Honda Road Readers credentials, add any title to your cart, and a free promo code will automatically be applied at checkout.

As always, your Honda Road Readers library will be accessible from Downpour.com and the Downpour app.

I had problems getting this to work. I called Downpour about this and they were able to iron out the bugs. Evidently, I was the first one to attempt the offer. Anyway, they were very pleasant to work with and I give them excellent marks for their customer service

Remember, in order to get this free offer, you must have participated in the Honda Road Readers program before it expired several days ago.

If you encounter any problems getting this free offer, give Downpour a ring at 1-855-369-6768.

BTW: I picked up Insurgent (book 2 in the Divergent Trilogy). I already had Divergent from the HRR program. Two down, one to go.

Honda Road Readers -- restricted to Honda owners only -- exp 31 Oct 2016

• FREE -- Honda Road Readers (100 titles) -- 5 free books --> details
  
• FREE -- Peter Pan --> they start you off with this book
  
• FREE -- books 2-5 --> you choose from the selections offered

Honda Road Readers -- Powered by Downpour.com

Register & Download -- Download your favorite children’s audiobooks and turn car time into story time with the Honda Road Readers app, free to all Honda drivers*. Simply register your Honda VIN or gift code here.

Thanks for registering! -- You have unlocked your free audiobooks, now download the app, sign in, and start listening.

Watch the Video -- Road Readers helps us get more from the hours we spend driving.

About the App -- Enjoy your favorite classics and the latest bestsellers with your family, straight from your smartphone.

CCSSO’s National Teacher of the Year Partnership -- We’ve teamed up with top educators to bring a selection of audiobooks meant to enlighten young minds.

*Audiobooks free up to 4 titles per Honda VIN per year (Nov 2015-Oct 2016).

The New Honda Road Readers App

Download your favorite children’s audiobooks and turn car time into story time with the Honda Road Readers app, free to all Honda drivers*. Simply register your Honda VIN or gift code. Road Readers helps us get more from the hours we spend driving.

.

[tubemonkey]

eStories (formerly eMusic Audiobooks)

• Monthly --> $11.99/ book | $21.99/ 2 books | $49.99/ 5 books
  
• Annual -----> $9.99/ book | $17.99/ 2 books | $39.99/ 5 books
  
• Trial --------> free 30-day trial (incl 1 free book)
  
  
• Catalog --> 100,000+ titles
  
• Free Books --> 9,647 titles -- mostly LibriVox titles
  
  
• Offline ---> offline listening allowed
  
• Format ---> DRM-Free MP3 -- Android & iOS -- powered by Findaway
  
• Devices --> 5~10 devices allowed (depending on plan)
  
  
• Returns --> within 30 days
  
• Availability --> United States, Canada, European Union, Norway, Switzerland

eMusic Relaunches Audiobook Service as eStories (Jul 2016) --> details

eMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. In exchange for a monthly subscription eMusic users can download a fixed number of tracks to their MP3 players per month. eMusic was established in 1998, is headquartered in New York City with an office in London, and is owned by Dimensional Associates.

Beginning September 18, 2007, eMusic began to offer audiobooks in MP3 format.

eMusic was the first digital retailer to sell DRM-free downloadable audiobooks in the MP3 format beginning in 2007. Audible.com, its largest competitor, offers audiobooks with digital rights management in the .aa format.

On October 21, 2015, eMusic was acquired by Israeli media startup, TriPlay. The full terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed.

On July 14, 2016, eMusic launched eStories, an audiobook service that will offer 80,000 titles at a cost of $11.95 per title to use, plus 33 percent off additional purchases.

[tubemonkey]

Libro.fm --> Blog | Facebook | Twitter --- Downloads | Help | Post

• Monthly --> $14.99/ mo -- no annual plan
  
• Trial ------> $0.99 one-month trial
  
• Credits ---> never expire -- can't buy additional credits
  
  
• Catalog --> 70,000+ titles
  
• Devices --> no device limits
  
• Format --> DRM-Free: MP3 - Android - iOS
  
• Offline --> offline listening allowed
  
  
• Returns --> no returns (because books are DRM-free)
  
• Availability --> US, Canada, most other countries
  
• Founded -----> 2013 in Seattle

Libro.fm is your online independent store for audiobooks. We love books and want to make it easy for you to find great audiobooks, including bestsellers. We also love our independence and are proud to sell audiobooks through your favorite indie bookstores. Learn more about us

We listened to our stores, our communities, authors, and publishers to shape Libro.fm as the first audiobook company which directly supports independent bookstores. And beyond supporting indies, we want to make it easier for you to listen to more audiobooks, give you a curated selection of great books (including bestsellers), and sell them a price that’s fair to both you and authors. We want to build a more sustainable, community-driven ecosystem.

Libro.fm is a partner of the American Booksellers Association. The ABA’s IndieCommerce platform is integrated with Libro.fm to offer digital audiobooks through participating store websites.

Features

• Over 70,000 titles
• First month for $0.99
• $14.99 monthly fee (one audiobook/month)
• 30% off additional audiobooks
• Free iOS and Android App
• Membership credits never expire
• Every purchase supports independent bookstores
• DRM-Free (listen on multiple devices)
• Superior audio quality (2X industry standard)
• Recommendations from indie booksellers
• Ad-free browsing and listening
• Pays a fair rate to publishers and authors

[tubemonkey]

Kobo Audio --> Blog | Facebook | Twitter --- FAQs | Support

• Monthly --> $9.99/mo = 1 credit ------ $15.99/mo = 2 credits
  
• Yearly ----> $99.90/yr = 12 credits --- $159.90/yr = 24 credits
  
  
• Trial ------> 1 month free = 1 audiobook
  
• Credits ---> 1 credit = 1 audiobook
  
• Returns --> maybe
  
  
• Catalog ----> ??? titles
  
• Devices ----> Android | iOS | select Kobo eReaders
  
• Format ----> mobile app (Android & iOS)
  
• Offline -----> yes - offline listening allowed
  
• DRM-free --> sort of - requires extra steps to download outside the app -- see below
  
  
• Availability --> Canada, US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand
  
• Owner --------> Rakuten Kobo
  
• Support ------> 1-800-368-5390 (US)
  
• Thread -------> Kobo starts offering audiobooks

Discussions on Downloading

• DRM-free MP3 Files -- requires extra steps --> details | details
  
• Anyone have download of Overdrive for Win 10? --> incudes Kobo Audio discussion

Audiobook Download FAQ's

• Audiobook file formats
  
• Audiobook file sizes
  
• Devices that support audiobooks
  
• Listen to audiobooks on Android
  
• Listen to audiobooks on iOS
  
• Which devices can I listen to Kobo Audiobooks on?

Rakuten Kobo Inc is a Canadian company which sells e-books, e-readers and tablet computers. It is headquartered in Toronto and is a subsidiary of the Japanese e-commerce conglomerate Rakuten. The name Kobo is an anagram of book.

It originated as Shortcovers, a cloud e-reading service launched by the Canadian bookstore chain Indigo Books and Music in February 2009. In December 2009, Indigo renamed the service Kobo and spun it off into an independent company. Indigo remained the majority owner, with investors including Borders Group, Cheung Kong Holdings, and REDgroup Retail taking minority stakes. As of March 2010, Indigo Books & Music owned 58% of Kobo Inc. Rakuten acquired the company from these owners in January 2012. On May 23, 2016, Waterstones announced it had sold its ebook business to Rakuten Kobo Inc., and as of June 14, 2016, users must access their ebooks via Kobo's ebook site.